Chapter 9: I Said It Before, I Won't Say It Again
Love is a game to you, let's not pretend

Gold had done a lot of things in his life, some he regretted, and others he did not. He regretted being too cowardly to keep Milah satisfied, but he did not regret killing her. She had abandoned not only him, but also Bae. He regretted not following Bae into the other world without magic when he could, but he did not regret becoming the Dark One. Being the Dark One had given him power over others. There was not a soul in this world or the other that did not owe him one. He regretted teaching magic to Cora, but he did not regret teaching it to Regina. Cora had thought herself better than him with the gifts he had given her, but Regina, Regina had done beautiful things.

That is, of course, until she took Belle from him, until she had tricked him into thinking the princess was dead, until she had failed to bring him to his son with her curse. Then, the seeds of regret had started to take root. She was strong, possibly stronger than her mother in some ways. But she was also weak. Ever since he had ripped Milah's heart from her chest, ever since he had learned that she had left them through choice and not death, he had decided that love was weakness. And Regina had succumbed to the horrid affair. Even though Belle had captured his heart when he had captured her, he knew still that love was a weakness. Because she was his weakness. Because now, he had something to lose. And those were not odds that Rumpelstiltskin enjoyed.

"Quite a long way to fall, Rumpel," a familiar voice called him out of his thoughts. He knew that voice far too well. Immediately, he was on guard.

He sighed, and stood, walking to the counter in his little shop. "Cora," he said, a small smile on his face. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

The witch smiled widely and walked around, looking through his shop. "Going from the Dark One, the most feared creature in all the land to a shopkeeper. You must have really pissed my darling daughter off."

Gold chuckled. "This was my choice, actually," he said. "What better way to make – deals, than in a pawn shop?"

"I suppose that's true," Cora walked over to him. "And how do you like it?"

"I like it just fine," Gold said casually. "Now if we're done with the false pleasantries, what do you want?"

"What makes you think I want something?" Cora raised an eyebrow.

Gold only laughed. "I taught you everything you know, lass. Don't forget it."

"Ah, ah, ah," Cora smiled. "I think I've learned a far lot more since you stopped teaching me your magic tricks."

"So it would seem. I do not recall teaching you to fake death."

"One of the many things I've learned on my own."

"If you're not here to learn my magic tricks," he said, "what are you here for?"

"I told you before, Rumpel. I'm here to take everything from my daughter."

"Yes, but that doesn't explain why you're here, in my shop?"

Cora smirked, stepping forward slightly. "I wanted to make a proposition."

He raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

"Help me ruin Regina," she said.

That took him off guard for a moment. He supposed he should have suspected she's come knocking. After all, she might have learned a few tricks on her own, but it did not even compare to the vast amounts of knowledge and magic he had. He was the Dark One after all. "Can't defeat your own daughter on your own?"

"I could," Cora said. "But it would be far easier and quicker if I had you to help me."

"You know my rules, lass," he said simply. "I don't do anything for nothing. What would you give me?"

"Well, I was wandering around town, and I happened upon the local library," Cora prodded.

Immediately, Gold tensed. Belle. "Leave her out of this."

"Why Rumpel, who would have thought?" Cora laughed. "A princess capturing the heart of the beast."

He just glared at her, preparing for the battle. Because if Cora so much as looked at Belle, that was what would happen. He had lost love once to a scoundrel; he would not lose another to the likes of Cora.

"I wouldn't have to involve her," Cora continued. "If you'd just join my side."

Gold pretending to think about it, a smile on his face. But he didn't have to ponder over her choice. It was war since the moment the bitch mentioned Belle. Cora might have thought her little trip here today would help her cause, but all she had done was sow her demise so much tighter. Gold would not spare her, and this time, unlike Regina, he would make sure the job was done right. "I'll have to think about it."

Cora nodded once, as if she had not expected any different. "Don't take too long." She turned and walked away.

Gold called to her as she reached the door, and she turned her head back. "May I ask why you want to destroy your own daughter so viciously?"

Cora just laughed. "My dear Rumpelstiltskin. I don't want to destroy her fully. I simply want her to lose everything so that she remembers."

"Remembers what exactly?' Gold raised an eyebrow.

"Remembers just how much she needs me." And with that, Cora walked out into the sunlight.

Gold waited until the door closed behind her before pulling out his phone. Rumpelstiltskin did not ever hesitate making deals that would benefit him, even if he hated the other person. That was one thing being the Dark One had taught him. He would do anything to get what he wanted. And what he wanted now, more than anything, was to destroy Cora fully and completely. He might hate her daughter at the time being, and the Charming prince might be a tad bit too righteous for him, but even he knew he would need their help. He might not have taught Cora everything he knew, but she had clearly learned a lot more on her own.

Charming answered on the third ring. "Hello?"

"We've got a problem."

When Aurora had rested enough after her dream trip, the four women made their way to the deck. Emma wanted to just stay below the deck forever, never having to face Hook again. But that clearly wasn't an option. Henry was waiting for her. Still, she had decided that enough was enough. Whatever was happening with Hook, it needed to stop. She had to think of Henry, and what was best for him, she told herself. Getting involved with a pirate, one that would surely leave her just like the rest, was not good for her son. And it needed to stop before it went any further.

"Lo and behold, Neverland," Hook stood next to them, pointing out to the land seen in the distance.

Of course, he had to stand next to her. She tensed, and made sure no part of her was touching him. He had set her skin on fire, and touching him would remind her too much of it.

"It looks beautiful," Aurora broke the silence that had ensued.

She was right. Even from this distance, the land looked magical. Emma couldn't explain it, but something about it just screamed enchanted. Next to her, she noticed that Hook was watching her, waiting for her reaction. She tried not to look at him, forcing her gaze to stay focused only on their destination.

"My mother used to tell me stories about this place," Snow smiled, and Emma turned towards her, eager for the distraction. "She told it was a magical land where children never grew up, and fairies helped everyone, and the mermaids sang songs of gold."

"Your mum's got it pegged almost exactly," Hook said. "Only it is just as dangerous as it is beautiful. Children do never grow up, but they lose all connections to any other land or people. The fairies only help those they take a liking to. The others be damned. And the mermaids, the mermaids are just as vile as they are beautiful. Bloody sirens, the lot of them, ready to let you drown when they reel you in with their voices. And the nights? The most dangerous and vile creatures come out to play. Your mum was just as intrigued by the beauty as many others, milady. But do not be fooled. These lands will eat you alive if you're not careful."

"Good thing we have you then," Snow said slowly.

Emma was stunned by her mother's admission. When had she become buddy buddy with the pirate? She looked at her mother, wondering what had happened that she didn't know.

The ship rocked vigorously as it reached the land. "Land ho!" someone called.

It was just sunrise, and the place looked so beautiful from up here on the ship. Emma's breath caught in her throat just from the sight of it. She could see why Hook had wanted to return as a man, and why Milah had been swept off her feet from the thought of it. She could see why someone would cross hell and back to come here.

"Shall we go explore?" Hook suggested, grinning. Emma looked at him for only a moment, not wanting to risk him catching her. He looked brighter now, his eyes glowing and his very being radiating excitement. But there was a dark glint in his expression, barely visible behind his happy façade. She wondered why that was. No, she scolded herself. No more worrying about him. No more intimate chats and deep conversations. She couldn't care. She wouldn't. She looked at her mother who was nodding.

"I'd like to explore before we go to the fairies," Snow said. Emma glared at her mother. They did not have time to explore. Henry was waiting for her and he was in danger, especially with Cora there. Snow seemed to know what she was thinking, and put a hand on her arm. "We'll get back to Henry and David, I promise. But we'll probably never be here again. It's Neverland, Emma! Aren't you even a little curious if it's just as amazing as the stories?"

Emma sighed, and shrugged. She was curious. She did want to explore. Neverland, the land of the lost boys and Peter Pan, who she had just found out was Hook himself. It had always been her dream, when she was a kid, back before she had grown up way too quickly, to travel here. And she would be lying if she said she didn't want to see it at all. "Okay," she said.

Aurora squealed, and grabbed Mulan's hand. "Let's go explore." She pulled the warrior off the ship. Mulan looked more than happy to be on land again.

Emma followed her mother. She couldn't deny that excitement was taking over. They were in freaking Neverland!

"Emma?" Hook called to her.

She paused, not turning around. Snow kept walking, but Emma did not want to be alone with him here. She couldn't be. That was the first step, she told herself, making sure they were never alone together. She reached out and grabbed her mother, making sure Snow did not leave them alone.

He walked over to them, an odd expression on his face. She noticed he was staring at her hand stopping Snow. "What do you think of it?" he asked, a confused look on his face. She thought from his tone that maybe that wasn't what he was going to say, but whatever it was, he did not want to say it in front of her mom.

"Of Neverland?" she asked quietly. "It's beautiful. I can see why Milah was drawn to you from the thought of it."

He looked as if she had slapped him in the face, and she took the opportunity to hurry off the ship, her mother in tow. "Emma," her mother sighed, way too understandingly.

"Don't," she said. She could not handle one of her mother's talks about love and feelings right now. She just wanted to see Neverland and get back to Henry.

Hook slowly followed them off the ship. "Well, what shall we see first?"

"Can we see the mermaids?" Aurora asked excitedly. She was like a child in a candy store. "We won't get too close of course, but I've always wanted to see mermaids."

"That sounds good," Snow smiled.

Hook nodded and led them off. "The mermaids are in Mermaids' Lagoon," he explained as he walked. He was, of course, walking right next to Emma. But Emma tried to keep herself impassive to the closeness of the pirate. Unfortunately, his very presence so close to her reminded her of how she had felt in his arms. She edged closer to her mother.

"Are they really so evil?" Snow asked.

"I was drowning once," he said. "I had been called in with their voices, and I fell into their lagoon. They watched me, laughing the entire time, not moving once to help me. Their songs are beautiful, but they're like poison. They render you unable to have control over your body."

"How'd you survive?" Aurora asked. Emma wanted to know as well, but she knew if she asked, he would know she cared.

"A bird came," he recalled, "and saved me."

"A neverbird?" Snow asked suspiciously.

"Yes," Hook asked, slightly surprised. "How'd you know?"

"Just a story I read," Snow looked at him oddly.

They walked quietly for some time. Hook kept looking at her from the corner of his eye, but she forced herself to look only forward. "Is it as beautiful as you imagined?" he asked her quietly.

She nodded. Neverland was everything she had ever imagined and more. Everything from the sky to the grass seemed brighter. And she could feel the magic of the place. She could see how you could spend centuries here and never want to return. It was mesmerizing, every part of it. "More so. I can see why you wanted to come back."

"Yes," he smiled. "Though, it was not exactly the same when I returned as a man."

She wanted to ask him what he meant, but she refused to get so intimate with him again. She told herself she didn't care, that she couldn't. She just nodded and turned to her mother. "Do you think Henry will believe we were here?" Emma asked, changing the topic quickly.

Snow laughed. "That boy would be the first to believe you."

"Maybe we can take something back for him?" she suggested, smiling. "A souvenir?"

"I'm sure he'd like that."

They arrived at a cliff. "We can't go closer," Hook explained, "or we'll fall prey to their songs."

But they could see just fine from where they were. The lagoon was beautiful, with water bluer than they had ever seen. Dozens of mermaids sat on the rocks, singing and playing while many more swan in the lagoon. Emma was mesmerized. She imagined Hook as a boy, as Peter, innocent and naïve, drowning in the waters, and she could suddenly see the evil that lurked behind the beautiful features of the mermaids. It was like a spell coming undone before her eyes. While still beautiful, she could see the darkness that loomed there. She wondered if the others could see it as well. But when she looked at her mother, she saw that Snow did not see it as she did. The others were all mesmerized, falling prey to the majestic mermaids even from here. Only when she snuck a peek at Hook did she see a reflection of her own feelings. Like her, he was looking past their beauty and songs. He was seeing them for what they were. She could understand why he would not fall prey to it. He had already been captured once, and almost died for it. But her? She wondered why their magic did not work on her.

"Well, look who it is," a voice joined them. They all turned to see an Indian come to them. She remembered that in the tales, the Indians lived in the Never Plains, but they had not passed them on their journey to the lagoon.

Hook smirked slightly. "Lionheart," he greeted. "It's been a long time."

"I should have known the ship would be you," Lionheart said, smirking as well. "The chief sent us out to find the newcomers, but none expected it would be you. We thought you left for good this time."

"You know I can't stay away from Neverland," Hook chuckled.

A serious expression passed across the newcomers face, and he peered at the rest of them before looking back at Hook. "That is not wise."

"And when have I ever done the wise thing?" Hook glanced at Emma, an odd expression on his face. She tried not to think too much into it. Instead, she wondered what had happened that would make the Indian so weary to see Hook back in Neverland. She knew the pirate was set on his revenge, but she had not even thought of the reason he had left Neverland again.

"The chief will want to see you," Lionheart said quietly.

"I suspected he would."

"Come."

He turned and started walking, expecting them to follow. Hook gestured to them to start after him. But Emma grabbed his arm. It was only for a moment, and she pulled her hand away just as quickly. She could not touch him. He looked at her in confusion again, but she ignored the look. "We don't have time for this. We have to get to the fairies and get home."

He leaned in to talk quietly in her ear, but eased back slightly when he felt her tense. "It will be easier for all of us to comply with the chief's demands, trust me."

Trust. That was what had started all of these problems. She had trusted him, and she still did. She had let her heart decide, rather than let her brain stop her like it usually did. Like it was now. Her heart was telling her that Hook was good, that being so close to him wasn't so bad. But her brain was writing it off as hormones. It was reminding her of what had happened the last time she had listened to her heart, with Neal. It was reminding her that everyone left her. But right now, it was also telling her that she needed to trust him, at least in this. In – love, that was another story. Ever practical, she knew Hook knew these lands better than any of them, and they should trust him.

Still, they couldn't waste any time. She looked at Snow. "What do you think?"

Snow White was looking at Hook oddly. "I say we trust him," she said after a long time.

Emma sighed and nodded. Her mother was right. She didn't look at Hook again as they followed after the Indian. Hook had promised her he wouldn't make her regret trusting him, and even if she was determined to make sure he could not get close enough to hurt her, she knew deep down that in this case, he would not let her down. And she truly hoped she was right.

NEW UPDATE! Quicker than usual, I know haha but I seriously just CANNOT pay attention to my genetic prof. Anyways, please don't hate me for making Emma 'put out the fire'. It's not gone, don't worry! Just want to keep it in character, you know? Emma's been hurt before. She's not going to jump into anything, and she's too much of a cynic to NOT question the kiss. BUT this IS a captain swan story so love will ensue, don't worry :)

There was a really good response to Hook's point of view. I think I'm gonna write it more in his point of view *cough cough like in the next chapter hint hint cough cough* hehe ANYWAYS, let me know what you thought! I always love to hear what you think of the chapter! Okay byeee!