Chapter Ten:

Elizabeth couldn't help but feel as if something was missing. Night after night she would dream a confusing and turbid dream. There was always this boy and to him she felt this rush of emotion flow into her being. It was a mix between love and sadness. Each night she would search for answers in her dreams and when she was on the very edge of grasping a piece to the puzzle, she would awake into eyes as blue as the sea itself, and she would forget what it was that was clouding her dreams until that night.

Elizabeth fluttered her eyes open once again and gazed into the eyes that belonged to him. He who she had hated, but now she found feelings of love begin to blossom towards. His was face rugged and old with worry lines etched upon him. His stubble was growing in and she lifted a hand to trace the outline of his jaw as she smiled. Her hands traveled down his neck and hiked down his broad shoulder and continued down his arm. His eyes followed her hand's every movement and he watched as she hesitated as she had approached the edge of his arm where his hand should have been. Elizabeth furrowed her brows in frustration and Hook raise one eyebrow toward her reaction.

"What is the matter my pet?" Hook asked,

"My fingers can't ever belong to the place they're meant to be." She said sadly.

"Why is that beloved?" Hook asked amused.

"Because your fingers will never grasp them so they can fit perfectly within in the hand which you don't have." Elizabeth replied softly as she bent her head down in sadness.

Hook then sat himself up and used his only good hand to cup her face and raised it to meet his. He stared into her soft and sleepless eyes and drank in their endless mysterious pain. They stayed like that for several minutes. She almost coward underneath his obvious power as she felt his rough hand firmly grasped the edge of her face.

"Is one hand not good enough for you? Because let me tell you love, I am not handicapped because of what that blasted Peter Pan did to me! I can love you the same as I ever could with two hands." Hook hissed into her ear.

"That's not what I meant! Stop it, you're hurting me!" Elizabeth cried out as tears were welling up within her eyes.

Hook let go of her face as he realized he was increasing his grip more than he should have. And he got up from bed which held her prisoner night after night. Elizabeth rubbed her jaw-line as she stared harshly at Hook.

"You knew that's not what I meant!" She spat bitterly.

"Why should I care what you say? You're nothing but a silly, ugly, little girl with bad mood swings." Hook spat back at her.

"And you're a pitiful old man and I honestly was beginning to, like you, for better use of words but now-" Elizabeth retorted.

"But what?" Hook said fiercely.

"But now I see that you are just a bitter old man. I am truly sorry for what that boy did to you. Why can't you let it go and find happiness? Why must you always treat things, no, people as obsessions?" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Obsessions? Do you honestly think I would be obsessed with a silly little girl like you?"

"Yes! How you treat me, you treat me as a piece of gold! I am not a thing to be owned! I am a person!" Elizabeth said jumping up from the bed and angrily making her way to where Hook stood.

"You are mine!" Hook hissed as he pulled her into a forceful embrace.

"Let go of me! I do not love you! Let go of me you foul beast!" Elizabeth said between mouthfuls of him.

Between her cries of help and him forcing himself upon her like a hungry and angry animal, Smee just walked into the middle of a terrible tempest. He stood there as he watched the two struggle. He had witnessed fights like this happen after Elizabeth had taken that terrible potion. Smee imagined that the two would click after she forgot Peter, but he noticed that Hook would act out like this in guilt and jealousy as Elizabeth remembered bits and pieces of Peter through dreams. Smee charged right for the two and pushed in-between the two.

"Now that's enough you two! Captain we're about to dock into port!" Smee said angrily.

"You think you I'm obsessed with you? Fine! I'll find myself a whore who is by far more willing company!" Hook roared as he exited his cabin quarters. "Smee you are to remain on board with the girl until the crew and I return!" He yelled over his shoulder down the narrow hallway.

Elizabeth collapsed in sobs. Her chest grew tight as she felt a pain in her heart grow stronger. Smee kneeled down beside her and tried his best to sooth her pain. No matter what Smee softly mumbled to her she felt like dying. Eventually though, she regained her composure and through teary eyes she looked Smee in the eyes.

"Why do I feel like this?" Elizabeth sniffled.

"It's hard I know." Smee said patting her arm.

"I feel like there's a piece of me that's missing and I just can't find it." Elizabeth said bowing her head.

"There, there dear. You just need rest." Smee said while helping Elizabeth up.

"I need fresh air. May I go out on the deck for a little while? I promise I won't run away." Elizabeth said rather empty of emotion.

"Of course Miss Elizabeth." Smee said softly as he watched her stagger down the hallway.