~Hooked~

Killian sighed, standing in the stable, placing his forehead on the neck of the horse the Charmings had agreed to let him borrow for his trip. Something like Domino or Domingo... Dom would work well enough for his purposes.

He really needed to get better at remembering these little details - he could remember every other bloody detail he came into contact with, why not this one?

He mounted the horse, wishing he'd gotten just one more moment with Emma before having to leave. He wanted to give her a proper goodbye this time, but by the time their blasted Round Table Meeting had ended, it was entirely too late for a visit. Not that he assumed she was even awake, but by that time, his propriety had taken over. It was not good form to visit a lass in her room, ever, let alone during such late hours.

He had missed his window.

He clicked his tongue at the beast to get him to trot out of the stables. He had to blink as the light shifted, but when his vision adjusted, he had to shake his head to try and obliterate the delusion before him. He hadn't been drinking.. an odd realization for him.

But there she was. An angel in a white shift, seemingly glowing, stopped several meters away.

She was here? Now? No. He must be dreaming.

"Emma?" He barely called out, pulling on the reigns. Considering she hadn't moved at all, especially not in any way his dreams would have her, he wondered if it were possible for her to really be standing here, before him, practically naked. She hadn't even bothered with shoes.

He couldn't help the smirk or his gaze taking in the sight of her, the sun hitting her in just a way that made the fabric nearly translucent, her body shadowed against the thin shift she wore, leaving very little to the imagination. He allowed his eyes to linger on her chest for a few seconds longer than appropriate, yet not nearly long enough. Enough to commit to memory the look of her hardened nipples against the thin fabric.

Feeling his member twitch at this line of thinking, he realized he had to pull himself out of his own head right as she crossed her arms - definitely not a dream. The realization of this did not help the situation with his knob.

He swung his leg off the horse to dismount, quickly thinking of his options. His eyes landed on hers, and he couldn't look away. Feeling the pull he always felt when she was around, he allowed his feet to bring him within two meters of the golden haired goddess.

He waited for her to speak, assuming, naturally, that she had something on her mind. When moments came and went without a word, he understood that she was just as confused by her sudden arrival here as he was.

"Swan, tell me love, what has possessed you-"

"Tell me what's going on."

He knew immediately that this was not going to go over well. He could see it all over her face. She didn't want him to go. She didn't want to admit that. But what was he to say? He knew nothing would satisfy her.

"I'm on a quest." He finally huffed out the honest answer. "One way or another, I am putting an end to this fate business."

She raised one eyebrow. "The fates. And you're going alone?"

"Aye, love."

"No. I'll come with you."

He smirked despite his growing terror. He couldn't protect her out there, especially not in her delicate position. He knew entirely too many stories of lass' who lost unborn babes in the early days, even up to the birth itself. Despite the reason the babe was there, the simple fact was an innocent babe now existed, and was deserving of Killian's protection. But he couldn't just tell her that, could he?

He chose a different route.

"Can't stand to be without me, love?"

She scoffed. "No, I-"

"As much as it pains me to be without your company, I'm afraid I really must be on my way-"

"Damnit, Kil-" She stopped herself.

His eyebrows shot up, eyes widening just slightly. She had been about to utter his given name, he was sure of it. Something she had never done. 'Hook', 'Jones', 'Captain', or some combination, yes. Never Killian.

Despite that, he still had to keep her from coming with him. Bloody stubborn vixen.

"Tell you what." He stepped closer, until he was arms length away. He grinned, tapping the butterfly on his vest - the same red vest he had worn at the ball. Her eyes widened when she saw it. "You explain this, and I won't say one word about your joining me. I'll even help you pack."

He knew she would never admit it to herself, least of all him. She was still coming to terms with it herself. He really believed Blue had done them a disservice that day. Knowing for a fact who her soulmate was didn't seem to help his chances, anyway.

She cocked her head at him. "No chance in hell."

He started backing up. "Then I suppose I must bid you adieu, your highness." He bowed in a flourish, like he had the day they met.

"Jones! I am coming on this trip, like it or not."

Continuing to back up, taking this as an opportunity to appraise her once more, eyes inevitably landing on those perfect nipples that were now swaying just slightly as she took a tentative step towards him.

"By the time you get dressed, I'll be gone." As much as it pained him to, he turned his back to her before she could see the regret in his eyes for leaving her here. He did not enjoy the thought of days without the possibility of seeing her.

It was for the best. For her. For the babe. If nothing else, it would give her a chance to remember and heal on her own without a devilishly handsome pirate to distract her.

He reached the horse again, preparing to mount back up, when he felt her tug on him.

"Swan, I don't have time for this-" He turned his head to look at her as she was reaching out for him, still standing where he had left her, much too far away for them to have actually touched.

Her mouth gaped a bit as shock filled her features and she looked down at her hand. He followed her gaze, cognizance striking him as he saw the hook in her hand. He looked at his own attachment, realizing his hook was now missing.

She seemed just as surprised as he was at this turn of events.

"What the bloody devil-"

"I'm going with you." She demanded, turning things around on him. Now she was the one backing up slowly. She was almost giddy, biting down a grin at him. "You have to wait for me if you want your hook back." She turned to run back toward the castle, yelling behind her, "Ready my horse!"

For a moment, he was too stunned to do much of anything.

This was not a part of his plans, not in the slightest.

Thank you for reading!