Chapter 20

Emma woke to the feeling of warm arms enveloping her and the sun shining in through her balcony doors. Her room was bright. It was much brighter than when she normally woke up for the day. Shock ran through her that no one had come looking for her yet. No mom or dad. Not even Nolan or Marie. She stretched gingerly and felt muscles she hadn't used in forever protest. Between her legs was tender from all of the lovemaking they had shared. His hook rested on her stomach just above her navel. Hook's other arm laid under her with his hand cupping her breast in sleep. She felt her nipple tighten slightly when she noticed the touch. Her hips pressed back into him once before she stopped herself.

They couldn't stay in bed like this. Someone would come to find her soon. She had probably missed her sparing lesson. Although it was more practice now and less of a lesson, she never missed it. Her dad would be the one to come. And that would not end well.

With that thought, she started to pull away from Hook. She gently picked up his hook and removed it from her stomach and rolled out of his arms. He protested softly in his sleep, his brow furrowed and she watched his arm flex as if to hold on to something. She watched his sleeping form as she dressed silently. Her shock at waking and finding him still in her bed and realizing he didn't sneak out in the middle of the night still coursed through her. It made her heart go soft with love.

Her heart was no longer her own. And she wondered if True Love might just be real, because if it was this pirate must surely be hers. She leaned over him and kissed his lips softly, the gentle touch of a butterfly against his mouth. His hand snaked up to tangle into her hair as he pulled her lips more fully against him. He deepened her soft kiss, his tongue drawing hers out to dance with his for a moment. She pulled back and he protested with a low growl.

"We don't have time. They will notice I'm missing soon and then come looking for me."

His eyes opened lazily and a smile formed on his perfectly kissable mouth. "Oh, my love, how I wish that wasn't true." Her heart skipped a beat when he called her his love. Warmth raced through her body.

"Well it is! Now get up. We have to figure out how to get you out with out being seen." She swatted at him. When all she really wanted to do was kiss him again.

Hook sat up and swung his legs off the side of the bed revealing his scared perfection. Someday she would trace each one of those scars with her tongue and kiss them away. His cock stood at attention and her hand reached out to graze it. His hand shot out to stop her from stroking him. He held her wrist still.

"Love—" he breathed "I don't think that is the kind of up you are referring too." Her hand let go reluctantly of his member and Emma smiled wickedly.

"Maybe you need something to remember me by…" she teased as she went to her knees and drew him all the way into her mouth. Her tongue swirled around his head once before she stood back up and stepped out of his reach.

"Bloody hell, swan. I can't forget you. No matter how hard I try. Don't you get it? I've tried to get you out of my head. It hasn't worked. I'm not even sure I want to get you out anymore." He admitted as his hand came up to run through his hair. One of her eyebrows rose at his statement. Not sure if it was a compliment or an insult as her arms crossed defensively over her chest.

"Well considering what we just shared, I don't think you can deny our connection anymore." At least she hoped that he couldn't. Hook looked up at her.

"Aye, there is a connection. That is for sure." He purred as he stood up and pulled on his pants. But she was sure his words referred to the physical, not the emotional one. He may not love her yet, but maybe he would someday. She would let him put up his wall, just for now.

"Okay, so here's the thing. Early in the morning there are guards in the halls waking for the day, but it is later than that now, so hopefully they will all be awake. I'm going to sneak you out through the servant quarters. Which means we need to go towards the back of the castle to their stairs. But let me check the hallway first. Stay right here." She pointed at him as he picked up his discarded shirt and pulled it over his head. He nodded his head in agreement, a smile on his lips. The ability to be sneaky would serve her well as a pirate. Emma went to the door, unlocked it and stepped out into the hall closing it behind her. It was empty. Thank god. She walked a little ways down the hall in both directions to make certain before she went back to get Hook.

He silently followed her out of the castle without incident. Once they were outside the walls he pushed her against one and kissed her. The passion in the kiss left her breathless and wanting. He pulled back slightly, his hand grazed the side of her breast through her shirt and he mouthed, "Remember me swan." Then he turned to leave, his stride long and cocky as he walked down the road towards the docks, leaving Emma breathing hard. Her eyes followed him until he was no longer in sight.

Hook arrived at the busy docks. Mr. Smee was waiting for him. He had planned to be back last night, so the man was probably worried. He smiled broadly at him and patted him on the back.

"What is it Smee?" he cheered, his good mood evident for everyone to see.

"I had thought you had run into trouble Captain." He explained returning his smile. "I learned some new information last night."

Hook's eyebrow shot up in curiosity. "Indeed?"

"Aye, I found out who told the guards that you were in on the kidnapping."

"Go on."

"The man's name is Justin. As soon as you left the area villagers, he approached the guards telling them that you had been part of it, but that the princess had gotten away." He paused as he watched Hook take in the information before he added the part he thought might make the Captain's good mood fade. "He is also the man that people told me was sleeping with the princess." He swallowed, but Hook only blinked once and looked at him.

"So you are telling me, that the same man that slept with the princess is also the same man that tried to frame me for trying to kidnap the princess?"

"Aye, Captain."

"Interesting." He voiced as another of the puzzle pieces fit smoothly into place. He vaguely wondered if he was the same man that broke Emma the first time. "Where can I find this man, to – question him?"

"He stays in the village. I have not located his home yet. But I will." Smee promised.

"Outstanding!" he smiled still in good humor. He wasn't sure anything could take his newfound happiness away right now. What had occurred last night had injected new life into Hook. He wouldn't call it love, not just yet, but it could be love if he allowed it to grow.

"What did you learn from Rexford?" Smee questioned taking him back to only the day before. Had it only been one night? It had felt so much longer that he had been in her arms.

"What you told me is true. The Dark One as I knew him is no more. He is a man with magic. Some say it is still quite strong. While others say it has faded away. Rexford claims he is still as strong as he had been as the Dark One. That True Love has only aided in making him stronger." He paused and remembered the rest. "He also told me that him and his family live a quiet life in the country, on the other side of the enchanted forest. They rarely come to the castle anymore. He doesn't know why but since Emma's 18th birthday he has come to the castle less."

"What will your next move be then Captain?"

"I will follow them when they leave the castle and take care of him then." Until then he could spend time with Emma, learning more about the lass. He could get to know her without the distraction of his revenge and the need to deceive her. Going to his cabin after dismissing Smee, he washed up and changed his clothes before heading back to the castle to court his swan.

"Emma, honey! You look well rested." Her mom gushed as soon as she came back out to the courtyard after getting cleaned up. Nolan and Isabella were leaning against the fence for the sparing yard and Nolan turned at her mom's comment. His eyes took in her face and he smirked. She knew a comment was coming she would want to kill him for.

"Maybe you should get that much sleep all the time Ems, you are positively glowing."

She hugged her mom and glared at Nolan over her shoulder. "I'm feeling much better." She told her mom with a smile.

"Your dad wanted to wake you, but I told him to let you sleep, you looked like you needed it last night." She smiled with a twinkle in her eyes. It had her second-guessing that her mom might know and she felt her skin flushing.

"Uh, yeah. I did. Need it that is. The sleep. It was good." She stumbled over her words awkwardly and her mom gave her a secret smile. God. She knew. She had to know. Emma's eyes frantically found Nolan and he grinned wide. Had he told her mother? No he wouldn't do that. He was just catching on that she knew too.

"Are you up to sparing? Your dad waited for you." Snow smiled again and brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek. Then her hand paused and he gaze went to Emma's neck. Emma froze. Then her mom started moving again like she hadn't seen the love mark Hook had left on her. And Emma took in a deep breath.

"Yeah, that is what I'm here for actually." Then she went over to her father and drew out her sword. "Ready dad?" she inquired seconds before she lunged. He easily blocked the move he had taught her and they spared for a while. Her focus was completely on her father. After they were finished she was breathing harder and a light sheen of sweat coated her skin. She glanced over to the fence and saw Hook leaning on it watching them. He stood next to Nolan and smiled when her eyes landed on him.

Snow stood back from the fence her eyes ever-watchful going between her daughter and the pirate. They had that connection. The True Love one, she could see it. She wasn't sure if they sensed it yet, but it couldn't be far off if the way they stared at each other was any indication. Her gaze went to her husband and he was watching them too. His brow furrowed in that way she loved to kiss away. Their baby was all grown up.

"Princess." Hook called, "I can teach you a thing or two about sword fighting you don't know." His voice was teasing and she smiled at the challenge. Not even Nolan could beat her at sword fighting, her father had taught her well. Nolan was an expert with the sword; his extra senses aided him with his fighting.

"You think you can beat me? I thought you learned your lesson the other day at the beach." She flirted back at him. Nolan started laughing.

"Actually Ems, you lost the race. I remember." Nolan added helpfully smiling at Hook in conspiracy. Oh it was like that now, was it? Were they buddies now? She laughed and beckoned Hook onto the sparing field.

"I will go easy on you lass." He murmured with a smirk. Her father backed away from them watching them closely. Ready to protect his daughter if he thought he needed to.

"Pft. You don't need to go easy on me, you won't beat me."

"Well, if it's all the same I would rather not hurt you, love." With that he struck and she blocked. His hooked hand came up and caught her leg knocking her to the ground. Her breath left her in a whoosh. He was over her with his hook and sword holding hers in place. He slowly lowered down the length of her sword as he said. "I normally prefer to do more enjoyable activities with a woman on her back." Her mind flashed to the night before and she almost dropped her sword. He did not just say that to her in front of her father. Her eyes glanced in his direction but it seemed he hadn't heard Hook's comment. Her feet came up and she kicked him off of her and jumped to her feet her sword still clutched in her hand. "Not bad." He commented getting to his feet with a grin.

They spared some more, the clang of sword against sword ringing through the courtyard. A crowd started to gather at the fence and sweat ran down the side of her face. He got her on her back again, her sword knocked away from her before she gave in and admitted he had beat her.

"You win." She gasped. He chuckled and got to his feet, he held his hand out to her to help her up.

"I told you I could teach you a thing or two. Maybe I can train with you." He suggested with a look at her father. As though he was asking silent permission. Her father nodded once before going to her mother's side.

Nolan came out on the field with a towel held in his hand. He offered it to her with a smile. "Looks like you've met your match, huh Ems?"

"Yeah, it does look that way doesn't it." She smiled and looked at Hook. He took the towel she offered him after she had wiped her face and he did the same.

"Walk with me?" Hook asked hopefully and she nodded before lacing her fingers with his and walking past her parents and the gathered crowd out into the courtyard.

A/N - A little fluff for you guys before things really get serious. lol Thanks for reading! Love you all! Thank you to my beta Angelfan984, as always you are amazing!

Just to let you all know Angelfan984 and I have combined our minds and are co-writing a story. I am insanely proud of it so far and it would be amazing if you all could read it and let us know what you think. It is called 'Love Through the Looking Glass' you can find it here: s/9600265/1/Love-Through-the-Looking-Glass