Hook had made his proposition to Emma but he was still haunted by the murder of her grandfather. But when she had known what he had done to her grandfather and that he preferred to burn his memories, she was incredibly disappointed and had reacted much like August with Regina. She returned her ring to him and learned that he had fled on Captain Nemo's Nautilus. She was very sad about his reaction.
August came up with an idea for her to try and think of something else.
« What if we were going to have a little fun! »
« You are still going to take me on a magical surprise ride like you liked to make me do before but now I'm not in the mood! »
« No, he laughed. I know there's a bar that just opened, opened by a secret stories resident. With Regina, Snow White, Belle and Dr. Whale, we'll help uplift your spirits. I knew there was a pool table, you know I was very good at one time »
« You will always surprise me. You are still there to take care over me when you already have so many people to protect: Your father, your daughter, Regina, you finally have your family and yet you still have time to care about me. »
« You were the first one I had to protect so you are very precious to me Emma. You are my sister »
« So if we follow your logic Henry is the cousin of Luxe, it feels a bit like Game of thrones given the love that begins to be born between these two »
August was suddenly in a daze, he had already made the remark but he wanted to think that their relationship would be closer to his relationship with Emma rather than a young romance.
« Can you repeat ? »
She took his hand, without saying anything
« Let's go »
By the time they arrived, they were laughing out loud when they saw Snow White fighting some really tipsy darts against Vikings. August started playing pool against Emma. He was beating her to the fullest. He remembered his episode in Texas. Fearing he hadn't had so much fun since, he did the same, alternating between having a shot and winning a shot and kissing Regina, playfully. The latter had never seen him like that, but it pleased her to change the mood a little lately. They didn't notice Emma, heading for the bar.
« You seem way too sure of yourself, August and if I showed you what I can do, Belle laughed, I think I too want to make a void between Rumple and my son who wants to kill Emma , I need to have fun! »
« You know how to play ? » August laughed
« Except our passion for literature, we have other points in common. When Regina gave me false memories of when I was Lacey, I was the queen of pool, the kind of scantily clad girl who hung out in bars, much like you back then »
« The opposite of you now, actually »
« I haven't lost everything »
« Well show me what you're worth, Belle »
« What if we feed the game with a bet »
« You will start to become like your husband », Regina noticed
« Okay, August said, that would be funnier, what do you suggest? »
« If you win I'll waltz with Whale right in the middle of the bar but if you lose you'll have to wrestle with that boozy Snow White all night until I tell you to stop »
« Both are funny so Ok »
Regina looked at them, amused. August didn't think she was doing so well. A lot of people were starting to be a spectator, with every stroke and every time one tapped on several balls, they applauded. They were starting to be tied until August gave her the final blow. She didn't understand what had just happened. August, proudly kissed Regina with fire. Belle approached them, not wanting to show her disappointment.
« Well done, but let me tell you I don't admit defeat » she smiled
« In all fairness Belle, after a year of doing just that, fighting thick bullies, you were my best opponent, so I hope you don't feel defeated. Now play beauty and the beast with Dr Frankenstein »
Seeing all the commotion over Belle and Whale's madness, Emma told herself that it was better to go away. She was thinking too much about her fiancée. Regina saw her, looking behind her as she had her hand on her lover's arm.
« This is not the kind of distraction you expected Emma »
« Seeing August self-complimenting himself with his pool cue, I don't call it a distraction but I have to say it started to make me forget a bit of Hook »
« Can you talk to me you know? August reacted a bit like you when I parted from the evil queen »
« Yes but you didn't run away, you tried to go all the way so that he forgave you and you succeeded. He always told me he was a survivor, that meant he would always be there no matter what. But, that was wrong because when the going got tough, he ran off like a coward. »
Emma wiped away her tears on a towel
« Don't you think he could've been kidnapped by Gideon, that's a possibility »
Emma didn't want to hear it, she walked out of the bar and looked at August and his clique one last time. Regina was right.
Gideon had done everything so that Hook and Emma did not find each other, so that she could fight against him, without her family by her side.
