Chapter 10: Wonderland
Emma:
Alice, that's who the little girl was…the Alice from Wonderland.
Holy shit, Emma thought. This can't be real…this is not happening.
"So," Emma took the risk to ask, "is she still in Wonderland?"
"I never said I was finished, love," Killian smiled.
"So, continue then," Emma responded.
And so, he continued:
"When I found the picture and when I found out she was in Wonderland, I set off to find her. I mean, I went back to the hole she fell through, but it was gone. The gazebo was still there though. It took me years to find a way to Wonderland. It took me…ten years I believe to find a way. You see, love, I met this man, Jefferson. He had this hat that was like a portal to different worlds. He gave me the opportunity to see Alice."
"Jefferson…" Emma gasped in realization.
"You know the lad?" Hook raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah, I do actually," Emma nodded, "but please, continue."
"So, I made it to Wonderland, with Jefferson. I searched for a year for her, but I could never find her. Jefferson took me back here to this land and that was the last I saw of him."
"You're saying that Jefferson just disappeared after he took you back?" Emma asked.
"That's exactly what I'm saying, but it was before the Dark Curse was enacted," Hook told her.
"So, when does Milah come into play?"
"After Jefferson left, I travelled to Neverland with the use of a magic beans. I don't know how long I stayed there, but in your time, I imagine it was…fifty years? Your mother was already in her teens. But, when I came back, that's when I met Milah in the tavern. And you already know what happens from there."
"Okay, let me get this straight," Emma looked at him. "You met Jefferson and travelled to Wonderland with him. You stayed there for a year, came back, and then made your way to Neverland with a magic bean. You didn't age and stayed there for about fifty years, and then you came back."
"Correct," Hook said.
"You stayed in Wonderland for a whole year, and you didn't discover anything?"
"Sadly, no," Hook hung his head.
"Hook, you're lying," Emma could tell he was lying.
"Maybe, but not everything needs to be said, love," Hook looked at him.
Emma looked into Hook's eyes and she could tell that it truly took a lot of courage for him to tell her this. Wow, he's pretty brave, he really does trust me, Emma thought. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He'd lost his family; he'd lost the only woman he loved. She couldn't look away from him.
"Emma," Hook stood up and faced her. "I just told you something that I've never shared, except with Milah. Why? I trust you."
He took hold of Emma's face, and brushed a strand of her hair off her shoulder. "Do you trust me now?"
Emma saw the pain in his eyes; she recognized it so much because she'd worn the same look on her face before. Maybe they were more alike than Emma thought. Both had lost family; both lost people they loved; both were determined when it came to accomplishing something. She actually felt sorry for him. She wanted so badly for him to feel better. She closed the distance between them and felt his breath sweep across her lips. "Emma"
He leaned in and sealed the deal. Emma caught her breath when his soft lips met hers. He was passionate with Emma, letter her lead. He walked her back into the wall and trapped her in his arms. She broke off first and looked into his deep blue eyes once more.
"Love, you don't need to be so soft, but, you're not too bad of a kisser," he smirked.
"You're not so bad yourself, Captain," she smiled back.
They stood there smiling, taking in the moment.
But, she ruined the moment, realizing her mistake. Emma knew she just couldn't trust him yet. "Hook, I –I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what, love?" he just couldn't stay away from her lips.
"I –I have to go," she looked down and found her way out of his arms. She started walking to the door before she turned around. She took one look at him.
"Emma, you don't have to go," Hook told her.
Emma's walls were coming back up. "Fuck, not now, Hook."
She walked out the door and left Hook in silence.