Thanks so much to everyone who's been reviewing - I appreciate your feedback and your cheering me on! This was supposed to go five chapters, tops - what can I say? Hook and Emma have their own plan and I'm just along for the ride. Strap in and grab the handrails - it's about to get bumpy!

Emma threw Hook's clothing at him as she frantically searched for her own.

"Shit!" She said again, this time in a whisper. "I'll go downstairs. You...hide! I'll get them out of here."

"Emma!" Neal's voice sounded loudly as the door opened.

"Don't come up here!" Emma shrieked. "I'm - I'm not dressed." She fell back on the bed with her jeans hopelessly tangled around her legs. Hook was already dressed somehow, and he smirked as he bent over, helping her sort herself out. He gave her a quick pat on her bum as he shoved her to the door.

"Stay. Put." She said in a fierce whisper.

Hook gave her a mocking bow and she pulled the door shut behind herself before she ran down the stairs. She skidded to a halt in front of the breakfast bar, tucking her tee-shirt into the back of her pants.

"Hey." She said breathlessly.

"Mom!" Henry rushed forward, hugging her tight.

"Watch out, Henry." Neal said. "She's hurt, remember?"

"Not anymore, I'm not." Emma said. "I'm fine. You can keep hugging." She wrapped her arms around Henry, holding him tight.

Neal gave her a confused look. "Your Mom made it sound like you were pretty bad off."

"It wasn't as bad as it looked."

"She'll be glad to hear that," Neal said. "She should be here anytime. I was going to come over later, but Henry didn't want to wait."

Henry smiled up at Emma. "Guess you just needed a night in bed."

Emma's eyebrows lifted into her hairline as a knock sounded at the door. "That'll be Mary Margaret." She ruffled Henry's hair and walked over to open the door.

And there stood a pirate. How in the hell?

"Good morning, Swan." He gave her a smug grin. "You don't mind me stopping by, do you?"

Emma flashed him a warning look. "Now isn't the best time, Hook."

He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. "I think now is a very good time."

"Hi Hook!" Henry appeared, peeking around Emma. "Come on in!"

Much to Emma's chagrin, Hook stepped into the room and she found herself standing squarely between both him and Neal, who was looking more than a little wary.

"I came about a matter we need to discuss." Hook said carefully.

Emma's eyes widened. "Matter?"

"Hook's vehicle registration, Mom. Remember?" Henry added, helpfully.

Neal let out a laugh. "Vehicle registration? On what? His ship?"

Emma stepped forward, pasting a smile on her face while her eyes continued to shoot fire in Hook's direction.

"We'll have to discuss this at the office, Hook. I don't have the paperwork here."

Hook rubbed his ear. "I'm sure I have it with me."

"I'm off duty." Emma gritted out.

Neal stepped between them. "Is there a problem here?" He looked from Emma to Hook.

"Hey!" Henry interrupted. "Aren't we supposed to have a lesson today?"

Hook and Neal looked at each other for a long, charged moment. Finally, Hook answered him.

"I'm ready when you are, Henry."

"I left the swords outside, on the table. Let's go!" Henry ran for the yard, and Hook held Neal's gaze a moment longer. Finally he turned and strode out the door, shutting it with a bit too much force behind him.

Emma raised her brows and walked into the kitchen to make herself some coffee. Neal was right behind her.

"What was that all about?"

Emma shrugged, reaching for a cup. "Hook? He's losing his mind or something. It's not that big a deal."

"Em." Neal turned her around to face him. "He seems to think it's a big deal. And I don't think you two were talking about paperwork. So do you want to tell me what's going on?"

"Oh, come on, Neal. You know how he is. It was nothing." Emma started to walk away from him when Neal suddenly pulled her in, kissing her hard. When she opened her mouth to protest, he slid his tongue in even as he wrapped his arms tighter around her.

Emma didn't fight him - she didn't want to make a scene. And part of her was just a little bit curious, even though it was clear to her now that Neal didn't do to her what Hook did with his kisses. The difference was night and day. Neal's kiss wasn't unpleasant, but she didn't feel that same unholy need to crawl inside his skin like she did when Hook kissed her. Hell, when Hook got anywhere near her.

The clearing of a throat made Emma's head snap back and she took a hasty step backward. She caught the gloating look on Neal's face a second before she saw Hook in the doorway.

"Henry needs a bandage." He wouldn't meet her eyes.

"He's hurt?" Emma swiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Just a splinter from the handle."

"I'll bring one out to you." Emma said. Hook turned and left without a backward glance. She rounded on Neal and the anger clearly showed on her face.

"You did that on purpose!"

"Yeah, I did." He moved forward, grabbing her hand. "I kissed you on purpose. So sue me." He smiled, trying to pull her closer, but Emma stiffened, refusing to budge.

"Neal, this isn't what...I mean...you and me, we're not..." She dropped his hand, sighing. "If you're looking for things to be like they used to be, we can't do that. We can't go back there."

"I know that, Em. But we can start new from here. What's it going to take?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I'm tired of waiting!" Neal raised his voice in frustration. "I'm tired of playing like we're a family for Henry and getting nothing out of it but a hug at the end of the night. I still want you, Em. And Henry - "

"Stop. Stop making it about Henry." Emma held up a hand. "It's about us, too. It's about you and me and Henry, and unfortunately, a majority vote isn't going to ensure everybody's happy ending, here."

Neal stepped back. "So that's how it is, then?"

"I've told you that from the beginning, Neal. I'm sorry."

He headed for the door, pausing before he stepped through. "I said I wouldn't give up, Em. But this is killing me."

He left, and Emma felt about two inches high. She also felt guilty because she didn't level with him about Hook, but really, this wasn't about him. It was about the two of them. Even if Hook weren't in the picture, they wouldn't be what Neal hoped for. The most that would have happened would be her settling for him because it was easy, and Neal deserved better than that. He deserved better than her.

She rooted around in the medicine cabinet until she located the band-aids, then she headed outside to where Hook and Henry were practicing. They were sitting at the table conversing when she walked up, and her stomach knotted when Hook still wouldn't look at her.

"Hey kid." She said to Henry. "I've got your band-aid. Here, let me look at it." Emma pulled Henry's hand into the light. "It's pretty dirty. You'd better go wash it before you put the band-aid on it."

Henry took off into the house, and Hook got to his feet. Emma didn't know what to say, and he still wasn't looking at her.

"Listen, Hook..."

"Is this where you try to tell me you weren't really kissing him?"

"No, of course not. I just...I don't want you to think it was -"

"What?" He finally looked at her. "True love's kiss? I would hope not, for his sake. After all, the taste of me was probably still on your lips."

"It was just a kiss, Hook."

He gave her a mocking smile. "Of course. You'd never take it for more than that."

Emma's eyes narrowed. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

He leaned in, grasping the front of her tee shirt in his fist and pulling her in. His eyes were dark and his voice was low and menacing. "It means, Swan, that you obviously wanted to add another friend to your list of those receiving benefits." His mouth was hovering just above hers and she could feel his breath on her lips. She leaned into him unconsciously, and it seemed to make him angrier.

"Didn't I satisfy you last night, love?" He said, nastily. "Perhaps we could call Neal back here to sit with Henry while I take care of that. He can relieve me later if I grow fatigued."

"Don't be a bastard."

"Does my plain speaking bother you? Forgive me. I know you're not much on flowery expressions of affection."

Emma was about to open her mouth to retort, but Henry had just returned. Hook laid his wooden sword down across the table and turned to address him.

"Apologies, Henry. I've just remembered that I have some ship's business to attend to. We'll practice again another day."

He walked across the yard and Emma found herself following. "Hey!"

He stopped in his tracks, but didn't say a word.

"I'm not done talking to you, Hook."

He looked over his shoulder, and his eyes were cold.

"Yes, you are." He walked out of the yard and down the street, and he didn't turn back.