I own none of the characters. Once again I would like to thank my amazing Beta, Angelfan984, you truly are a blessing. I love the little things you add that make the story so much more. Hugs! If there are any errors, they are completely mine, and I apologize in advanced

Chapter 11

Emma POV

Emma awoke in Killian's bed again, for the third day in a row, and smiled to herself. The last day and a half had been full of Killian. While on deck she found reasons to touch him, she would trail her fingers across his shoulders or touch his hand at the helm. Each of her secret touches causing a knowing smirk to spread across his face. He seemed to do the same thing. Killian would touch her face and move her hair behind her ear. Or graze her hip as he walked by. They shared secret smiles and long looks. They even went so far as to escape to his room for a few stolen moments. Her parents seemed to know what was happening and although her father obviously didn't agree with it, they held their tongues. Snow's eyes would shine with the knowledge of what was going on every time Emma looked at her. She knew she would have to talk to her mom about it soon though, or she would probably explode with curiosity.

Emma stretched her hand out reaching for Killian, only to find the bed was empty. She opened her eyes to see him sitting on the bench by the window staring out at the sky. Her eyes slid over his body as she admired his physique. "Killian, come back to bed." She entreated, smoothing the bed covers next to her. He smiled absently at her, his mind clearly some place else. "What is on your mind?" She inquired curiously.

"Nothing, love." Killian smiled as he came back to the bed, "only how much I want to ravish you this morning." He teased his lips against hers. She knew that he wasn't telling her the truth, but she pulled him down to her anyways. He would tell her what was bothering him when he was ready. But in this moment, she just wanted to love him.

-

Today was the day Emma had waited over 2 months for. The day they would find her son. They would reach the island that the globe was still pointing to later today. The little glowing dot didn't move so he was being held some place stationary. They would find him tonight, she was sure of it.

Emma came topside shortly after Killian did. But they didn't fool anyone with their separate entrances if the look she got from Neal was any indication. She had thought she made herself clear with him the other day.

"Miss Swan, a moment if you please?" Regina disrupted her thoughts.

"Regina, you do know you can call me Emma right?" Emma said dryly.

"We need to talk about your developing feelings for Hook." She elaborated with a rise of her brows.

"We – What?" Emma asked in confusion.

"Miss Swan, Emma, finding Henry should be our top priority, don't let love be your weakness. I need you to be strong today. We need to find my son." Regina pleaded with her.

"Wait a minute. My love, you think that is a weakness? Regina, love is not weakness, it is strength. Killian's love for me makes me stronger, together we are strength." Emma expressed to her. "We will bring Henry home. Good always wins, you of all people should know that."

Hooks POV

Hook was at the helm steering the ship into the small lake next to the island they were going to drop anchor at for the search.

"A word if you will." Rumple addressed him with a flourish of his hands.

Hook hadn't truly talked to him, except for the necessary directions while they searched, since the night Rumple had removed the curse. With a curt nod Hook gestured to Charming to take over at the helm and he walked with Rumple to the side of the ship. He looked out to the ocean that surrounded them and waited for Rumple to speak.

"That favor, dearie, I know what I want from you." Rumple chirped with a giggle.

"I will not give up Emma, demon, not for any reason!" Hook promised his anger near the surface. He had known this day was near; it had occupied his thoughts this morning before Emma had woken up.

"Tsk, Tsk Hook – Do not presume to know what I want from you." He chastised him in his Storybrooke voice.

"Then what do you want?" Hook bit out. He looked behind them to see if anyone could hear what they said.

They were all busy with various tasks to prepare for the search that evening. Even Aurora had ventured from her room and she stood next to Philip while he sharpened his sword. Her and Mulan carried on a quite conversation about the search. Charming, Snow and Neal were near the helm. Neal glanced their way when he looked in that direction but quickly adverted his eyes when they met his. Emma and Regina seemed to be having a serious conversation about something as well. Hook sighed, no one would over hear what Rumple wanted from him, he hoped.

"Let's see, how shall I phrase this?" Rumple mused out loud.

"Just get on with it." Hook demanded, "enough with this cat and mouse game of yours."

"Patience dearie" he quipped in glee as he wagged his pointer finger at him in mock disappointment.

"If your favor is not for me to step aside for your son to have Emma, then what could it be?" He remarked in sarcasm.

"What good would that do? Emma is a strong woman and would not take kindly to me interfering." Rumple answered.

"Since when do you care for what people want?" Hook queried in shock.

"That is no concern of yours, Hook." He sneered. "The only thing you should be concerning yourself with is what I want you to do."

"Well, that is a little hard to accomplish when you have yet to tell me what you want." He snapped at the end of his patience with the demon.

"Is there a problem here, Killian" Emma asked in concern. Her approach had been silent and he wasn't sure how much she had over heard.

"No problem here, my dear" Rumple answered for him "we were just talking about finding Henry."

"Killian?" Emma repeated as she looked at him. She obviously did not trust Rumple any more than he did.

"We were just finished" Hook agreed with Rumple a bit too quickly.

Emma gave him a look of disbelief, "You just lied to me. I don't know why or what you lied about but it was a lie. You of all people should know better, given how we met."

The feeling of the cool steel pressed against his throat when they met flashed across his mind. "Emma—" Hook began and he trailed off, not knowing what to say because he knew she was right.

"I will leave you true loves to talk it out." Rumple mocked him. "We will talk later Hook."

After Rumple walked away, Emma faced him her right hand resting on the railing of the ship while her left hand went to her hip.

"Talk—" Emma instructed, her voice indicating that she was no nonsense right now.

Hook sighed, "I made a deal with Rumple after we arrived in Neverland. He told me I had a curse put on me by a fairy and he showed me proof. It was a curse to forever be alone. Emma, I just didn't want to be alone anymore." He begged her to understand.

"You made a deal with Rumpelstiltskin?" Emma clarified "Because you were afraid to be alone?"

"Aye, that is the gist of it." Hook confirmed his face sad. "It was before us." He finished as he gestured between them.

"So, what? Is he cashing it in? What does he want in return?" she pressed for more information.

"I—I don't know. He never said." He looked down in defeat. Had he lost her because of this deal? Was his happiness to be so fleeting? Had the crocodile known this would happen? He heard Emma sigh and he looked up at her.

"We will figure this out together." Emma promised. Hook let out a breath in relief that he didn't realize he had held and pulled her into his arms for the first time in front of everyone on his ship.

He finally had someone on his side.

A/N - The next chapter will probably be updated on Tuesday at the latest; I'm working some kinks out of it at the moment with the help of my wonderful beta Angelfan984.