I am SO SORRY for the delay in this story! There are no excuses however I do have a plan for the story now, and I do always finish my stories! THANK you for the reviews they are VERY motivational and I appreciate and love each and everyone of them! Now onward to our FAVORITE couple... :)

Chapter Ten: Plans

Emma stood in the middle of the dance floor momentarily unable to move. 'What the hell just happened?' She thought trying to catch her brain up with her body. She finally started walking off the dance floor hoping she appeared much calmer than she looked. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Ruby power walking towards her.

"Oh my God Emma, these women weren't kidding about Captain Hook. Have you seen that man he is absolutely gorgeous?" Ruby burst out not noticing Emma's still flushed face.

"I just saw him dart out the balcony door like a man on a mission, everyone jumped out of his way but I was able to luckily obtain an eyeful before he was out of my sight. I don't know what the hell got into him but I'd sure like him to get into me." Ruby rambled still looking around the room. Her gaze finally fell on Emma.

"What the hell is the matter with you Ems?" She asked finally noticing Emma's face.

Emma cleared her throat before answering hoping her voice would be steady to not give herself away, "Nothing just recovering from my dance with Neil." She lied. She hated lying to her friend but there was no way she could explain to Ruby what happened when she didn't even know what happened herself.

"That's understandable, that fiancé of yours is certainly hot. Are you going to finally take it to the next level?" Ruby gossiped.

"Uh…I'm not sure yet…we will see." Emma answered distracted still.

"Well, while you daydream about your hot fiancé I'm going to go track down Captain Hook and see if he can show me how he uses his hook on women." Ruby said a wicked smile crossing her face.

"No!" Emma blurted out before she could control herself.

Ruby looked surprised, "No?" She asked clearly asking Emma to explain herself.

"Well…he's just dangerous you know. He may be pretty on the eyes but I don't want anything to happen to you. Why don't you…go dance with Neil, I need to make my rounds anyways." Emma answered trying to cover up her outburst. She didn't know why she cared but there was no way she wanted to hear about Ruby and Captain Hook at Monday's breakfast. 'Not when I want him to use his hook on me' the devil voice in her head said. Emma brushed the thought aside before refocusing on Ruby who was giving her a weird look.

Ruby finally gave in and shrugged her shoulders before saying "Okay" and wandering off to find Neil.

"Attention everyone," Emma heard her father's voice a few moments later over the crowd. The people of the kingdom became silent listening to their king.

"First, I'd like to thank the wonderful band for playing for us this beautiful evening. I'd like to thank my beautiful wife, daughter, and everyone else who helped plan this event. Lastly, I'd like to thank each of you for attending. We've obviously summoned you all together for a reason. That reason being that we need to discuss the truth about what is going on in our kingdom. I'm sure you have all heard the rumors. Our kingdom is in trouble, not to scare you but we are very close to a major war with King Midas. That is why I have asked for the help of the undefeated Captain Hook. Now I know we've all heard the ruthless stories of Captain Hook and his pirates, however have no fear good people, the pirates have come to assist us with our impending war, not to bring grief to you all."

As her father continued what was sure to be a long reassuring speech to their people Emma tuned out and headed for the bar. She graciously took a glass of champagne and fought the urge to drown it in one gulp to try to help calm herself.

She knew she needed to find Hook; she needed to move forward with their plan. She wouldn't be helping her kingdom if she pushed him away because of the moment they had shared. 'A moment with Captain Hook' she thought and nearly laughed at the ridiculousness of it. Who the hell would have thought that she would be having moments with Captain Hook? She finished her glass of champagne and grabbed another before heading out to the balcony. She knew she needed to play it cool; there was no reason for her to be worked up. She had simply reacted to him because it had been a long time since she had been that close to a man. She was woman enough to admit that he was attractive. 'Attractive is an understatement' the devil side of her brain thought. She would simply keep her distance and remain calm and collected. She would not only do it for herself, but for her kingdom. She opened the balcony doors hoping the confidence she had established in her head would be portrayed through her body, she couldn't afford to have another moment of weakness with the Captain.

She closed the balcony doors and was surprised to see Hook alone. He was standing at the end of the balcony hand and hook on the rail leaning slightly forward and looking out across the kingdom towards the water.

She approached slowly not wanting to startle him and engage in another hostile battle. She couldn't see his face but could see the tenseness of his shoulders. She yet again wondered why this man always appeared so troubled.

"You're missing your introduction," Emma stating wanting to start the conversation off light, especially after the heaviness of the previous conversation.

"You can obviously see that I'm really concerned about it." He replied, his eyes never leaving the water.

Emma approached the end of the balcony and stopped at the rail. She made sure she was a good six feet from him, although her body still seemed to have a mind of its own and she instantly felt her nerves stand on guard. She placed her hands lightly on the rail as well and joined him in looking out across the kingdom.

She had to admit the view from the balcony was beautiful, the lanterns from the town glowed below and in the distance she could see the sea. The moon reflected off it and created a soft glow. It was quiet in the kingdom seeing as everyone was currently inside the castle. If she was out her with any other man she may consider the situation to be very romantic. However, she was out her with Hook, which made the situation much more complicated.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and saw he was still staring intently in the distant at the sea. She was sure his ship was down there, and she was also sure he was probably wishing he was on it right now instead of in her presence. His face looked calmer than it had any of the other previous times she had seen it. Although he appeared on edge his eyes looked calmly at the sea.

"What's it like out on the water?" Emma asked, partly trying to make calm conversation and partly because she really was curious.

"You've never been?" He asked softly, the gruffness of his voice gone for the first time since they've ever exchanged words.

"No," she replied quietly still watching him from the corner of her eye.

"There's nothing like being at sea love, when you're out there…you're free." He replied.

"Sounds perfect," Emma mumbled, however she knew he heard her because he finally turned to look at her. Their eyes met and again Emma felt a pull towards the man.

"And why would you want to be free from this love? You live in a huge castle, with lots of guards and servants, and you have a future throne and husband in store for you." Hook asked and she knew he was mocking her and her lifestyle. He wouldn't understand the pressures or the fact that she was being forced to be married. He probably saw her as a spoiled woman who knew nothing about the sufferings of the world. She didn't know why she cared but the thought of him thinking of her like that disappointed her.

"Looks can be deceiving," She answered eyes still locked on his, again not wanted to be the weak one and break their gaze.

"Indeed they can princess," he replied back this time softly without the sarcasm or venom in his voice. They stayed like this for a few moments before Emma decided they needed to change the subject. She didn't know why every time the two were together the situation always became intense. She didn't like intense. She came out here for a purpose and she was bound to follow through.

He didn't know why her words were affecting him so, and he certainly didn't know why he couldn't pull his damn eyes off her. He was however surprised that she had come and found him so quickly. He thought for sure she would run off like a scared little girl and retreat behind her parents. She surprised him by coming out on the balcony and having the most normal conversation he'd had with a female in…well a long damn time.

The bitterness in her tone when talking about wanting freedom surprised him. He didn't expect her to open up to him and share the fact that she wasn't necessarily happy about her situation. He was even more surprised at himself that he didn't mock her or make fun of her in a mean way the way he usually would have if a princess had said those things to him in the past. He was feeling soft and he didn't like it.

"So what's your plan?" Emma asked him, breaking him out of his trance. He looked away and immediately regretted it knowing that she had won some unspoken battle between them. He needed to pull it together. He had a mission to accomplish.

He decided to be honest with her though, instead of making up a big elaborate plan.

"I'm not sure, what do you think?" He asked honestly. She didn't know it but it took a lot for Captain Hook to admit he didn't have a plan. He always had plans: battle plans, ship plans, or just plans to bed women. He also couldn't remember the last time he asked a woman her opinion. Usually he viewed woman as only sex objects nothing more, not since Milah…but now was not the time to think about that.

"Research," Emma answered again pulling his thoughts away from dangerous territories.

"Been there," he answered honestly, resisting the urge to sigh in frustration. He had done research in many towns, and had many dark back alley conversations trying to find out any information on how to kill Rumpelstiltskin. He had gotten nowhere. Either no one knew or they were too afraid to tell him.

"Not in my library you haven't," Emma answered and Hook once again turned towards her.

"And what pray tell do you have that no other kingdom has?" Hook asked and he started to regret asking her opinion.

"Meet me at the library tomorrow night after the battle plans are over, I'll be in there are nine. The library is right off the courtyard that you so graciously almost attacked me in. Let's keep this meeting between us, the last thing I need is more complications in my life." Emma said and turned to leave him.

"Oh and Hook just so you know, I'm not afraid of you." Emma said once she was halfway to the door.

"You should be," he answered again meeting her eyes, he saw nothing but determination in them. He was sure she was telling him this because she wanted him to know when they worked together she couldn't be manipulated by fear. She wanted to prove her strength to him, and although he wouldn't admit it out loud he actually respected her for that.

"How do I know you aren't playing me love? You are so quick to assume I will manipulate you, but how do I know you won't manipulate me?" He asked and was actually quite concerned with the question.

"I have much to gain by Rumpelstiltskin's death as well Hook, but for right now you are just going to have to trust me." She said and he knew she was challenging him. It was one thing to challenge him to a duel or even to a battle of wits, but to challenge him by having him trust her wasn't something he could do. Not yet, probably not ever.

He simply narrowed his eyes at her, "I don't trust you." He answered and he thought he saw a hurt look cross over her face, however she briefly masked it by her every so popular determined face.

"See you tomorrow pirate," she said turning her back to him and walking through the balcony door.

Thoughts? Thanks again! I'll update soon :)