A/N: Hey!

Just going to let you know, I feel terrible. I got so many reviews from you guys last chapter but I'm not replying to any of you because that would just give away this chapter.

I do have to say a very big thank you to every guest reviewer, you're amazing.

Without further ado, onwards! xx

Chapter Eleven: Where the redeemed shall ever sleep

Emma looked up from the book she was reading – and no, it wasn't a romance novel; it seemed Hook had moved beyond those – only to find that the young boy from earlier was peeking down the hatch.

"Hey Miss," he said pleasantly. "I've got some food for you."

He didn't wait for her response as he climbed down the ladder, a tray with some bread and cheese and fruit on it. "Thank you…" she began.

"Chip," he finished with a toothy grin. He had a boyish face. Gods, he was so young. She couldn't believe Locksley had ever been that young.

"Thank you, Chip," Emma said politely, "But I'm afraid I'm not hungry."

"You have to eat, Miss!" he continued passionately. "It won't do to be starving when we're heading off to the Dark One's castle. There are many a dangerous port between here and there, milady. You'll be needing your strength."

Emma's brow furrowed at the way the boy spoke. His 'Miss' and 'Milady'.

"You do realise that I'm no lady," she replied. "I'm the Captain of the Wandering Lady."

"A wandering lady yourself, then," he answered knowingly, "And since I can't call you Captain on this ship, to most of us, you are the Lady Swan."

"Or just the wench here to warm the Captain's bed," Emma muttered under her breath.

"I know that's not true, miss," Chip answered, his permanent faith in his captain evident. "Our Captain thinks more of you than that. You can see it in the way he treats you….the way he begs us treat you. He deems you his equal."

Emma scoffed, "Maybe you should remind him of that, instead of him keeping me cooped up like a child."

"He's keeping you safe, milady," Chip answered, pouring her a cup of water as he stood there. "Some men on board aren't as self-controlled as our captain. It's happened before…"

"He's taken women before?" Emma asked, trying to hide the sadness from her voice. For some reason she'd expected, maybe even hoped, that he'd been like her. That it would be impossible to love another.

But Captain Hook gave love to everyone.

Or some weird twisted version of it anyway.

Chip nodded in affirmation and she sighed.

"So, what's your story then, Chip," Emma began, reaching for a piece of bread and offering him the rest of the plate. He pulled up a chair and sat across the table from her.

"Mine?" he affirmed, leaning easily into the seat. "Well," he shrugged. "I guess it was kind of…either I stayed in the hellhole I was in, or I got out of there. I mean, it was only a year ago, but here on this ship? I really can't imagine a better lif–"

"Chip!" Hook's voice came thundering. "What the bloody hell are you doing down there! You're on deck, not babysitting duty."

"Sorry, Captain," Chip cried, jumping up. He ducked his head politely at Emma, "Sorry Miss, duty calls."

"Have a good day," She smiled. The boy was so innocent. But he was well-mannered and loyal. She was glad Hook had found him. Maybe it would remind him…

Stop hoping.

"Well, Swan," Hook began as he wearily climbed down the ladder at dusk. "I trust your day has been as boring as mine?"

"Decidedly more," she answered honestly, putting down the adventure tale she was reading. "At least you got to see the sun for more than a minute."

"Now now, Swan," he grinned, moving to his cupboard where Emma was delighted to spot a large bottle of rum. A slow smile spread across her face when he brought out two cups. "Drink?"

"Does the question need asking?" she answered. Wait. Was there…was there a hint of flirting in her voice. What was she…

Maybe the drink wasn't such a good idea after all if she was already heading down the wrong road. But when she saw the amber liquid sitting there, as a force of habit, she raised it to her lips and took a sip.

Killian walked around for a few moments, tidying up. Emma watched him every moment. When he bent over and showed her his fine form she found herself grinning with memories, not of the other night, but of more loving times.

"What's up with you?" His voice broke her out of her reverie as he took Chip's seat from earlier. She was still smiling like an idiot as she replied, "Nothing. Food?"

"Chip's going to bring some up when it's ready," Hook answered, a smirk playing at his lips as though he couldn't help the next words that came out of his mouth, "I suppose you're quite hungry then, Swan, being cooped up all day."

Emma scoffed inwardly, but continued to play along anyway.

"Oh, I am," she answered, biting down on her lower lip as she pulled her body backwards to stretch out her back. "I'm simply starved. All that's keeping me from ravaging your galley is the fact that I have no weapon. And you know how good I am with a sword."

That's right. Two could play at his game.

His mouth almost dropped open at her words.

"Yes, you'd have your way in a second," he finally managed.

She smirked just as a soft knock came down the ladder. "Captain! I've got your food."

"Thanks, Chip," Killian said with a grin as he peeked out the hatch. "Go grab something to eat. You're going to stay up with Smee tonight. He's going to give you a lesson in charting stars."

"Awesome!" Chip grinned before practically running off, his soft footfalls echoing through the night. Emma watched the exchange thoughtfully before Hook spun around and placed the plates in front of her. Mutton and beans. Not the best, but still. Food.

"Chip says he's been sailing with you a year," Emma began hesitantly, curiosity about Hook's past making it's way to the surface.

"Aye," Jones answered, "And an adventurous year it's been. We've done some damage to Regina's navy, disrupted quite a few trade routes in and out of the kingdom. All in all, the boys had a fairly good introduction to the world."

"And you don't feel guilty about it?" Emma enquired. She knew she did. Guilt gnawed at her insides every day when she thought of bringing up Scarlet in this life. But it was all she had.

"How can I?" Killian shrugged indifferently. "The boy chose to come with me from that realm and he refuses to leave. He'll make a good Captain one day, should he stick around."

"Should he survive," Emma interjected, her eyes returning to her untouched food.

"Oh no," Killian replied, putting a forkful of beans in his mouth. "If there's anything I know about Chip, it's that after the life he's led, he's got a knack for survival."

Emma frowned, "He didn't make it sound like that…"

Killian brows rose, realising that he'd evidently said to much, "Apologies, Swan, but it's not my story to tell."

"And what about yours, Captain?" she answered, leaning back in her hard backed chair. "You have control over your past. You're at liberty to discuss it."

"We're in a transaction for a week, Swan," he answered sharply, blue eyes glinting and steely. "That doesn't involve my life's story."

"I don't want your life's story," she answered simply. "I want what happened when I left."

"No, you don't," Killian answered with a sigh.

"I do–"

"You don't," he cut off abruptly, looking up at her with harshness in his eyes. "If you're not going to eat, then don't fill pleasant silence with useless interrogation."

She did want to know.

But he didn't want to remember.

And for that very reason, she knew that she had to make him tell her his story.

Emma was lying in his bed, watching him looking over his maps with a serious look in his eyes. Eyes that were slowly drooping and very obviously tired. Her mouth shaped an 'o' of surprise when she realised he hadn't slept last night. Gods knew how long he'd been awake for.

"Hook," she finally murmured, "You should sleep."

"The bed's not big enough-"

"I'm cold," Emma lied turning over so that her back was facing him. She wasn't willing to admit that now that she had him so close, she didn't want to spend the night breathing in his scent and not being able to know he was there.

"I have more blankets…"

He was hesitant; his voice a little shaky.

"Come to bed, Jones," Emma almost ordered with a slightly weary tone to her voice. After another moment's silence, she heard him padding over the floor and kicking his boots off. The sound of his tunic went next, and then the soft falls of his shirt.

He kept his pants on.

He really was trying to be a gentlemen, Emma thought in appreciation, affection rushing through her as he climbed into the bed cautiously behind her. She shifted her body to make room before moulding herself against him. His chest hair rubbed through the soft cotton of her shirt and she smiled when the warmth of his hands rounded her body to sit just below her breasts.

"Night, Captain Jones," she muttered finally.

"Goodnight, Captain Swan."

The sun was setting as she steered the Wandering Lady through the multi-coloured sea. The peace of her thoughts was disturbed as a loud laugh came up to her.

"Killian!" she heard herself yelling, chastising him. "You're meant to be sleeping!"

"Blame your daughter," his voice came up through the hatch. "She bloody well needs to learn that daddy doesn't appreciate being tickled on his feet."

"Yes you do!" An indignant small voice came up the stairs. "You have to. Mommy does it all the time. So that means you have to love it. And you just made swears. Mommy, daddy has to be punished."

"Nerina," Emma warned. The little girl with soft blond curls and bright blue eyes stood at the bottom of the ladder.

"But mommy," she pouted, but Emma must have given her a stern look because the next second, her small figure was climbing up the ladder. At almost five, she was already tall for her age, too eager to be like her brother and sister.

"Go and find Scarlet and Henry," Emma ordered her. "I need your brother to tear himself away from his beloved food and take the helm."

"I can do that!" Nerina looked elated at the thought.

"Your brother is 13, Neri," Emma reminded her. "Maybe when you're the same age as Scarlet you can learn…"

"But Scarlet's…" Neri thought hard. "Scarlet's…"

"Scarlet's 8," Emma reminded her.

"Yes," Neri answered as though it was obvious before her brow furrowed. "So that's another…3 years!"

"Well done," Emma smiled, leaning down to give her a kiss before reminding her, "Now. Go find Henry."

Neri sprinted off just as Killian rose, bleary eyed, from his cabin.

"She gets it from you," Killian murmured, wrapping his two arms with two hands around her. "Bloody terror."

"You helped make that bloody terror," Emma answered as he nuzzled into her hair before nipping gently at her ear. "And if you keep going like that, we'll have another little terror to deal with."

"Mmm. You aren't giving me much incentive to stop then, love."

Emma stopped, thinking over that. "You really want more kids?"

"I love our children, Emma."

She grinned, "I'm so glad you accepted Henry and Scar. You're an amazing man, Killian Jones."

"Keep going, love," he muttered huskily, pressing himself against her."

"You're sexy," she whispered, and he kissed her neck, "And loving. And a perfect father. And you're mine."

"Aye," he whispered, his hips pushing against hers. "That I am."

Emma awoke when she heard the soft groaning beside her ear. It took her a moment to shake off the incredulity of her dream and realise that there were sounds and motions surrounding her that were causing a great stirring in her core.

Killian's hips were fluidly thrusting against her backside and the hand that had once lain comfortingly on her stomach, had now crept up her shirt and was kneading at her breast.

"That's it…" he murmured almost incoherently. Emma barely realised she was moving against him. She had no idea how long they'd been doing whatever it was they were doing, but Killian seemed to be enjoying. Reaching around in curiosity, she felt him hard and straining against his laces.

Of course, she was only thinking of his discomfort when she reached to untie his pants. And then, it was only to stop him from humping her in his sleep that she began to turn over and grasp him in her hand.

She stroked her fingers over him lightly and he shuddered in his sleep. She gave a few light tugs before she found herself on her back, Killian Jones hovering above her, eyes wide with pupils dilated.

"Trying to get me off while I sleep, wench?"

"Jones?" Emma's brow furrowed, breathing heavily. She clenched her thighs tightly together as she realised how aroused she actually was.

"Emma?" He rose from the haze of sleep, eyes widening in shock. "Oh gods, I'm so sorry."

"No."

He scrambled off her, but she wouldn't let him, pushing him back onto his back, surprised they hadn't fallen off the bed yet. She straddled his thighs before pulling her shirt over her head without preamble.

"Swan…we shouldn't…"

"We should," she answered adamantly, leaning down to kiss down his bare chest, pointedly avoiding the intimacy of his lips. He groaned as her hand wrapped around his cock again. She gave him a flirtatious grin as she lowered her lips to wrap around the tip of him, rolling her tongue over his head before slipping down his length to take in as much of him as he could. He seemed at the height of his need; he must have been quite active while he was asleep. His low moans of need spurred her onwards, his good hand coming to rest on her head, threading through her hair gently.

"Fuck, Swan," he groaned as his hips jerked against her. "You're…I'm going to come."

And she sucked him in deep before he shuddered and came down her throat, gripping her hair and breathing out deeply. Emma cleaned him off before climbing up towards him, expecting him to return the favour.

But they were interrupted by an outcry on deck.

"Bloody hell," Killian groaned, giving her an apologetic look before swinging off the bed and doing up his pants. Emma sighed, reaching for her own shirt. She was so hoping…

"Captain!" Smee's voice came down the hatch. "There's a problem I don't know what to do with."

Killian pulled his shirt on before climbing upwards without a second thought. A low exchange took place before Emma heard the high pitched sounds echoing through the night. Sounds of a child.

Sounds of a very familiar child.

"No! Please mister! I didn't mean any harm, I just wanted to –"

"Why is there a child on my ship?" Hook asked aloud to no one in particular.

Emma was climbing up onto the deck without a split second's hesitation.

"Emma!" Scarlet's face broke out into a wide smile when she spotted her. "Uncle Graham said I had to wait a week. But I couldn't. So I did a pirate thing and snuck on board before the ship left. I stowed away

"Swan?" Killian asked in curious astonishment, "This child is yours?"

"Not in the way you're thinking," Emma answered, rolling her eyes before leaning down to take Scarlet in her arms. "But yes. She's under my care."

"I can't have a child on my ship," he answered quickly, "That wasn't part of the deal."

"I'll take care of her," Emma answered, not knowing any other alternative. They couldn't pull up aside her ship and drop her off again. Scarlet quite obviously wouldn't stay put.

"There's no room for her here, Swan," Killian replied.

"Then…" She thought carefully. There was no option except…

"If we go back to my ship, you can…Captain her, for this week."

"You'll let me lead your ship?"

"Aye," Emma answered. And knowing exactly the amount of pride she was giving up by offering that, Killian knew he couldn't reject it. It was like rejecting a phenomenal gift.

"Okay," Killian nodded, turning to Smee. "Weigh anchor and furl the sails."

"Why?" Emma inquired as Scarlet absently played with her hair.

"We're going to wait for your boyfriend to catch up, Swan," Killian answered, a sparkle in his eye. "Then I'm taking you home."

Sorry! I know Scarlet's not the baby you all wanted. But effectively, she will share the same purpose. :) [With her name being Scarlet, I wonder if you can all guess who her actual mother is in this AU?]