Emma took a big breath, her nose filling with the scent of the sea, and listened to the seagulls squawking outside. She could see the light shining through her eyelids as she rolled over, feeling the cool sheets move between her legs. Adjusting her arm, Emma felt her hand graze over a rough surface. She opened her eyes slightly, letting them get used to the bright sunshine that filled the room, and investigated. Her memory came flooding back as she looked at her arm laying across the chest of a roughly built sailor. Emma fully opened her eyes and tilted her head up to see the bright blue eyes of the pirate looking down at her.
"Hey beautiful." Hook smiled. He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead as he stroked her bare back lightly with his hand.
Emma sighed blissfully and nuzzled up against his warm body, recalling the events from hours before in her mind. She could still taste his salty skin, no doubt from all his time spent on the ocean, and remembered how it felt to have him on top of her, feeling his muscles flex as he pulsed in and out. It had been many years since she had felt that kind of passion with someone. She could even admit to wondering about how it would have been with Graham. Hook's embrace made her feel secure and she closed her eyes and laid her head on his chest, her mind drifting to how beautiful of a day it seemed to be starting out as. I wonder how Henry's night was. Emma thought. I should take him-
Emma sat bolt upright, eyes wide with panic. Henry. Her parents. They would be out looking for her soon when they discovered she never came home and she wasn't about to let them find her curled up in the arms of a pirate. She started scrambling, very aware of her current situation, and threw the sheets off her.
"Emma!" Hook exclaimed, completely perplexed at the abrupt change in events. "What's wrong? Where are you going?"
"This was a mistake," Emma proclaimed, scouring the room for her clothes. Hook looked at her concerned.
"A mistake?" he questioned, not believing what he was hearing. "What do you mean a mistake?"
"I mean I should have never come here with you. We should've never done this." Emma paused, half-dressed, and looked up at him. "I'm sorry."
Hook, growing frustrated, got out of bed. "You're sorry? You're sorry?! What about everything that's happened? Can you possibly tell me that none of it meant anything to you, Emma?!" He walked over to her as she zipped up her boots and adjusted her disheveled hair as best she could.
She stood and faced the pirate. "I need to go," she said softly, almost apologetically. "I'm sorry, Hook." Emma turned on her heel and marched to the door. Hook pulled on his pants as quickly as he could and chased after her.
"Swan!" he yelled. "Swan!" But Emma didn't stop. She rushed out the door, across the deck, and up the steps to the dock leaving Hook in the doorway of his quarters. As he watched her leave, a tear streamed down his face and he wondered what happened to make the shattered walls around her pile back up.
Emma raced up the dock towards the town, running her fingers around her eyes hoping that she could make herself look as normal as possible. It was quite possible she would run into someone on an early Sunday morning walk since it was almost quarter after eight. She turned the corner and found herself being attacked by a long, wet tongue and a wagging tail.
"Good morning, Sheriff," Archie chimed. "Beautiful day, isn't it?" He pulled back on Pongo's leash to keep him from jumping up on Emma.
"Yeah, it's nice," Emma responded leaning down to pet the dog.
"What brings you down here? Nothing serious, I hope."
"I- uh-" For the first time in her life, or at least in recent memory, Emma could not find an excuse to save her life and she knew it was showing.
"Is something troubling you?" Archie asked kindly.
Emma smiled. "I'm fine, Archie. Thanks though. I was just down here checking on Hook's ship, making sure it didn't disappear or anything." She knew it was the biggest load of crap Archie had probably ever heard, but it's all she could think of.
Archie looked at her for a moment. "Well, I'm assuming you didn't lose it," he said playing along. "If you need anything, Emma, you know I'm always here to talk."
"I know. Thanks," she stated. "Well, I don't want to keep you and Pongo from enjoying the day. I'll see you later." She gave Pongo one last pat and continued up the street.
"Goodbye, Sheriff," Archie called after her.
As she walked up Main Street towards the loft, Emma knew she wasn't going to be able to avoid her parents when she got home considering the time it was. She knew they were going to ask all kinds of questions about where she was all night and why Hook wasn't with her, none of which she was keen on answering. Emma was actually surprised she hadn't received a panicked phone call from her mother yet and reached into the pocket on her pants to retrieve her phone, but stopped dead in her tracks when she discovered that it wasn't there.
"Damn it," Emma thought audibly. She had left it somewhere back on the Jolly Roger. Emma stood there debating whether or not to go get it, but decided not to, trying to convince herself she was already so close to home and didn't need it. One thing she did need, though, was coffee.
The bell hanging over the diner's door jingled as Emma opened it and walked in. It was quiet inside; only a couple of booths were occupied. Emma walked up to the bar as Ruby came out from the kitchen.
"Hi Emma," Ruby said. "Usual coffee?"
"That'd be great, thanks, Ruby," she replied.
Ruby grabbed one of the to-go cups and made up Emma's coffee order. She paused and surveyed Emma's appearance. "Did you go home last night?" Ruby asked, eyebrows raised.
Emma looked down. "Umm, no." She knew she couldn't hide it from her.
Ruby's eyes widened and she rushed around the bar to stand next to Emma. "What happened? Where did you go?" Ruby whispered as she handed Emma her coffee. Emma didn't respond, but just stared guiltily at the ground. Ruby hesitated. "You didn't...you know...?"
Emma sipped her drink, grateful for the intake of caffeine. She couldn't look Ruby in the eye. "I don't really want to talk about it." Ruby's jaw dropped at her basic admittance to the question and made to argue back, but was interrupted by Greg Mendel walking in from the inn.
"Good morning, ladies," he chirped. "Fine day out, isn't it?"
"Good morning, Mr. Mendel," Ruby greeted robotically. "How are you?"
"Very well, thank you. Can I get a cinnamon muffin and black coffee? To-go, please?"
"Coming right up," Ruby said eyeing Emma as she went to fetch the visitor's breakfast.
Emma gulped another bit of coffee as she gave Greg a once-over. "Where are you off to this morning?" she asked noticing a messenger bag slung over his shoulder.
"Oh I thought I'd go on a hike since it's such a nice day," Greg said with a smile. "I'm kind of a nature freak, you see."
Emma nodded, hoping she looked interested in what he was saying. "Just thought you'd be back in Pennsylvania by now."
"Ah, well, this town's starting to grow on me a bit." Ruby strolled over and handed Greg his coffee and muffin. "Have a nice day, ladies." He tipped his hat and exited the diner, Emma and Ruby both staring as he walked out.
"Why is he still hanging around here?" Ruby asked.
"No idea," Emma responded, "but I hope he leaves soon." She had hoped the distraction of the outsider had taken Ruby's mind off of what happened between her and Hook, but she was wrong.
"So, Emma," Ruby said turning back to Emma, "what happened with you and Hook? Did you do what I think you did?"
Emma met Ruby's eyes and sighed. "Yes," Emma confirmed. She continued before Ruby could say anything. "But you cannot say anything to anyone, Ruby. I'm still trying to figure things out and, until I do, I don't want people knowing. Especially David and Mary Margaret."
"Yeah, they'll kill you." She paused. "Well, they'll kill him first. And then you." Emma nodded in agreement. "Your secret is safe with me."
"Thanks." Emma made to leave the diner, but Ruby stopped her.
"Before you go," she started, "can I ask why? We all know what he is and what he's done, yet you did it anyways."
"It's complicated, Ruby. More complicated than I can explain right now."
Ruby looked at Emma. "Do you trust him?"
"...Yes. Yes, I would trust him with my life." Emma smiled. "I'll see you later." She brushed Ruby's arm in thanks as she passed her on the way out.
Emma walked down the path from Granny's and turned back onto Main Street. Gulping her coffee as she strode along, she tried to think of all the excuses she could give to her parents. This is so stupid, Emma thought. I'm almost thirty and I am scared of what my parents will think about what I did. She shook her head out of frustration at herself as she opened the door and climbed the stairs to the loft. Emma placed her hand on the door handle and took a breath. Well, here goes nothing.
Snow and Charming were standing in the kitchen drinking their morning coffee and making breakfast. Henry was sitting at the counter, his precious storybook open in front of him. They all looked up as Emma walked over the threshold. "Where have you been?!" Snow cried rushing over to her daughter wrapping her in a tight, protective hug.
"No where," Emma said breaking out of her mother's grip and walking to the counter to embrace her son.
"Where's Hook?" David asked realizing the pirate was not with Emma. "Did something happen? Did he hurt you?" David whipped around the counter to survey his little girl making sure she wasn't hurt.
"I'm fine, David." She wrestled with his grip, but he wouldn't let her go.
David turned her shoulders so she faced him. "What happened?" he asked as calmly as he could. "Did he hurt you?"
"Nothing happened," Emma insisted. "I'm fine." She looked in his eyes. "Dad. I'm fine." David pursed his lips and let go of his daughter. Emma walked away and picked up a mug to pour herself another cup of coffee. She just wanted to go upstairs and go to bed, but knew that wasn't going to happen any time soon. She had a lot of explaining to do.
"Emma," Snow said calmly, approaching the counter opposite her daughter. "Where is Hook?"
"He's on his ship." The steam off the hot coffee warmed Emma's face as she took a drink. She smiled at Henry who was watching her over the lip of his cereal bowl.
Snow and David stood there confused. "Why is Hook back on his ship? I thought you weren't letting him out of your sight," David asked.
Emma ignored her father's question and addressed her son. "You almost done there, kid?" She gestured to his breakfast.
Henry slurped the last bit of milk from the bowl, put it down and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Just finished." He gave his mother that sweet smile he showed up at her door with all those months ago.
"Grab your book and go hop in the shower. I need to talk to your grandparents." Emma took his empty bowl and set it in the sink. "We'll go grab lunch a little later after I get some rest and you can tell me all about your night with them and Tamara, ok?"
"Sounds good," Henry chimed. He grabbed his book and skipped up the steps to his room.
As soon as Henry was out of earshot, David put his hands on his hips and looked at his daughter. "What's going on, Emma? Where were you all night?"
Emma took another sip of coffee. "Well, we went out to the Rabbit Hole, stayed until close, and then I wasn't tired so we went for a walk."
"We meaning you and Hook?" Snow asked.
"Yeah," Emma confirmed. "Me and Hook. I told Neal I would bring him back so he could go back to the inn."
"So all this time, you've just been walking around town?"
"No." Emma knew it was best to just tell the truth, but she'd definitely be leaving some parts of the story out. "When we were walking," she started, "he asked if we could go to his ship and since he hadn't been back to it in a few weeks, I agreed." She paused. Her parents made no move to respond so she continued. "So we went and I let him take it out on the water. We anchored it just off shore and I ended up falling asleep on the deck. When I woke up, we were back at the docks. He was asleep in his room and I wanted to come home so I left."
Snow and David absorbed the story and looked at one another. "He could've kidnapped you, Emma. Taken you to who knows where," Snow pointed out.
"Yeah, he could've," Emma agreed. "But he didn't. And that's why I left him on the ship." David crossed his arms and grumbled. He nodded at his daughter. She could tell he didn't like her decision, but that he knew arguing with her wouldn't do any good. Emma smiled at him hoping to convey her gratefulness to him.
"Well, Emma," David asserted, "I don't exactly approve of this, but you're my daughter and I'm going to trust you." He walked over and gave her a hug and a kiss on the top of her head.
"Thanks, Dad." Emma hugged her father back.
"I'm going to head off to the sheriff's station." David dumped the remainder of his coffee down the drain. "Will I see you there later?" he asked Emma.
"Yeah I'll be around sometime this afternoon," Emma replied. "I want to spend a little time with Henry first."
"Alright, I'll see you later then." David gave Snow a quick peck and walked out the door leaving his wife and daughter alone. Emma looked at her mother who was staring at her with a frown.
"Is there something wrong?" Emma asked her mother.
"What else happened?" Snow demanded.
Emma looked at her completely confused. "What?"
Snow crossed her arms. "I know you're not telling me everything, now what else happened last night?"
Emma's mouth hung open dumbfounded at her mother's intuition. "Nothing," she said diverting her eyes. She turned on the faucet and made to start washing the breakfast dishes. Snow marched over to the sink and turned off the water, drawing Emma's attention back to her.
"Emma, I know there's something more to your story. Now tell me."
"It's nothing."
"If it's nothing then why are you hiding it?"
"Because, no offense, Mom, it's none of your business."
"Don't take that tone with me, young lady." To Snow's surprise, Emma didn't fight back, but, instead, failed to resist the smile cracking on her face and started giggling. "What?" Snow questioned.
"Sorry," Emma burst out. "It's just that after 28 years, I didn't think I would ever hear those words from my own mother." She gave her mother an apologetic smile.
Snow smiled sweetly and rubbed her daughter's arm affectionately. "I never thought I would get to say those words." Emma embraced her mother.
"Look," Emma sighed. "Something else did happen, but it doesn't matter." She backed away from Snow and looked desperately into her eyes. "Can you please just trust me on this and drop it?" Snow nodded. "Thank you. Well, I am going to go lay down and get some more sleep."
"Ok." Snow leaned forward and kissed her daughter on the temple. "I love you, Emma."
"I love you too, Mom." Emma smiled and walked past Snow and up the stairs to her room. She couldn't wait to have her head hit the pillow although she was pretty sure whatever sleep she did manage to get wouldn't be very restful. All her thoughts were back on the Jolly Roger. She collapsed on her bed wondering what Hook was doing right then.
Across town, Hook stood at the helm of his ship staring out to the sea. He couldn't understand why Emma had marched off so suddenly. He thought those walls of hers had finally been broken down all the way and she was able to express her feelings for him. But he was wrong. Something else was holding her back. Hook looked down at the letter and compass etched in the base in front of him. Did this have something to do with Baelfire? He knew they had a history, but didn't know what it was. There were many layers to Emma Swan and Hook just had to continue to peel back the layers. Hook heard footsteps coming over from the dock. He turned to see who they belonged to and froze when he saw their owner climbing aboard his ship.
"We need to talk, Hook." David walked up to the helm and faced the pirate, a fire blazing in his eyes. "We need to talk about my daughter."