It had been two days since Hook had last seen Emma, and he was admittedly unnerved by her silence. Emma was right, her parents clearly did deliberate everything carefully. However the longer he went with no word from them, the more concerned he became.

He stared up at the ceiling of his cabin, toying with his hook as he lay on the bed. Other guests had been gradually vacating the docks, travelling back home after the festivities of the past few days. In all honesty he was rather smug when the villagers asked him why he was still in the kingdom and enjoyed the surprised expressions when he told them that he had conversed with Princess Emma and had met with the King and Queen personally. It didn't matter that it was all a lie, just for a moment anyway.

A knock at the hatch jerked him out of his thoughts and he groaned before climbing up the ladders to see who was requesting his attention.

'Captain, the Princess is here to see you.' Smee whispered, emphasizing the title like he didn't know his Captain had talked with royalty for the past 4 days. Hook nodded and climbed up on deck, his eyes searching for her instantly. She was standing at the helm, running her hands over the carvings in the wood with curiosity.

'I am honoured that the Princess is gracing us mere mortals with her presence.' Hook smirked as he sauntered over to her, chuckling when she rolled her eyes in response.

'Curb the sarcasm, Hook. I'm here on business.' She said, all straight-faced and serious.

'Then by all means, join me in my office.' He gestured to his cabin, and she eyed him cautiously before climbing down the ladder without a second glance back at him. He shook his head with a smile and followed her down.

Her eyes were darting around the room, taking in the place he called home. He cleared his throat and she spun around, flushing before clearing her own throat.

'I just wanted to tell you that my parents have planned to send out our best fighters to take down the Dark One.' Her voice was distant, lacking the emotion and infliction she usually had.

'Okay Princess, now try that again with feeling.' He replied, leaning against the stairs casually but his expression was serious.

'There's a catch. They're not…killing him. They're capturing him and placing him in prison cell in our dungeons. But you and I both know that won't restrain him for long.' Emma said firmly.

'No, it won't, but you look like you have other ideas on how to deal with him.' Hook stepped forward, stopping a few feet from her and tilting his head questioningly.

'I want to learn how to use my magic, so that when he comes, I'll be ready.' He watched the way her own eyes widened slightly, as if she was taking herself by surprise. Her jaw was clenched as she tried to harden her expression, and he felt a strange pull in his chest at the sight of her trying so hard to be strong.

'Emma, are you sure-'

'Hook, you were the one who told me about this goddamn prophecy and how important my magic is, don't act like I'm some silly little girl who doesn't understand what she's doing.' She cut in, finally showing some emotion.

Hook smiled at her and she folded her arms over her chest defensively. 'Ah, there you are.' He whispered, and her eyes fluttered before she looked away, the smallest of smiles tilting her lips up.

'I don't think you're a silly little girl, lass, but you are going to need guidance with this. It's not as simple as closing your eyes and willing it to appear. It takes time and concentration, skill and focus.' Hook picked up his leather jacket from the back of a chair and shrugged it on as he spoke, Emma's gaze following his movement.

'And who is going to guide me? I don't think I need to tell you that my magic isn't common knowledge, I can't exactly walk into the village and ask around for help, can I?' Emma said sarcastically, and he enjoyed the way her eyes twinkled now that she was acting like herself.

'Exactly, so it's just as well I know who to go to.' Hook answered smugly.

'Of course you do, you're the font of all knowledge, Hook. In fact I'm surprised you can't teach me everything I need to know.' Emma deadpanned as she scanned the bookshelves on the wall, running her fingers over the titles on the spines.

'Oh, I'm sure there's a few things I could teach you, Princess.' Hook replied instantly, his tongue running across his bottom lip like it did every time he said something suggestive. Emma turned to look at him, and he was amazed to see a smirk on her face. She looked playful, flirty almost, and it gave him a thrill to see her react in such a way.

'Well perhaps you could enlighten me another time, because right now I need to meet with whoever it is that can teach me about magic, so if you care to show me the way that would be most helpful.' Emma had a way of managing to sound authoritative and mocking of her royal heritage simultaneously, something Hook admired her for.

'Of course, your Highness.' He replied, bowing and gesturing for her to climb back up on deck. She smirked as she walked past him, and he tried hard to ignore her sweet perfumed scent as he followed.


'You have got to be kidding me.' Emma groaned as she stopped to look at the house in front of her. It was a tiny stone cottage with a thatched roof and moss growing up the sides. Hook had taken her to the woods (she had most certainly not been pleased when he guided her towards the dark tunnel of trees beyond the village square) and they had walked for 20 minutes before Emma heard the trickling of water from a stream. It turned out the stream was like a miniature moat, circling the cottage in the small clearing in the woods. She crossed where the stream was at its thinnest, and the moment Emma stepped back onto the grass, she felt the electric pulse of magic.

'What is it, lass?' Hook asked as he crossed the stream and came up behind her.

'This place, of course a witch lives here. It's like something out of a book: the secluded mysterious cottage in the woods, the magic circle surrounding it, the moss.' Emma rolled her eyes, but she held up her hands, testing the pulses she felt around her.

'Magic circle?' Hook repeated, looking around for whatever she was talking about.

'The stream, it's enchanted for protection. I suppose it sensed my magic, the tiny minuscule amount I have anyway. Speaking of magic, can you feel it? I did as soon as I stepped inside the circle.' Emma said, turning to see Hook staring at her.

'I can't feel anything.' He said quietly, and she lowered her hands slowly.

'Come on, we should go inside.' Hook ushered her towards the cottage, his hand not quite touching the small of her back as he walked beside her.

'Hook, who is this person?' Emma whispered, tugging up her cloak to avoid brushing off the flower heads that lined the path.

'Don't worry, Emma, she isn't an enemy.' He replied softly, and Emma frowned but didn't respond.

Hook knocked on the door, three distinct taps that Emma wondered were a code of some sort. She heard scraping on the other side, locks and bolts being undone before the door opened to show the occupant. The woman was old, but not quite the 'witch in the woods' old like Emma had read about as a child, perhaps around 60 rather than a century.

'Killian, it's wonderful to see you again. And I don't think I've ever had the pleasure of meeting you in person, Princess Emma.' The woman said, her voice light and soft. Emma was silent, shocked that this woman knew Hook (or rather Killian), and he jumped in to save the awkward silence.

'Grace, it's wonderful to see you too.' He smiled. The woman, Grace, smiled back before stepping back to welcome them in, nodding at Emma's hesitant expression. They followed her into the living room, which was small and crowded and smelt like herbs and spices and lavender. Emma sat beside Hook on the wicker chair, feeling strange that he was the only familiar thing to her right now.

'You look well, Grace.' Hook complimented the woman as she bustled around them with cups and tea leaves.

'You're sweet, Killian, but it's just the wonders of those ointments you gave me.' She chuckled. Emma looked between Hook and this woman, trying to figure out who they were to each other. She was aware of his age and knew it was highly unlikely that she was a family member, unless she had managed to live for hundreds of years like the pirate in Neverland.

Grace lifted a copper kettle that was sitting on a pile of books and shuffled into another room Emma assumed was the kitchen. As soon as they were alone, Emma turned her attention to Hook, silently begging for answers. He looked at her with understanding and in that moment she was grateful he was so good at reading her.

'I met Grace a few years ago when I was in port a few harbors away from your own. My crew and I were on our way to the local tavern when we saw her getting attacked by muggers. We stopped them and I took Grace to the nearest inn, getting her a room for the night to calm down. She was in bad shape, all bruised and battered, but she refused the help of any doctors we offered her. I visited her the next day and she was perfectly well, not a bruise or broken bone in her body. I realized she had magic, and the rare ability of a healer. She had been homeless, kicked out by anyone who discovered her powers. I decided to find her a private home, paying for it myself so she didn't have to worry about landlords or nosy neighbors, and I found this wonderful place.' Hook was speaking quietly, and Emma wondered if he didn't want Grace to overhear, but he spoke about her with such respect that she had to admire it.

'You really just bought a house for a woman you didn't know?' She asked, her admiration not able to stop her skepticism.

'Aye. This woman had nothing and no one simply because of something she had no control over.' Hook looked around the room, smiling at all the knickknacks, bottles and books he had brought her over the years. Emma saw the expression on his face, and something clicked.

'You empathize with her. People rejected her because they were scared of what she could do, of what they didn't understand. A little like people judging you for being a pirate.' She hesitated on the word 'people', wondering if she should be more specific, but she thought better of it. He just smiled sheepishly in response, scratching his ear and looking away.

'I apologize for the tea, the leaves aren't growing as well as they should be this time of year. I've used all kinds of enchantments on them and nothing.' Grace complained as she came back in, holding two blue mugs with small chips around the rim. Emma gratefully accepted the tea and took a sip, closing her eyes at the soothing herbal flavor. She curled her hands around it, soaking up the heat and comfort it provided before looking up at Grace.

'I don't mean to be impolite, but I assume you already know why I'm here, so I'm just going to say it, are you sure you can help me?' Emma asked her, ignoring the way Hook shifted beside her.

'Yes, child, I know why you're here, I know a lot more about you than you think actually. I have no doubt that I can help you, but the problem lies with you, not me. I can teach you everything you need to know, but if you are unwilling to open up, it will be difficult.' Grace said with a willful smile, her eyes flicking over to Hook for a second.

'I don't understand.' Emma replied, catching the look between them with suspicion.

'Do you remember what I told you about your magic, how it is connected to your emotions? Learning from Grace will mean opening yourself up, facing your feelings, using them to fuel your power. You will have to accept that vulnerability if you want to control your magic.' Hook answered.

'And you really think I can do that?' Emma asked him quietly.

'Aye, I really do.' He said sincerely, smiling and tilting his head gently as he watched her. Emma opened her mouth to respond, but didn't know what to say. She had no idea where his faith in her came from, but she was reassured nonetheless.

'Good. Now what kind of arrangements do you wish to make? We're going to have to meet regularly, at least twice a week to awaken your magic. It's been idle for 25 years, it's not going to appear at the drop of a hat.' Grace soft voice broke the stare between Emma and Hook, and she looked back at the old woman with slightly flushed cheeks.

'I'm not sure, actually. My parents know nothing of this, and I'd like to keep it that way, but they will grow suspicious if I disappear at the same time every day.' Emma replied, chewing her lip in thought.

'Well, why don't we agree to arrange the next meeting at the one before, so they are sporadic and cause less suspicion?' Hook chimed in, and Emma snapped her head in his direction.

'"We", as in you're going to be joining us?' She wasn't sure how she felt about Hook coming with her, witnessing her vulnerability on a regular basis. Hook was caught off guard by the question, his lips parted as he considered his answer.

'Obviously my presence isn't required, so if you don't want me here I understand.' He finally said, cradling his mug in the curve of his hook.

'No, it's not that, I'm just surprised is all. I didn't think you'd be all that interested in watching me struggle with basic magic, unless you plan on mocking me for your entertainment.' Emma laughed at his dramatically offended expression.

'I would do no such thing.' He grinned, not able to keep a straight face as he joked. Emma swayed and their shoulders bumped, the space between them smaller than she thought. She heard Grace cough and suddenly reality came back to her.

'Apologies, Grace, for getting off topic.' Emma said quietly, hiding her red face behind her mug.

'No need to apologize, my child. Watching you two makes me feel young again.' She laughed softly at the shared expression of confusion on Emma and Hook's face, before waving her hand.

'Anyway, how about having our first meeting next Tuesday at 2 o'clock? That gives us plenty of time before you are expected back home.' Emma nodded in agreement, and watched in amazement as Grace waved her hands at the crackling fire in front of them in the hearth, making the flames turn blue before simmering back to orange.

'What was that?' Emma gasped, leaning forward in disbelief.

'It's a spell I use to remind myself of things, my memory not being the best as I grow old. The fire will spark up and the flames will tell me what I need to remember.' Grace was accustomed to such magic, but she chuckled at Emma's curiosity.

'I don't understand, how can the flames speak?' She asked in wonder as she moved to sit on the rug beside the fire.

'Some witches have the ability to control the elements, and fire is my strong suit. The flames do not speak our language, but I speak theirs.' Grace rested back in her chair, her wiry grey hair visibly calming as she took a sip of her tea.

'You're rather incredible, Grace.' Emma smiled, watching the woman in awe.

'As are you, child, I sense it. You may have minimal abilities now, but the raw power inside of you immense. Your energy will have great importance in the future.' Grace smiled briefly at her, but Emma saw her gaze rest on Hook, who had been quiet for a while now. Emma could feel a silent conversation happening between them as she sat by the fire, pretending to be unaware what was transpiring behind her.

She would question him on it, but now was not the time. She listened to them idly chat about a collection of teacups Hook had found for her, and although there were many things Emma was in the dark about, she felt strangely relaxed sitting by the fire in a cottage in the woods with a witch and a pirate for company.