Chapter 11 – Suspended Trust
Someone was stroking her hair; she buried her head deeper in her hands and mumbled, "Go away."
"As mentioned previously love, I can't bear seeing a woman in tears."
Her heart gave a jolt. Of all the park benches in Storybrooke, he had to walk up to hers.
She desperately wiped at her face as she sniffed and searched her pockets for a tissue.
"Here, love."
She glanced at the hand holding an embroidered handkerchief. She took it and wiped her tears. "Do you have a tissue, its too pretty to blow my nose with?"
"It can be washed," he said quietly.
She blew her nose then laughed softly. "I can't believe you carry around such a lovely handkerchief."
He didn't answer so she looked up to see that his gaze was averted and his eyes shadowed by his long lashes. She closed her eyes and thought 'damn' then asked hesitantly. "Milah's?'
"She made it." He said so softly she barely heard him. He still didn't look at her.
"I'll clean it and return it to you."
His eyes then finally made contact. He looked wary.
She patted the spot beside her on the bench. He hesitated for a moment then sat down, and stared out at the ocean. After a moment, he glanced at her. "So lass, what has caused you these tears?'
"I don't even know." She laughed hesitantly. "Henry's father I guess. I was so stupid when I was young, I fell so in love with him and he says it was mutual yet it was so easy for him to forget me, and mostly because of him I've spent a lifetime of not being able to trust anyone." She grew quiet and said softly. "He doesn't get it. I found myself wishing that he wasn't in my life now but then I think of Henry and how he has a dad now and how happy he is. And Neal is a good dad to him. It just makes me angry that why after all this time he couldn't have at least apologized. He didn't care enough to even do that."
"It sounds like you still harbour some feeling for him." Hook stated as Tink's words echoed through his head.
"Seriously? You too? Mary Margaret asked me that last week. No I don't, not really. Maybe it does hurt a little that he forgot me so easily and is engaged to someone else but honestly if he were free, I would not chose him as a partner anymore, the trust is broken."
She realized she just told Hook far more than she ever intended on telling anyone.
After all the closeness they had shared the last few days, it now felt almost like they were strangers sitting side by side. She supposed because she had distanced herself from his deadly mission. The thought of him lying dead after Gold got through with him literally hurt badly enough to bring tears to her eyes.
She cleared her throat. "Thanks for listening."
Just then in the water in front of them a beautiful white swan floated by, a minute later a black one followed.
Hook unexpectedly chuckled. "It's always like that isn't it, Swan? The darkness chasing the light."
Despite his laugh a sense of melancholy hung like a dark cloud over him.
"If you ever want to talk about Milah, I'll be here to listen." Emma offered hoping somehow to help him with his grief so he could move on.
His sky blue eyes met hers. He looked like he was about to say something but then just shook his head and looked away again.
"I better get back to my son." She got up and couldn't help briefly touching his shoulder; he looked up at her his eyes unreadable.
"Be careful Swan, don't let your guard down."
She wasn't sure what exactly he meant by that but she nodded and walked away confused.
After Emma left, Hook stayed on the bench for while. He had planned on avoiding her but seeing her with her head in her hands and her shoulders shaking made it impossible to not go to her. The feel of her silky blond tresses brought a sense of longing to him. He knew he needed to focus on his crocodile and ignore Swan, she repeatedly distracted him with disastrous results but seeing the brave lass cry tore through him. He cared about her more than he meant to.
He couldn't decide if he should tell her about Tamara's plans. He didn't really believe that she would attempt to hurt Emma and her supposed powers not when she had the chance to take the ultimate power from the dark one.
He knew there was no way he could take down the dark one by himself, not anymore. He needed help. Cora was gone so the only one left was Regina. He didn't really want to align himself to a witch that ripped out hearts and not to mention had previously betrayed him. Then again, he had also deceived and betrayed her by not killing her mother and letting her believe she was dead. Tit for tat.
With Cora gone perhaps Regina would be amendable to working together to end the crocodile's reign.
As long as he was the one to deliver the lethal blow that was all that mattered to him.
He continued walking towards Regina's house wondering what he would be doing now if the crocodile had died after he stabbed him. Unlike Snow White he was sure he would have felt sated, replete.
He knocked on Regina's door. She opened it and much to his surprise she smiled. "Hook, just the person I wanted to see." She stepped aside so he could enter.
"Even though you and your mother betrayed me I would like to pay my respects over her demise. Her sole goal was to get close to you again." Hook said as sincerely as he could.
"Thank you, Hook. I need your help and I'm sure we can reach a mutually beneficial deal. I have need of your ship."
He frowned at her. "For what purpose, Regina?"
"I have magic beans."
"Ah, yes of course, that's why Cora brought the giant back with her to grow them. So she could eventually leave here with you."
"And with Henry." She added in.
"But Henry is Emma's son?" he realized the moment he uttered those words he made a grave mistake.
"He is my son!" The queen spat at him. "My mother was right - you have feelings for Emma. You betrayed my mothers on the beanstalk with Emma!"
He rolled his eyes for dramatic effect. "I certainly do not harbour any positive feelings for the Swan girl – may I remind you she left me chained on the beanstalk."
Regina's eyes narrowed. "Good then you wont have a problem with her and the rest of them dying once I destroy Storybrooke after we are out at sea with Henry."
His stomach knotted. "So the crocodile dies? But it won't be by my hand."
"It will be indirectly since you are putting the plan in motion." She purred.
He figured he might as well have taken Tamara's offer – seems a number of people wanted the crocodile dead but no one was willing to help him do it himself.
He must have looked indecisive because he found himself flung against the far wall.
"Bloody hell, Regina, I have broken ribs." He winced as he put his hand over them.
"I need to know I can trust you!"
"Seriously, who in this bloody town would listen to me if I were so inclined to reveal your plan?"
"I just don't want you harbouring any ideas of rescuing Emma a the last moment." She glared at him.
"Of course not. My revenge against the crocodile is first and foremost in my mind."
He thought quietly again what would become of him after the crocodile was dead. What would he do with his life? An image of a certain blond appeared in his mind.
"Good then we will use your ship to go back home to the Enchanted Forest and Storybrooke and everyone in it will disappear. Good riddance, I say."
Hook's stomach clenched.
"When will you do this nefarious deed?" he asked doing his best to keep his voice sounding bored.
"The sooner the better."
His heart gave a queer twist. Even though Swan thwarted his one quest when he could have killed his crocodile he couldn't let her and her family die.
Trying to keep the panic out of his voice he calmly stated. "I'll head to my ship then, to ensure she is ready for this perilous journey."
He quickly headed downtown to the sheriffs office. Emma wasn't there oddly enough no one was. He peered out of the window to ensure no one was following. He wouldn't put it past Regina to have someone spy on him.
Blast it where was Swan?
He went to where she lived, knocked on the door. No answer, he jimmied the lock with his hook but the place was empty. He went to Granny's but Swan wasn't there.
Deciding there was nothing else he could do for the moment, he went to his ship.
"Hook!" Emma ran up to him in a panic.
"What's wrong, love?" he reached out to her seeing how distraught she was.
"Henry is missing. When I went to get him from David, he and Neal were looking for him. Apparently Henry just disappeared. Everyone is looking for him. I thought maybe he came here to see your ship. Have you seen him?"
Guilt heaved deeply in his gut. "I think Regina took him but I didn't think she would do that so fast."
"What? What are you talking about?" Her eyes were blazing.
"I was trying to find a way to kill the crocodile and she wanted me to help with her plan. She has the beans, Emma that the giant grew. She wanted to take Henry back to the Enchanted Forest and somehow through the curse would destroy Storybrooke and everyone in it. Make like it never existed.
Emma looked at him with a growing sense of horror. "And of course, Rumpelstiltskin would be dead? Right, Hook."
"Aye but…"
"You agreed? Of course you agree you can't let go of this plan. I was worried about you dying but instead you are content to let all of us die so you can have your vengeance! She spat at him.
"Emma…." He said softly trying to get her to calm down so he could explain.
"I was wrong about you, how could I ever have felt guilty about leaving you behind? You say Gold is the monster? Look in the mirror Hook – you are as much of one as he is." She turned and ran.
"Swan!" he yelled and tried to go after her, he was half way across the deck when he was suddenly thrown against the mast.
Regina materialized in front of him. Her eyes glowing with rage." "What did you do?"
He groaned as a sharp pain tore through his sore ribs.
"I didn't do anything lass, I came to my ship to ensure she was sea worthy."
He winced as Regina's hand grabbed his chin. "Stop prattling on. What did you do with Henry?"
He looked at her confused. "What?"
"Henry is missing! Did you warn Emma so she could hide him?"
He realized she hadn't seen nor heard his talk with Emma. "I have no idea where…your son is." He frowned looking at her…if she didn't take him then who?"
She looked so full of rage Hook worried she would rip his heart out. He hastily tried to soothe her. "The ship is ready for you my Queen. We just have to find your lad."
She visibly appeared to calm down. "You really don't know where he is?"
"I swear I have no idea." The fact he was uttering the truth must have come across as sincere, she released him form the mast with a flick of her hand. He took a deep breath and put his hand over his still healing ribs.
"See what you can find out from Emma. She likely won't tell me anything of worth." Regina ordered.
Hook nodded while thinking her orders were exactly what he wanted to do. He hurried off the ship as fast as he could wondering where he could find Emma. He headed to Grannies. She was there talking to the townspeople. Her expression changed to one of fury when she spotted him. He lifted his arms in surrender. "Regina didn't take him."
She frowned. "You know this for a fact?"
He nodded. "She was furious and worried."
Emma came closer to him and he motioned for her to come outside with him. "I think maybe Tink took him."
Emma looked incredulous. "What would Tinker bell want with my son?"
"She wants magic, maybe to lure the crocodile so she can take his magic."
"She's a bloody fairy she already has magic doesn't she? I mean the whole pixie dust thing?" Emma paced back and forth in front of Hook.
"Her magic is very miniscule in comparison to someone like the crocodile or the Queen." Hook explained. "Plus the magic she has tends to either be good or mildly irritating – like to create mischief."
Emma shook her head. "Let me get this straight. You think a fairy stole my son in hopes his grandfather would go after him so she could take his magic? He's the dark one – she'd be long dead before she could even attempt it – and how would she even attempt it? It's impossible!"
Hook looked so weary as he said. "I'm not sure, she has something magical. She brushed it against me and it knocked me off my feet and bloody hell it hurt. I couldn't stop shaking; it felt like all my nerves were on fire. Apparently at full contact it can be used on magical creatures to take their magic and kill them."
Emma's eyes widened with horror. "August."
Hook looked at her with worry. "Swan, it's May.'
"No, I mean I know. August was a friend of mine well he was/is Pinocchio as a child. He died as the adult awhile back and warned me about a she. She could be Tamara. She killed August."
"I don't know, lass. I just know Tink has gone bit crazy."
"Why would she want more magic for what purpose?" Emma wondered.
"Fairies have always been used by others to do their dirty work, so I guess she and maybe some others are tired of it and want to be more powerful." Hook mused.
"Where is she?" Emma demanded.
"I don't know. May you better ask Baelfire if he has any idea?"
She nodded and went back inside to tell everyone to keep looking.
"Hook, can you see if maybe you can find her but be careful, if she's already used that thing on you once she likely won't hesitate to use it again." She looked up at him meeting his blue eyes.
He looked incredibly sad and hesitantly put his hand on her shoulder. "Lass, I'm very sorry. I'm the one who got Tink involved in all of this. I'm the one who told her about the Dark One, she must have been planning from way back in Neverland."
"You could never have known what she planned." She covered his hand with her own and gave it a slight squeeze.
"We'll find your lad, I promise." He said sincerely.
"You know you should be resting, you look beat." She said softly.
He shook his head. "There is plenty of time for that later. I won't rest until your lad is safely back in your arms."
"What about Regina?" she asked.
"You ran off before I could explain. Of course I wouldn't have let her kill you and your family. I would have hidden you all on my ship.'
Emma's' eyes narrowed. "What about everyone else in Storybrooke?'
He shrugged. "They are of no concern to me."
Seeing her eyes widen in disbelief, he grinned. "Don't fret Swan, I'm sure it wouldn't have come to that."
She shook her head at him and headed to Neal's.
"Wait, Swan. Tink wants to steal power from all magical creatures. She knows you have magic, probably not the kind she really wants but be careful."
The look in his eyes was so desperate, she nodded. "I will be."
Hook watched Emma run off. He had thought Tink would go directly after the crocodile, not abscond with Emma's son. His heart felt heavy.
A/N: "Dear readers I needed to set the stage as I want to keep this story as canon as possible with of course some artistic license since my Tamara is Tinker bell. I look forward to seeing Neverland or whatever version they show us. I just hope we get some Hook/Emma scenes that slowly show some progress in their relationship. Raise your hand if you loved Hook's self-reflection about revenge in the Evil Queen. Our pirate is coming around. Now if only Emma could put Neal to rest and start showing some trust to the sexy pirate.
Reviews are to the muse like rum is to our sexy pirate…both consumed with pleasure.