Chapter 26 – The Journey Continues

"Hook mentioned you and Neal had gone off together?' Snow asked.

"No, we looked for Henry separately." Emma sighed. "Neal told me that when he and Hook were in Neverland, Hook turned him over to the Lost Ones so he could gain favour with P…Him to get his revenge on Gold. He thinks Hook wants to use Henry for that same purpose." She looked over at Felix who had joined them. "Were you one of the Lost Ones Hook turned Bae over to?"

Felix nodded. "He wanted to gain favour from him. But at first he had the boy and lied to us. He's lucky he didn't use his own shadow."

"So both of them were telling the truth. Hook wanted to create a family with Neal, Milah would have wanted them to."

Snow wondered. "Do you think he would use Henry?"

Emma shook her head. "I don't think so at least I really hope not."

"He wouldn't do that to you." Felix chimed in.

"How do you know?" Snow asked looking at him pointedly.

"Because he's a man of honour. He still wants to kill the Dark One and I have no doubt if the opportunity were to present itself he would but he wouldn't use your son." Felix stated.

"How long till the herbs start to work?" Emma asked ignoring what Felix was saying.

"If it's not too late it should have started as soon as he drank the tea but it will take a few days till he gets his strength back." The Lost One responded in a strained voice.

Emma froze. "It could be too late, he really could die?" Her voice was breathless like the thought had robbed her of air.

"I'm sure it will work. Look he's got a bit of colour in his cheeks." Snow stated trying to lighten Emma's mood.

Emma rolled her eyes. "That's from the fever." She reached over and felt his forehead.

"He will get better, Emma. I'm sure of it." Snow reassured her. "Now I insist you both get some rest. Felix get to bed and Emma you can go and sleep in mine."

Emma shook her head. "I'm staying with Hook."

"You need to sleep!" Snow's tone grew serious.

"I will but here beside Hook. That way if he awakes I can give him more of the tea."

Snow realized there was no way she could talk her stubborn daughter out of it. "Felix would you let Emma sleep in yours and you go sleep in mine?"

When he didn't answer she looked at him. He was staring out into the forest.

"Felix?"

He jumped slightly. She repeated her request. He nodded and slowly went over to the bed.

"Is he all right?" Emma asked. "He looks upset."

"He lost his girlfriend or rather they parted ways. He's shaken up over it."

"Poor kid, he seems so lost." Emma remarked as she hugged her mother good night. She lay down in the bed beside Hook. She had intended on staying awake but exhaustion claimed her. She awoke near dawn to find Felix giving Hook more of the tea to drink.

The pirate was obviously half asleep but the Lost One was able to get him to swallow the contents of another mug before he drifted off again.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" Emma asked.

"It's my watch now, Snow has turned in." Felix answered quietly.

"Thanks for giving him the tea."

"Well…Lily bought it so he could be healed. I'm not about to let it go to waste." He said with a strained voice staring out at the forest.

"She's your girlfriend?"

"She was. I lost her like I lose everything in my life." He responded despondently.

"You aren't losing us." Emma assured him.

He glanced at her. "Only as long as I can be useful."

She took a deep breath. "I've been in a similar place I can understand how you feel, kid but I promise you my parents are good people they keep their word. I keep my word and so does Hook. You have us. We may not be perfect but who in this life ever is."

Felix didn't respond; his grey blue eyes looked doubtful.

She got up and put her arms around him. "I remember being sixteen and all alone. It's not a good feeling. But you are lucky you have more people caring about you then I did at your age."

It took him a moment until he put his arms around her to hug her back.

She remembered when Hook had said to her on the beanstalk "Love has been scarce in your life." It obviously was in Felix's life as well. In all his years in Neverland, his girlfriend was likely the only love he felt and now she was gone from his life, it made her think about Neal. Had he like Lily let go so she like Felix could reach destiny? She silently thought 'no'. If the love were strong enough he would have helped her fulfill it. She didn't know Tiger lily and the circumstances of her and Felix's relationship but she couldn't help but feel angry at her for hurting him.

"It's all going to work out, you'll see." She reassured him as he pulled out of her arms and silently nodded.

After awhile of staring at Hook while he slept, Felix cleared his throat interrupting her thoughts. "Emma, you should sleep for few more hours. I'll wake you if he needs you."

Wearily Emma nodded and crept under the covers again. She awoke hours later to voices.

"You are in no condition to be up and walking yet. Lie down; you've lost far too much blood." Charming was yelling at someone.

She opened her eyes to see her father sitting on the edge of Hook's bed and Hook was actually sitting up and arguing.

"I feel much stronger. We need to keep moving." Hook insisted.

"You are not going anywhere yet." Charming growled.

"Hook's blue eyes narrowed. "Do you not want to find Henry? If we stay here much longer you'll never see him again. We haven't encountered the Shadow yet but he will be looking for him too."

"The what? Never mind, you were almost at death's door a short while ago we aren't going anywhere just yet." Charming ordered. "Now lie down."

Hook glared at the prince. He truly felt stronger but his side still hurt and truth be told he did feel a little lightheaded. He sighed annoyed, and gingerly tried to lie down again resenting that Charming had to help him.

"Let's get some food into you. I'm sure we'll be on our way as soon as you've recovered a bit more." Charming reassured him.

Emma brought back tea from the campfire and coerced Hook to empty the cup.

It tasted awful but Hook knew it was helping him because the extreme lethargy he had felt was waning.

Charming brought him a cup of oatmeal.

Hook stated sarcastically, "If you think I'm so weak you better spoon feed it to me."

The prince smirked filled a spoon and help it up to the pirate's mouth. "All right then laddie, open wide."

Emma held back her laughter at the pirate's incredulous expression. Charming then handed him the bowl.

It certainly wasn't the best oatmeal he had ever eaten but if it convinced the rest of them he was well enough to move on, he'd eat every drop.

Emma marveled at how determined Hook was to not hold them up. Yet she noticed after he drank the tea and ate the oatmeal his eyes kept drifting shut. Her dad was right he wasn't strong enough yet.

When Hook awoke hours later, he realized the sun had come out. The Charmings were down by the river with Felix. He didn't see the crocodile around. Biting his lip against the pain in his side he gingerly swung his legs over the side of the bed; he closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

"Are you sure you should be doing that?" Came Rumpelstiltskin's voice from behind him.

His eyes snapped open. "And you are asking because you care so much?" Hook responded wryly.

"Personally I'd be thrilled if you expired but since Emma spent time with Neal her true love, I really couldn't care less if you live or not."

Anger rose in Hook but he knew that was exactly what the Dark One wanted. He wanted him to lash out so the others could see and forge doubts over him and his sincerity to help find Henry. He gritted his teeth. "I have every intention of living and helping Emma find her lad."

With those words he rose to his feet and on shaky legs made his way down to the river. Felix saw him first and hurried over to him. "Captain, you shouldn't be out of bed."

"I'm fine lad, its high time we get moving."

"Hook, don't be crazy. You're hardly well enough yet." Emma stated firmly.

He rolled his eyes. "You should know love, I've been through worse. I'm perfectly fine to get moving."

Snow frowned at him and Charming just shook his head but then said. "All right then, let's get going."

Rumpelstiltskin waved his hands making the beds disappear. They started the trek keeping a watch out of Tamara and Henry.

Emma walked on one side of Hook with Charming on the other. The pirate didn't speak and Emma was certain it was because his wound pained him.

"Watch out, ahead are the Never Birds nesting grounds." Felix advised.

"Great, just great." Emma mumbled under her breath.

"HALT!" Snow suddenly shouted.

They all came to a stop and two shadowy figures emerged from the forest.

"Did you find him, did you find Henry?" Regina asked desperately coming out from behind the trees with a strange man.

"Regina, what happened to you and who is this?" Emma demanded.

Hook suddenly drew his sword, lunged at the man pinning him with his sword to his neck and snarled. "You!"

A/N: WOW thanks all of you for the reviews. So why does Hook have it in for Regina's companion? Thoughts? Reviews?

Next chapter: A prince in a pirate's skin