They sat on the sandy banks, fully dressed again, watching the dusk fade to night.

"Why'd you do it?" asked Regina, turning her head and looking at Hook. "Why'd you save the prince's life?"

Hook swallowed thickly but didn't meet her gaze. He stared at the lake as the waters turned darker as the sun disappeared behind the trees.

"Because it was the right thing to do," said Hook hoarsely.

Regina blinked. "When do you care about doing the right thing? You're a pirate – you plunder, pillage and steal – when do you care about morality?"

Hook smiled slightly. "I wasn't always a pirate you know, just as you weren't always a Queen."

Regina returned his smile. "Enlighten me Captain," she said. "Who were you before you became the barbaric Captain of the Jolly Roger? A farm boy just like David?"

Hook laughed throatily. "A Lieutenant actually," he corrected, watching the surprised look on Regina's face. "For the ship the Jewel of the Realm."

For a moment, Regina was speechless. She didn't know what she had expected but never in her life, did she consider that Hook might have had a noble and professional ambition.

"So how the hell become a pirate then?"

"That's a long story, love."

"We have time."

Hook smiled tightly and Regina thought he was going to ignore her inquiries, but he surprised her again by recounting of his tales in Neverland.

"I had a brother once," he began. "Liam was his name. Liam was the Captain of the Jewel of the realm and he had orders to set sail to a new land to find a magical plant that could cure any illness–"

Regina cut him off. "What land did you go to?"

"Neverland," Hook replied calmly. "We arrived on Neverland's shores and it was there that we met a boy; a boy named Peter Pan."

Regina held her breath. She could tell this story was not going to end could. Anything with Pan in it was bound to be a dark tale.

"Pan told us that the plant we were searching for was in fact a poison called Dream Shade, but Liam didn't believe him, so he cut himself with the thorn of the plant just to reassure me that the plant was no poison…how wrong he was…he nearly died…until Pan led me to a fountain of magical water that could cure any illness…and it did…but Pan failed to tell me one important detail – that anyone who drank from the fountain could never leave the island alive…"

Regina's mind whirled, spun and then it hit her –

"David…" she whispered.

"Yes," said Hook sadly. "David said an eternal life in Neverland was a small price to pay for Henry's safety."

Regina's eyes began to sting. Life was a bitch.

"You're brother," began Regina, again. "He died."

"Yes," replied Hook with a nod. "At first I was angry with Pan but then I was angrier at my King. After I left Neverland I vowed to never serve another monarch again."

Regina flinched but Hook continued talking. "I became a free man, stole the Jewels of the Realm and it became the Jolly Rodger. And that's how I became a pirate."

"You chose freedom over sovereignty? You chose to spend your life on a ship –"

"Yes," said Hook, slightly angry. "That ship is not just a keel and a hull and sails; that's what a ship needs, not what a ship is. What the Jolly Rodger really is, is freedom."

Freedom. Regina had longed for that all her life under Cora's tutelage.

Freedom.

A/N: Thanks everyone for their overwhelming support and comments. I've been having a blast writing this, and there are more chapter to come. I have lots of writing to do next month because I'm also doing Nanowrimo. Do any of you guys participate in Nanowrimo? I'm going to have the most amazing month writing but I will definitely continue this as well.

Anyway, all characters are of course Onces, and the end quote about the ship is referenced from the 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' Hope you like it. Lots of love. CD xxx