Chapter 12
Hook smiled as he cut into his spiced fish. Emma had grudgingly sat down opposite him. The red coat she wore hid the top half of her figure in an annoying manner. He'd watched as she'd sat, however, and the trousers she wore were tight across her backside, her curves obvious. He could get used to seeing women in outfits like this more often.
"Aren't you warm, love? Why don't you take off your coat?" he suggested as she stared at him. Her eyes narrowed and she said nothing. He shrugged nonchalantly, and he lifted his fork to his mouth. He ate his food in silence for a few minutes, before he put his fork down, looking at Emma, who hadn't touched her food or said a word. "It's not poisoned, I promise. I have no intention of harming you. You may as well eat."
Emma sighed and picked up her fork. She started to cut into her fish, when she stopped and looked at Hook, "Why are you doing this?"
"Why? The money, of course."
"Not the kidnapping, dumbass, the dinner. The show of making me eat with you, being kind to me. What's in it for you?" she asked harshly. Dumbass? What the bloody hell kind of word is that? Hook thought to himself as he considered her question. Why was he doing this?
"The pleasure of your company. Although, love, I must admit, you were much more pleasant company last night," Hook smiled at her. She scowled.
"Yea, well, last night, you hadn't kidnapped me."
"I am confused about that," Hook said. "Why would you walk willingly onto the deck of a known pirate ship and think nothing would happen?" Killian. The name she'd called him rang in his head again. Maybe it was time for some answers. "You never did answer my question."
"What question?" she asked, looking genuinely confused.
"How you know me. In this other world, I mean. You know more about me and my ship than I had even guessed last night. That much is clear. Sparrow got his hat back, which means you know about my vault. My crew doesn't even know about that, so I can only conclude that this man, this other me, told you about it. He must be quite a different man than I am," Hook grinned at her, pleased to see a trapped look appear in her eyes. She didn't want to tell him.
"Why do you care?"
"Call it curiosity," Hook shrugged. It was more than curiosity, and he knew it. She didn't say anything, eyeing him suspiciously. "Were we…" he hesitated, adding tension to the question and raising an eyebrow, "involved?"
Emma scoffed, but he noticed that she didn't meet his eyes. So that was it, as he'd suspected. "I'd like to go back to my cell now," Emma said, changing the subject. Hook blinked in surprise. She hadn't eaten a bite. If they had been involved, they were either still lovers, or it ended badly, and either way, she clearly didn't want to talk about it.
"The deal was, love, that if you don't eat with me, neither does your boy," Hook reminded her.
"And you're eating," she shot back, nodding to the forkful of fish he was holding. "Are you going to force me to actually eat this?"
"Do you not like it? I can have something else brought. Stew perhaps? Or maybe you'd just like to drink?" He put his fork down and picked up the wine glass in front of his plate, lifting it to toast her. She narrowed her eyes at him as he took a drink. Finally, she sighed, finished cutting into her fish and took a bite, following it with a sip of the wine. He noticed that she made a surprised face that indicated the wine was better than she was expecting. He hadn't brought out the best he had, but close to it. When trying to make a woman happy, it was always better to surprise them with nice things; something he'd learned over his long life. That is, of course, assuming that the woman was your typical lass. This one, however, was far from typical. But the wine seemed to work, nonetheless.
They ate in silence for a while and when the food was gone, they drank their wine, Emma pointedly avoiding looking at him, leaving him free to stare at her. Not that he would have gone to any lengths to hide the fact. When her wine was mostly gone, she looked at him again.
"So, now what? Am I just to go back to my cell?"
"Unless you'd prefer to stay in my company, love," Hook said, smirking at her. She scowled at him and said that she would much prefer to be back in her cell. He shrugged and got up from the table. "No tricks now," he smiled at her and she narrowed her eyes. He climbed up the ladder, and knocked in a set pattern and opened the hatch. He popped his head out and shouted to his crew the predetermined code. They all nodded and resumed their duties.
He climbed all the way out, and breathed in the sea air. While they were making good time, they weren't in any particular rush. No ship from Liamsburg would have been able to catch up to them at this point, and he was enjoying the woman's company. She followed him out of the cabin and stood next to him.
"You know," she said quietly, looking out over the sea and walking over to lean against the railing. "You could be better than this."
Hook turned and stared at the woman. She looked completely at her ease and unconcerned about the fact that she was technically a prisoner. "I beg your pardon, love?"
"The man I know, he's a good man. He would have helped me, not kidnapped me. You have that potential to be a good man. To help people, not take advantage of them. You could be a hero," she said, looking at him seriously.
He met her eyes for a few seconds and then began to laugh. Is that what he was like in her world? A Hero! What could have happened to him in this other world that would make him turn into a hero, that would make this woman believe in him so much? Hook suspected that if he met this man, this other him, he wouldn't recognize him. Emma was scowling at him as he laughed. Slowly he let the laughter die and said, "you're not serious?" He frowned at her when she didn't answer. "You're saying that this 'other me' is a hero? I've never heard something so ridiculous. I'm a pirate, love, always will be."
"I never said you stopped being a pirate," she muttered.
He laughed again, "How could one be both a hero and a pirate?"
She shrugged and looked back out over the water again, "You – he – made it work."
"Maybe he was just playing a role that he thought you wanted to see," Hook suggested.
"Even you aren't that good of an actor," she scoffed. "And this you, the pirate I'm currently talking to, you would not have died for anyone. The man I know died to save everyone."
"I'm dead?" he burst out, surprised. He'd been sure that they must have been involved given the way she was acting, and her reluctance to explain their relationship. But now she was saying that this other him was dead. Could she still be in love with him, despite him being dead? In love with him? he thought suddenly. When did he determine that this woman was in love with him? Was that possible? Gods, he hated complications, and this woman was nothing but.
He was still staring at her when she didn't answer him, but a small smile was playing on her lips, like she knew something he didn't. After a few minutes of silence, he realized he was letting her do what she wanted, and he shook himself out of his reverie and took her by the arm. "Come, love, it's time for you to go back into the brig."
She said nothing, but allowed him to steer her back below deck. When they passed the cell that the Prince was still locked into, she stopped.
"You said you'd feed him," she said, turning to face Hook.
"Mom!" he said running to the bars when he saw her. "Are you okay? I tried to fight back, but they overpowered me. I'm sorry, I've failed you." He hung his head in shame.
"It's okay, Henry," she said. "no one could have defeated an entire ship of pirates by themselves. Not even your father." Baelfire. He'd forgotten about what Emma had told him the night before about the Prince's father. Emma's eyes had flicked to him, he noticed. She'd said that for his benefit too. To remind him who the Prince was.
Hook looked carefully into Emma's face and said, "I'll be sure to have food brought to the boy immediately." He nodded to a crewmen standing nearby, and the man rushed off to the galley to get food for the Prince. Hook turned back and studied the Prince for a moment before pushing Emma forward again, feeling uncomfortable.
The Prince called after them, "Wait! Mother!" but they kept going.
If that boy was Baelfire's son, that made him Milah's grandson. In a way, that makes Hook his step-grandfather… almost. Not really. Sort of. His head was spinning again. He thought about it; he knew how much Baelfire meant to Milah. How much he'd meant to Hook. Neither Milah nor Baefire would have wanted the boy a prisoner on the Jolly Roger. They'd be disappointed in him. They'd both seen the good in him too. And Baelfire probably wouldn't approve of Hook locking up his former lover either. Husband? Were Baelfire and the Princess married? He didn't know. It struck him as unlikely that the Queen and King would have approved of their daughter having a child without marrying the father.
On the other hand, had there been a royal wedding, it would have been a large event. Surely, he would have heard about it. Even living in Neverland, he'd heard about the wedding of Snow White and Prince Charming. Royal weddings were always big news, so unless they'd kept it quiet for some reason, they probably weren't married. Which would also explain why the birth of the Prince wasn't a large event either. The biggest news he'd ever heard about the Prince was when he was made a full knight which was only recently. Most people didn't even realize that there was a Prince in the castle until then.
Still lost in thought, he opened the cell door and Emma went in without complaint. She looked around and seemed surprised that it had more comforts than before, including a small hammock for a bed instead of a pallet, blankets, a pillow, and a few books. She turned to him and asked why all the luxuries for a prisoner.
"Even a kidnapped royal should be treated well, love," he said, still working through the confusing thoughts that this woman inspired in him.
"Then why doesn't the Prince have these same comforts?" she said, sounding annoyed. His eyes focused and he looked at her. She was right, he was treating her like a guest, while leaving her son in a cell without much at all. Why? Why was he giving her these things? He didn't treat royals this way, that was ridiculous and he knew it. But he'd talked himself into a corner.
"I'll be sure to see that he gets the same treatment that you do," he said, smiling at her.
"You do that," she shot back, sitting on the padded chair that he'd provided for her. Seemingly at random, she picked up one of the books and began to read, effectively shutting him out. He felt a stab of annoyance at this, but ignored it. He turned and walked back up to the top deck just as the moon was beginning to rise. Much of his crew were beginning to wind down their tasks for the evening and were preparing to get their own meager dinners before bunking down for the night.
Hook walked over to the same rail as before and leaned out watching the moon rising into the sky. Smee walked over to join him.
"Captain" he said, mimicking his stance leaning against the rail and watching the sun, "If you don't mind my asking, is everything alright?"
"Aye, Smee," Hook found himself saying, not really paying attention to the other man, "Everything's fine."
"It's just that…" he hesitated. "You've been behaving a bit… differently since we've taken the Princess and her son. Not even counting the brief capture of the ship." Hook growled slightly in his throat at the reminder and Smee plowed on, "We've never been ordered to treat a prisoner so before, and you've never insisted on dining with a prisoner before either, and there's just some talk among the crew about the reasoning behind it. They… we… want to make sure that nothing is wrong. You seem different… distracted."
Hook blinked slowly and turned to look at the little man. He wore his usual red knitted cap and looked nervous. He'd always appreciated Smee's candor in the past, but now it got him thinking. 'You seem different,' he'd said… Was he different? It had been only been one day since they'd taken on Emma and the crew was already noticing a change in him? Is thatwhat happened to my other self? he wondered suddenly. That bloody woman had gotten into his head. Made him change. Not me, he thought fiercely, not this time.
And yet, what was he going to do about it at this point. He'd already given the orders in regard to the Princess and her son. He couldn't very well take them back, then he would seem even more off. No, he had to keep the orders as they stood, and make it seem as though it was all on purpose.
"Rest assured, Mr. Smee," he said, trying to keep his voice even, but giving it enough edge to sound just slightly angry, "I am perfectly fine, and I would appreciate it if the crew kept their worries about me to themselves. I'm not one usually given to flights of fancy; I know what I am doing and the crew had best remember exactly who I am. If I hear that any of the crew is questioning me again, I'll have them thrown overboard to join the sharks. Is that clear?"
Smee stood up straight, looking anxious. "Yes, Captain. My apologies, Captain. We were just worried about you."
"Well, don't be," Hook said, standing up straight too and turning to face the little man. From the corner of his eye, he could see other members of the crew watching cautiously, but trying to look like they were still doing their tasks. "If I hear another word on this, it'll be the plank for anyone and everyone who brings it up," his voice was rising with every word and he quickly found that he was shouting. "Everyone on my ship knows their jobs, and everyone on this ship had better be doing their jobs to 110 percent or else. Is that clear?"
"AYE CAPTAIN," Smee said quickly and loudly.
"Is that clear to the rest of you bilge rats?" Hook yelled turning to the rest of the crew still on deck.
"AYE CAPTAIN!" they called in unison and they all scurried to continue their chores.
"Now, Mr. Smee," Hook said lowering his voice, but keeping the angry edge to it and turning back to his first mate. "I want it understood that everything I do, I do for a reason, and no one is to question my orders on my ship. Now I'm going back to my cabin for the night, and you had better not disturb me for any reason. In the meantime, everything that has been put into the Princess' cell, I want to be put into the Prince's cell as well. He should have the same comforts that she does. See to it personally, Smee, or I will be very cross. Do you understand me?"
"Aye Captain," Smee said, still standing straight and looking nervous. "I'll see to it personally, Captain."
"Good, now goodnight, Mr. Smee."
"Goodnight, sir."
Hook turned on his heel and went to his cabin, still feeling annoyed with his crew for questioning his orders. But in the back of his mind, he knew that they had a point. He was changing the way he did things because this woman was getting into his head.
As he climbed down into his cabin, he saw that the dishes from his meal with Emma had already been removed. It was close on midnight now, and he wasn't feeling particularly tired. Annoyed, yes. Confused, very much so. But tired? Not even a bit. He sat at his table and pulled out his flask. He began to take sips from it as he thought about what Smee had said. He had been acting differently since Emma had come on board.
Why was this woman getting under his skin in this way? He began to take bigger sips that were turning into gulps as he attempted to figure out what was going on with him.
After almost an hour of wondering and drinking he came to one simple conclusion: he needed to get this woman off of his ship. He decided that in the morning he would order more speed so they could get to the royal port faster and they could collect their ransom and be done with it.
He laid down with this thought and was soon drifting in an uncomfortable sleep. His dreams were troublesome. A man that looked like him, but was somehow taller and more regal laughed as he stole Hook's hook. Emma wandered into the dream and began to compare them, making it very clear how much better the other man was. The other man laughed again and began to kiss her.
Hook sat up suddenly, grateful that he was no longer dreaming but wondering what had woken him up. He couldn't immediately place the issue, but soon realized what was wrong. His ship was no longer moving.
He heard yelling from above and knew something was very off. Had they been captured again? He must have gotten a few hours' sleep at least, because a pale light was shining through the windows. He threw on his coat, and climbed the ladder emerging into the morning air.
He quickly took in what he was seeing, though he had to blink several times to be sure. Sailors from the Royal Navy had boarded his ship and already overcome most of his crew. A small group of people, who had also boarded his vessel, noticed his arrival, and a few of them looked both surprised, and yet, unsurprised. And seeing one of them, he realized why.
The supposedly dead King David and Queen Snow (and a baby?), both looking significantly younger than they should have were staring at him. The young Prince was also watching him, though he was dressed differently than he'd last seen him. A man and woman he didn't recognize were with them as well. But the last member of their party was the biggest shock of all.
He was staring into his own face. His doppelgänger was staring daggers back at him. The other man regained his composure much faster than the others and quickly ran up to him. Before Hook could do anything, he'd been punched in the face. He fell backwards, and stars popped into his vision. He got a vague feeling of déjà vu, but wasn't sure why.
"Hook!" one of the women called. Hook wasn't sure if she was calling him or the other man, but he quickly regained his feet. The other man reached for the keys at Hook's belt, and Hook grabbed his wrist before he got them. The other man had a hook identical to his own.
"Give it up, mate," the other man said, glaring at him. "We're taking her back, and you've lost your ship."
The King walked up to Hook and raised a sword to his throat, "Release his wrist, and give him your keys." Hook let go of the other man's wrist, who without waiting took the keys for himself.
"I'm not letting this man out of my sight," his double said. "We'll take him with us down to the brig."
"Hook, are you sure that's a good idea?" asked the man Hook didn't recognize. Hook looked at the man confused, before he realized he had been talking to the second Hook.
"Aye, we can't trust him to anyone other than me. Not on this ship," the other Hook said. Bloody hell.
"He's your twin," said the King in a note of agreement.
"It's remarkable," said the Queen staring from one Hook to the other. She was bobbing a baby up and down while seeming to compare the two men.
"Yea, bloody brilliant. Can we go find Emma, please?" the other Hook asked impatiently. He then motioned for Hook to lead the way. The King slightly poked Hook in the neck, indicating he should start forward, and he began walking. "Regina, love," he continued, "would you mind taking the other me's hook?"
Regina! The woman he didn't know smiled evilly and waved a hand. Purple smoke formed around his left wrist and the next thing he knew, she was holding his hook gleefully.
"Your Majesty," he said to her, still walking forward with the King's sword at his throat. "You've changed quite a bit. The Princess told me as much, but didn't say you've changed your looks too."
"Shut up, pirate," she shot back. She sounded the same at least.
"How did you get the Prince out of his cell?" Hook asked genuinely curious, risking a glance at the boy and earning a pinch in his neck as a result.
"We didn't," the Prince said, smiling at him. They didn't? What did that mean? They must have got him out somehow, but if they could get him out, why wouldn't they have been able to get Emma out too? His doppelganger descended the ladders to the first set of holds first, and then he was instructed to follow. When he was down and looked around, he saw that the Prince was, in fact, still in his cell.
"What the…" the Prince said when he saw the two Hooks.
"Don't worry, lad, we'll get you out of there," the second Hook told him, not taking his eyes off of Hook. The King followed Hook down, followed by the Queen and her baby.
"Grandfather! Grandmother! You're alive!" he cried out. But then his face fell staring at them. The other Prince had followed his grandparents down the ladder. So now, there were two Hook's and two Prince's. "What is going on here?" he asked suddenly suspicious.
"Hi," the free Henry said. He took the keys from the other Hook and unlocked the cell letting the Prince out. He held out a hand to the Prince, "I'm Henry Mills. You must be Prince Henry."
"So weird," Queen Snow muttered.
"So, you're all from the other world, I take it?" Hook asked the group at large. Most of them stared at him.
"Emma told you?" the other Hook finally asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Aye," he said, unsure what else to say.
"So, you're not my grandparents then?" the Prince asked the King and Queen, his face falling slightly.
"Afraid not, kid… uh, Prince Henry," King David said somewhat awkwardly.
"Can we get a move on and find Emma, please?" the other Hook said impatiently. He nodded to King David and they all started to move toward the next ladder which would lead down to the hold where Emma was being kept. They proceeded in the same fashion as before, only with Prince Henry now in their party as well.
The other Hook went down first, and as Hook went down the ladder, he heard an annoyed Emma say, "What do you want now? Breakfast?"
Hook finished descending the ladder and turned in time to see the other Hook staring at the woman, love clearly in his eyes as he said in a breathy voice that Hook sincerely hoped he'd never have, "Emma."
Emma stared from one Hook to the other, her eyes briefly meeting Hook's before snapping back to the other one. Her own eyes widened and she ran forward to the bars, "Killian?"
The other Hook – Killian – rushed to unlock the cell and when the door was flung wide, Emma shot through it and into Killian's arms. They embraced passionately and Hook noticed that both Henry's were wincing slightly, and Regina looked slightly ill at the sight. Queen Snow and the unknown man who was still with the party, however, were both smiling. King David had a look on his face that was nearly impossible to read, but if Hook had to venture a guess, he thought he would have called it a combination of resignation, anger, and relief.
Hook, for himself, felt a little sick at the sight too, but he feared what exactly the feeling making him sick might be.
