Chapter 37 – Hearts on the Line

"Belle, is it possible that my father would threaten to kill Emma if Hook didn't back off?" Neal put it bluntly.

Belle just stood there stunned for a moment. "Why would you think that?"

He sighed. "It's ridiculous, Emma is the mother of his grandson, he wouldn't hurt her, she's family."

"No, of course Rumpel wouldn't do anything like that. Neal, why are you even saying something like that?" she looked at him concerned. "What happened?'

"Felix, the lost boy from Neverland implied that the only reason Hook has backed off is because my father threatened to rip Emma's heart out if he didn't." Neal shrugged. "I shouldn't even give it a second thought but …" He sighed again. "Hook told me that my dad killed my mom by ripping her heart out. I never believed it. What if it's true, what if he did? What if he thinks he's helping me by forcing Hook to back away?'

Belle shook her head in disbelief. "Hook told me the same thing, that Rumpel ripped out Milah's heart but I didn't believe him either. I can't see Rumpel as being so brutal yet I know he's done awful things. Neal if it were true – I suspect you wouldn't want to win Emma that way, by default?"

"Of course not. It would never work." He admitted.

"What should we do? Should we confront Rumpel? I would hate to accuse him if it wasn't true. It would hurt him." Belle mulled.

"I think I need to talk to Hook." He declared.

"Can you trust what he says?" Belle asked.

"I'm going to have to besides what reason would he have to lie about that." He responded.

After Neal left Belle remembered how Felix had come to the library. She had had the feeling he wanted to talk to her but Rumpel had interrupted – after Felix left Rumpel had left to talk to him. An unsettled feeling washed over her. She realized the next time she saw Felix he had been limping, she had asked him what happened and he evasively responded that he had tripped.

She shook her head. "Oh no … Rumpel please don't be responsible for all this."

Awhile later Neal boarded The Jolly Roger. "Hook!' he called out.

The pirate came around from the other side. "Bae – what are you doing on my ship?' He asked obviously displeased.

"I need to ask you something." Neal said seriously.

Hook regarded him suspiciously. "Go ahead then."

"Did my father threaten to hurt Emma?" Neal asked point blank noting that the pirate suddenly paled.

The hair on the back of his neck prickled. How did Bae find out? "Who told you he did?" he asked cautiously.

"Felix."

Rage boiled through Hook. He'd throttle Felix next time he saw him.

"Is it true, did my father threaten to rip her heart out if you didn't back off?" Neal pressed.

"I suggest for Emma's sake you don't pursue this further." Hook's gaze darkened.

Neal swallowed heavily. "So it's true, he threatened you."

Hook didn't answer.

"Hook, look I know we have a complicated past. If this true I have to know. I don't want Emma if her choice is you but we'll never know if what my father presumably did is true. I promise I will protect Emma at all costs but I need to know." Neal insisted.

Hook was torn. Would Bae truly have the power to stop the crocodile? "Do you really want to risk the chance he'll rip her heart out like he did your mother's?"

"I think you just answered the question. Why would he do something like that?" Neal said in a voice just barely above a whisper.

"Bae…he thinks I stole your mother, but it was always her choice. Milah was an adventurous feisty woman, sailing the seas on a pirate ship appealed to her as did I. She never stopped loving you and we would have gone back for you. I think your father never forgave her for what he considered betrayal and he blamed me for doing something he could never do – make her happy. Now seeing Emma and I grow closer I suspect in his dark mind the same thing is happening again. This is his way of turning the odds in your favour. By the doing one thing that would make me back off – threatening Emma's life – he is clearing the field for you to win her. And if I interfere he will punish me the same way again by ripping out the heart of the woman I love." Hook explained calmly.

Neal looked up at him remorsefully. "You really love her man, don't you?"

Hook nodded. "With all my heart. Can you say the same?"

"I love Emma, I always will. I had hoped to reconnect what we once had, to see if there was any chance of reconstructing what I had destroyed. I want to be a father to Henry no matter what, even if it is you she chooses." Neal clarified.

"What of Tamara/Tink?" Hook asked.

Neal looked guilt stricken and didn't respond.

"I thought you loved her and I know she loved you albeit she certainly didn't show it in a good way." Hook pressed.

"I don't know man. She's back in Neverland and has probably forgotten all about me now that she has more power." He answered dejected.

"Perhaps." Hook responded mysteriously.

"I'm going to have a talk with Emma. I need to know how she feels." Neal informed the pirate.

"What about Rumpelstiltskin/" Hook spat. "Don't endanger Emma!'

"Trust me on this Hook, there is no way I would let him hurt her no matter what her decision is. I'll proceed carefully… you have my word man."

Hook watched him warily as he left the ship. He decided he needed to at least be in town near Emma. Just in case Bae did or said something stupid that set the crocodile off. He headed downtown shortly after Bae left.

"Thanks for meeting me for a coffee Emma." Neal said as he handed her a mug.

"What was so urgent that I had to leave the station?" she asked curiously.

"I need to know something. Do we have a chance? I mean is there any hope in the future you and I and our son could be a family?" he asked straight out.

Shocked Emma at first didn't know how to respond. Then after taking a deep breath she started. "Neal you know what we once had can't ever be recaptured. I loved you more than life back then. I will always to some degree love you for the times we spent together back then and for being Henry's dad. I think I've been pretty clear that my life has moved on. Those feelings are gone and I can't see a future for us. Too much happened. I can forgive you for doing what you thought was right but I can't forget all the hurt you caused me. It's just something I know I'm never going to get over. I'm sorry." She looked at him sincerely.

A part of his heart fell but the other part already knew she would say that. He laughed softly "I really messed up back then didn't I. We could have had so much. I'm really sorry Emma."

She smiled softly. "Thank you for saying that. I think though, from what I saw, that you still have feelings for Tamara/ Tink. I think it was genuine. I know the things she did were awful but look at your father and belle. She seems for forgive him for what's he's done."

"Yeah, maybe someday I'll cross paths with her again." He held out his hand. "Friends?'

She laughed. "Of course."

He sighed. "So…the pirate huh?"

She shrugged. "I don't know."

He smiled knowingly. "I think I do." He was about to say more but froze. Standing in the doorway of Granny's diner was Tamara. She smiled at him wistfully.

A loud knocking came on the door, Puzzled over who could be that persistent, Snow opened it to find what appeared to be an ill tempered pirate standing there.

He growled "where is Felix?" he spotted him sitting at the kitchen table his eyes startled. Hook went over to him grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

"Hook!" Snow yelled at him.

"So you think this is all a game? Putting Emma's life at risk by blabbing to Bae after I expressly told you not to!"

Felix whispered hoarsely, "I'm sorry, I was only trying to help."

"Help get Emma's heart ripped out!" Hook growled.

"Wait what?" Snow grabbed his arm. "What are you talking about? Who wants to rip out Emma's heart?"

"Rumpelstiltskin!" Hook replied.

Felix closed his eyes. "I'm sorry Captain, I thought Baelfire might be able to talk some sense into his father and this would all be over. I'm really sorry" Felix's heart beat rapidly.

"Hook, calm down. Please tell me what's going on?" Snow demanded.

Hook froze wondering if he should tell Snow since the cat was out of the bag.

He let go of Felix. "Rumpelstiltskin threatened to rip our Emma's heart like he did Milah's if I didn't back off to let Baelfire have her. I confided in Felix while I was trying to figure out what to do and he went and told Baelfire who is going to confront him. I have to go find Emma to make sure he doesn't hurt her."

Snow paled. "I'm coming with you."

"I'm sorry. I only wanted to help." Felix cried out desperately.

Snow paused for a moment to look at him and responded sharply. "Next time you come to me before you do anything like this. Understood?"

He nodded looking distraught, his throat closed. She grabbed his arm. "Come on."

A/N: YAY OUAT is back tonight! Hope it's good! So one more chapter…and a Thwarted Hook will be complete. I hope you will all be happily sated ;) Reviews most welcome.