Fish On A Hook

Chapter Nine

Ariel didn't know what to make of Hook's strange behavior, actually it was down right confusing. After he left she groaned out loud giving up his moods were too much of a whip lash, she headed to Granny's hoping to forget the morning.

Since she was early Ruby sat down and ate breakfast with Ariel, she avoided any subject with Hook. Instead Ruby was freaking out about the Wolf's time, she had her red hood but she was afraid it won't work because magic was unpredictable here.

"I'm sure you'll be alright Ruby, try not too think of the worst." Ariel comforted.

Ruby relaxed a little she liked that Ariel listened and told her it'll okay even though she didn't feel that way. She was going to ask Ariel about the pirate but the restaurant's bell chimed and both women saw him standing in the doorway. Speak of the Devil and he shall appear. Ruby thought.

Much to Ariel's dismay Ruby stood up leaving her seat vacant for him, "I've got my eye on you pirate." she warned. She didn't trust him instinct told her he was hiding something.

He smirked then taking across from Ariel, she meet his gaze. "I think it's clear to say my attitude this morning could have been better." he said.

"You think." she said still looking down picking at her food.

"What do you say we forget it happened and start over?" he offered with a smile.

She looked at him then before she could answer Emma walked inside and she spotted Hook, she went into sheriff mode.

"Captain Hook you are under arrest!" she declared pulling her gun out pointing at Hook the whole restaurant went silent.

Emma approached Hook he stood raising his hands in surrender ready for Emma to cuff him, but at the last second Ariel jumped in front of Hook blocking Emma. "Ariel what are you doing?"

"Emma you don't need to arrest him." she plead. The restaurant went quiet watching the situation unfold.

"Yes I do, for attempted murder and escaping the hospital." Emma argued, she couldn't understand why Ariel was defending him. "Hook hands behind your back." Emma commanded.

"He didn't escape, I took him from the hospital." she admitted, the restaurant broke out in whispers. Emma stared in stock, "You told me you haven't seen him, you lied right to my face and I didn't catch it."

"I've taking care of him while his ribs healed, I gave him a job at my shop, and he's staying with me until he's on his feet. He's changing Emma" she said.

Hook couldn't believe this, here in front of everyone she was admitting to hiding a fugitive risking her reputation to save his skin. He felt his heart melt a little inside.

"That is what he wants you to believe Ariel, he's working with Cora." Emma said.

Cora, that name didn't ring a bell to Ariel but from the look in Emma's eyes this Cora was someone to be feared.

Hook spoke up, "I merely brought Cora here I'm through with anything that has to do with her. I came to Storybrooke to start anew." Contemplating on whether his words were true or not.

"Really then why did you try to kill Mr. Gold then?" Emma questioned suspiciously.

Then Hook admitted something he never thought he would say, "I think I'm going to give up on my revenge. If there's anything I value more it's my life."

"Emma," Ariel said, "the town ball in three days, give me that much time and I can prove that he wants to change. And when we're at the ball you can make your decision and I won't stand in your way." The town had decided to throw a ball in celebration of Emma and Mary-Margret's return home, and celebrating the curse had been broken.

Ariel could see that Emma was thinking hard about this, "Alright, he has till the ball to prove that he's changed, but if he does other wise in three days he's ass is getting thrown in jail." Emma said firmly.

Ariel nodded in agreement wondering herself how she was going to pull this off, she had to try she couldn't explain it but she felt good in him she just had to find it.

Emma put her gun away she glared at Hook, she hoped Ariel knew what she was doing because she got this gut feeling he'll turn on her. And hurt her in the process.

Once Emma was gone Ariel breathed a sigh of relief then realized the whole restaurant was staring at her, her cheeks heated she grabbed her things walking out the door with Hook in tow.

She took a seat at one of the tables outside Hook walked up to her slowly, "I'm in way over my head." she said holding her head in her hands.

Hook on the other hand was in complete awe of the girl, she didn't know him from Adam and twice now she's come to his rescue not caring of the consequences for her. He took a seat across from her waiting for her to speak.

He studied her, she was quite a remarkable girl…er…young woman. For a girl of sixteen she was beyond her years, she owned her place, had her own shop, and volunteered at the hospital from what she told him. She's done pretty well for someone with no family, and that is something he knew all too well, he too had to learn to be strong at a young age.

With the death of his mother at age seven his father and him decided to travel realms but his father abandoned him one night leaving Killian to fend for himself. So he can relate to her having to be strong without having someone to be there for you or with you.

Which made him like her all the more. Yes he'll admit it he liked her, she was such an interesting young woman he actually wanted to know more about her. He has started to consider Cora's plan with her and now he's leaning more towards of not giving her up, Cora will have to kill him in order to take her.

Ariel huffed out a breath, ran her fingers through her hair then looked at Hook. "We should get going." she said. He nodded then both stood.

Before they began walking Hook caught her arm she turned to look at him, "Why are you doing this?" he asked her. His eyes boring into hers wanting an answer.

She thought of lying but with him she couldn't. "Because I see something in you worth saving." she answered finally.

What she said melted his ice cold heart. There in that moment Killian Jones, a suave ruthless pirate, had begun to fall in love with this little mermaid.

Later that day at Ariel's shop both her and Killian were silent towards each other. Ariel's mind was racing since they left Gannie's she wanted to take her mind off the pirate, but he showed up wanting to start over.

Start over? On what exactly? He done nothing but tease her and occasionally insult her, but he ceased the fish insults. He became softer towards her, the way he looked at her when she sung in the shower earlier that morning, he looked like someone who was lost but her singing helped him find his way. The gentle look in his eyes when she talked about her family, their moment of laughter when he ate spaghetti.

Then their danced they shared. She couldn't explain it but when he held her it felt so right like in his arms is where she belonged. She shook the thought from her head she wasn't going to fall again she didn't want to be miserable like last time.

Killian quietly did the chores she assigned him to do, like Ariel, his mind was racing he was at war with himself. On one hand he wanted to changed just like Ariel said that he could and on the other his revenge burned inside him like fire. But when Ariel was around this fire seemed to dim, almost gone completely. He knew he was falling for her, maybe that what he needs, her.

If she does this to him then he'd like to find out what kind of person she could turn him into, he decided then and there he was going to try to win her over, for real. He is done with Cora's plans for her, if he had anything to say about it she wasn't going to die on his watch.

Now what could he do to start to win her over? Just then Ariel said, "You can take a lunch break if you want. I'm going to the beach to collect some shells." Gathering her things not looking at him.

Perfect. he thought, "Alright." they exited the shop walking in separate directions.

Killian walked to the school, if their was one person he could go to for advice it was Mary-Margret.

"Hey, you're Captain Hook." came a small voice. Killian looked over to his right to see a boy sitting on a bench. It was the Swan girl's kid, Henry.

He smiled, "Aye, that I am."

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I'm here to see your grandmother." he said.

"She's in a teacher's meeting, I can try and help you if you want." he offered.

At first Killian was going to refuse but then Henry knew Ariel more than anyone here, he was the next best thing.

"Maybe you can." he said. Henry gestured for him to sit Killian took a seat across from him. Henry's face became business like Killian almost laughed.

"Now what do you need help with." he asked.

Killian decided just be truthful, no beating around the bush. "I want to win Ariel's affections so I need help on where I should start." he said.

"Captain Hook falls for the little mermaid. Funny the book never mentioned that." he said as he searched through Ariel's story nothing about Captain Hook and her.

He closed the book and said, "Alright, I believe I can help you if you do something in return."

Killian arched an eyebrow, "And that would be?"

"Forage a note so we can get started." he said with a sly smile.

He liked this kid, he chuckled, "Okay."

Henry took his note to Mary-Margret signed by his "mom" that she taking him home for the day.

She kissed the top of his head and took off. Meeting Killian at the bench where he left him. "Did she buy it?" he asked once he saw Henry. He stood and they walked out of the school yard.

"Yep, now we can begin operation 'Fish on a hook.'" he said.

Killian gave him a questioning look, Henry saw his confusion then explained. "Operation 'Fish on a hook' means we're going to a way to get Ariel to fall for you. It's like a mission."

He nodded liking the sound of this mission. "Okay first thing's first you got to know a little about Ariel." The two walked to a flower shop as Henry launched into details about the mermaid.

Ariel walked to shore quickly throwing on her shorts then walked to shop to change carrying a heavy bag full of shells. Once back at her shop she changed into a white tank top with a heart design on it, a pair of dark blue shorts, and black heels.

She didn't bother with her hair it'll dry and go to it's wavy state. As she took the shells from her bag to clean she waited for Killian's return but he never showed.

It was fifteen minutes away from closing time and he still didn't show. Had she been wrong? Was he not capable of change? Did she scare him off after what she told him was worth saving?

He was scared that he left her, why she was scared she did not know. She locked up shop and headed home, she wasn't looking forward to spending the night alone but maybe she needs to gets used to it. Arianne always stayed alone why shouldn't Ariel?

When she was inside her home something got her attention on her coffee table, three candles were lit and there was a note.

Go to your side door and follow the rose petals. Was all it said.

Her curiosity kicked in and she did what the note said, she followed a trail of rose petals down to the beach.

Killian was nervous. He and Henry spent the majority of the afternoon setting a dinner by the beach, he bought flowers, okay Henry bought the flowers as long as Killian teaches Henry how to sail a pirate ship. Henry bought flowers then helped convince Grannie to help Ariel prepare her favorite dish, chicken alfredo.

Killian wished he could cooked it but he's yet to learn how to work a stove, so Grannie was the safest choice.

They spread a large blanket, set a small table on the blanket, then they set candles on the table lighting them, setting the dinner on the plates.

It was perfect, nice for a first date. Henry explained Ariel's story that boy she called her prince didn't romance her at all! What really irked him was when he supposed to kiss her, twilight and they were in blue lagoon and he hesitated on kissing her. What a fool! If that would have been him he would done more than just kiss her.

The girl deserved a proper romance and he wanted to be the one to give it to her.

"Okay everything is set." Henry said.

"Thanks, lad. And I promise to teach you how to sail." Killian said ruffling with the boy's hair.

Henry wished him luck and went home.

Killian waited for only a few minutes after Henry left and she appeared. Ariel came from the trail of roses to find a beachside dinner with Killian there waiting her.

She gasped.

Okay, finally a new chapter is up! I'd like to give a special thanks and shout out to CaptainHookLover for helping me with ideas for this chapter! Please enjoy and leave a review! :)