Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon A Time or any of its characters. ABC, Disney, A&E and whoever else have that distinction. No profit is being made, and no copywrite infringement is intended.

AN: Please note that this fic is canon-divergent. At the end of 3A (Neverland arc) they somehow managed to stop Pan from casting his curse. So Rumple didn't "die" to kill Pan, and Emma and Henry didn't have to leave and lose their memories while everyone else went back to the EF. How that happened doesn't matter here, just assume it happened. Pan is locked in Pandora's Box and life in SB has gone on. And it's Valentine's Day!

This isn't really a romance like I typically write, nor does it delve as deeply into the characters, it has much more of a "this could have been an episode" feel in my opinion. Although it definitely still leans towards CS.

As always, love, comments, and constructive criticisms are welcome and appreciated. Enjoy!

Heart's Desire

by Lady Callista

Chapter 1:

Captain Hook prided himself on being both adaptable and quick to learn. While both those traits had indeed served him well in the weeks since Pan's defeat, this world was so completely different from any he'd ever experienced that it seemed for everything he learned he found two other things that confused him.

His current confusion came from the transformation the town had undergone over the past few days. Many of the shops had begun displaying a strange red shape in their windows, some of which sparkled as if they'd been sprinkled with fairy dust. Yet a purposely casual brush of his hand over one of these things, which he could swear he'd heard called hearts but assumed he had misheard, had resulted in no feeling of magic or anything strange happening. Although something about the substance was definitely odd, as he'd been finding specks of it on his leathers for days now.

Emma was one of the only people he would have been comfortable asking what was going on, as despite the tale of his actions in Neverland spreading most of the people in Storybrooke still either looked at him suspiciously or ignored him altogether. Yet he had barely seen Emma over the past few weeks, keeping his promise to Bae that he was going to give them a chance to be a family with Henry.

Not that that seemed to be going particularly well, at least not from what he'd seen as he wandered around town.

He'd seen Emma and Henry together frequently, sporadically stopping to have a brief word with them, grateful that that lad's presence made it easy to hold to his word and not flirt with her. Which had seemed to surprise her at first, but which she now took in stride. Although he had noticed her casting him confused glances on occasion.

He'd seen the boy out with Bae as well, and was genuinely pleased they were getting to know each other.

He'd even seen the three of them out together, having dinner at Granny's or sitting in the park.

But he had only seen Emma and Bae alone together once, having what looked like a serious discussion. Nothing he'd seen since that one time weeks ago gave any indication that they were courting, which gratified him even though it didn't really surprise him. He might not know Emma very well in some ways, but in others she was, as he'd once told her, an open book. One he wanted to read more of, one he wanted to memorize every chapter and verse of.

Hook had been contemplating for the past few days whether he had waited long enough to remind Emma that he still wanted to win her heart, to remind her that Bae wasn't the only man who wanted to be with her. In the interest of good form he wanted to discuss it with Bae first, but it had been clear for the past week that the man was avoiding him. Probably because he knew this discussion was coming and wanted longer to try and work things out with Emma.

"Hook!"

He turned as his name was called, surprised to find Tink hurrying across the street towards him, carrying a white box embossed with the red shape he was seeing everywhere. "What can I do for you, love?"

"Have you seen Bae?"

"Not today, why?"

"Oh, I just…" Tinkerbell flushed and trailed off, causing Hook to raise an eyebrow curiously. "We had breakfast together this morning, and I guess I've been thinking about him and thought he might want some of these."

She pointed to the box she was carrying, giving Hook the perfect opening. "What is that, anyway?"

"Oh, they're chocolates. I had them one time in Agrabah when I was there, but they're really common here, and they're so delicious and…"

"I've had chocolate, lass." Hook interrupted, studying her carefully. Something seemed off about her; her eyes were almost overly bright and she kept glancing in all directions, as if for some reason she wanted to find Bae as soon as possible. "I meant the shape on the box, I've seen them all over town."

That got her attention focused on him for a minute before she laughed, although not unkindly. "It's a heart."

He frowned in confusion, memories flashing through his mind before he pushed them back forcefully. "I've seen actual hearts, Tink, and that's not…"

Tinkerbell laughed again. "Stars don't look anything like how we draw them either; I don't know why this is a heart in this world, but it is. You don't know about Valentine's Day, do you?"

"Valentine's Day?" He echoed the unfamiliar word slowly. "A festival of some sort?"

"Sort-of. It's a day dedicated to romance. Bae told me all about it, how it's a day you spend with the person you love, and you do something special for them, and buy them things, and…"

"Why would you need a specific day for that?" Hook asked curiously.

"I don't know, but they have one and it's today and, oh, there he is!"

Hook stared after her curiously as without another word to him, not even a goodbye, she rushed down the street and grabbed Bae by the arm. He shook his head at the strange way the fairy had been acting as well as at the idea of this valentine's day, even as he realized it fit rather well into his thoughts from earlier.

He might not be able to spend the day with Emma, but he could definitely give her something to reaffirm his interest in courting her. Now he only had to determine what was customary for this festival.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Emma Swan hated Valentine's Day.

She hated the crass commercialism. She hated the unrealistic movies that ended in happily ever after. She hated the sappy cards, not that she'd ever received one. She hated the stupid candy hearts that tasted like chalk and their stupid phrases.

Putting aside the paperwork she was trying to do with a sigh, she glared at the box of stupid candy hearts that sat on her desk at the station.

The box that sat there because, of course, her mother unequivocally loved Valentine's Day and had pushed it into her hand as she left that morning.

To be fair to her mom though, Emma rationalized, if she'd woken to breakfast in bed, chocolates, and several dozen roses, and was planning on spending the day with her true love, Emma might not hate the day nearly as much as she did.

Since that wasn't the case, she planned on burying herself in paperwork at the station, and taking a room at Granny's tonight in order to let her parents enjoy the day. And also so that she didn't have to find yet another way to explain to Mary Margaret that no, she wasn't planning on spending the day with Neal, or having dinner with him, or in fact seeing him at all.

She had given it a shot, she really had, and Emma was overjoyed for Henry's sake that he had Neal, that he had a father after all this time. She trusted Neal with her son. She didn't, however, she couldn't, trust Neal with her heart again.

Emma leaned back in her chair, stretching her back even as she yawned. It didn't help that she'd slept like crap last night, waking around 3am with her magic humming through her veins and the feel of something pressing in around her. Her magic had flared before she was even really aware of it, and then the feeling had been gone.

She had almost called Regina, wanting to ask if she'd felt magic in the air as well, but had known Regina would be irritated at being awakened and tell her she was imagining things, or that she'd been dreaming. Since one or the other was possible and even likely, Emma had tried to go back to sleep. Sleep had been elusive however.

Emma rose to pour herself yet another cup of coffee, and found herself seriously considered the box of candy, just for the sugar rush. She had just opened it when she heard the door to the station open.

"Good afternoon, love."

Emma bobbled the box in surprise, and cursed under her breath as candy hearts scattered all over the desk. He was the last person she'd expected to walk through the door, particularly since he'd made himself scarce the past weeks. Not avoiding her precisely, she'd seen him around and talked to him a few times, but only when other people were around.

She'd expected him to escalate his pursuit of her when they got back from Neverland, after all he'd said that was when the fun would begin. Instead, he'd stopped flirting with her entirely and hadn't even made an effort to talk to her when she was alone. Emma wasn't sure when she'd gone from being relieved by that to being upset by it, but she certainly wasn't going to ask him about it.

"Swan?"

"Sorry, I…" She'd been gathering up the hearts strewn over her paperwork to give herself a moment to collect her thoughts, and now trailed off as she looked up, realizing he was holding a box of chocolates as well as a take-out bag from Granny's. "Oh, not you too."

"Pardon?"

"How do you even know about Valentine's Day?"

"It would have been hard to miss all the trappings going up around town, love, although I'll confess it wasn't until a short time ago that someone explained to me what it was all about."

"I wish they hadn't." Emma grumped before she could think about it.

The easy smile faded from his face as his eyes dropped from hers. His voice was subdued when he replied, "My apologies, I thought this would be proper and…"

"No, Hook, I'm sorry." Emma sighed as she sat back on the side of her desk. "I just really hate this day and didn't think that…"

His eyes rose to meet hers again, the blue in them brightening slightly when she trailed off. "Didn't think what, love?"

"Didn't think I'd have to deal with it."

"I've been told it's a day for romance, Swan." Hook's smile was slightly uncertain, which was such a strange look on him, but he went on as he offered her the chocolates. "Where would I want to spend it other than with you?"

Emma's breath caught as his smile grew and his eyes twinkled at her. It was a look she hadn't seen on his face since the day they'd defeated Pan. She took the box hesitantly, cursing internally at the words that slipped out before she could stop them. "I've never spent it with anyone before."

Hook's eyes softened in understanding. "That would explain why you hate it."

Emma was trying to figure out how to reply to that when she heard the door to the station open again and Ruby wandered in, looking quickly around the station and then looking vaguely disappointed.

"What's up, Ruby?"

"Oh, Emma, hi." Ruby glanced around the room again, as if anything had changed in the last few seconds. "I was just hoping I might find Neal here."

"I haven't seen him today." Emma answered. "I know he was picking Henry up from Regina's and they were hanging out, but I'm not sure what they're up to. What do you need him for?"

"Oh, nothing, I just…" Ruby trailed off, and Emma noted that for some reason she was carrying a bottle of wine around. "He came into the diner for breakfast, and I… never mind, I'll find him."

Emma watched in confusion as Ruby gave her an odd wave and meandered back out the door.

"Tink was looking for Bae earlier as well, and also acting oddly." Hook offered as his curious gaze turned back to hers.

"Well, it is Valentine's Day." Emma huffed as she settled back in her chair, setting the chocolates he'd brought on the desk in front of her and distractedly picking up the box of candy hearts again, absently fiddling with the lid as she tried to imagine Ruby, or Tinkerbell, hitting on Neal. It was a little weird, since neither had shown an interest in him before, but she realized it didn't bother her in the slightest.

Maybe they'd just been waiting to see if she was going to get back with Neal, and decided that clearly wasn't the case. That thought connected to Hook's odd behavior the past few weeks, and she wondered if he'd been waiting to see the very same thing. He did always claim to be a gentleman after all.

Hook's voice sounded uncertain again. "Are you meeting Bae later this evening?"

"No, I'm not…" Emma trailed off as his question and the look in his eyes confirmed what she'd been wondering a few seconds before. "Neal and I are friends, and he's Henry's father, but we're not together and we're not going to be." She gestured to the take-out bag in his hand, trying to ignore the way his eyes lit up at her statement. "Now, are we going to eat before that gets cold?"

"I actually just brought it for you, love." Hook answered as he handed her the bag. "I didn't want to impose, and…"

"We can share." Emma offered, opening the box to find a grilled cheese and onion rings. "And you can tell me what you've been doing these past few weeks. Just leave out anything I'd have to arrest you for."

Hook chuckled as he settled on the edge of the desk, picking up the small box she'd been fidgeting with. "What are these?"

A hint of mischief flickered in her eyes. "Candy. Try one."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly picking up something in her tone of voice, but worked one of the little hearts out of the box and popped it into his mouth. A moment later he spat it back into his hand, a look of distaste crossing his face. "That's revolting."

"It really is, isn't it?" Emma grinned at him, reaching for half of the grilled cheese. "I don't know how they make sugar taste like that."

Hook picked up the other half of the sandwich, eyeing it dubiously. "I don't know how they make much of the food in your world taste as it does."

"Hey, don't go insulting my grilled cheese."

He raised his hook in mock surrender. "I wouldn't dream of it, love. And I can honestly say I've done nothing you'd have to arrest me for, although I did consider it since you seem to like chaining me up so much."

"Only when you deserve it." Emma grinned at him, rolling her eyes at both his smirk and the innuendo that rolled so easily off his tongue. She didn't want to think about it, but she hadn't realized just how much she'd missed him.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Hook was halfway through telling her an amusing story from his pirating days when the station door opened and Snow White rushed in.

"What's…"

Hook knew something was wrong when Emma's mother didn't even stop to cast him a disapproving glance. "We need you outside, now!"

Emma got up at once, hurrying towards the door, and without a word he fell in behind her. He stopped a single step outside it in shock at the scene before him.

David stood in the middle of the road, clearly trying to keep Ruby and Tink from attacking each other.

"You don't need to look for him, bitch! He's having dinner with me tonight!"

"That's just because I haven't asked him yet!

"Oh, don't bother. I've known him for a long time, and…"

Emma had frozen for a second as well, clearly trying to process what was going on, but she sprang into action as Ruby drew an arm back, hustling forward to grab her friend and yank her back. "What the hell is going on here?"

"Emma, tell this sad little fairy to go home and stop trying to get between me and Neal!"

Emma almost lost her grip on Ruby, shock showing on her face at the words. David was holding on to Tink, who was yelling back that Neal was hers and Ruby should keep her paws off him.

Snow moved closer to Ruby, trying to talk her friend down even as she approached, so Hook turned his attention to Tinkerbell, who was making it seriously difficult for David to restrain her without hurting her. "Since when have you wanted to go courting with Bae?"

He noticed the bright look in her eyes he'd seen earlier, and a look close to panic on her face. "Who cares? If that bitch thinks she's going to take him from me…"

Hook raised his arm to block as she aimed a kick his way, his eyes widening in alarm. Clearly something was seriously amiss with both Ruby and Tink, and he glanced at David over her head, one thought immediately popping into his mind. "Love spell?"

"It's looking that way." David responded at once. "We can put one of them in a cell, but the two cells are right next to each other, and…"

"And that's not gonna work!" Emma called out. He chanced a glance over his shoulder to find that she and her mother were barely managing to hold Ruby back.

"What about the cells under the hospital?" Snow spoke up. "They're more secure anyway."

"Sounds good to me." Emma answered. "Can you three get them there? Henry's with Neal and in case this isn't isolated…"

"Where are Henry and Neal?" Regina asked as the crowd that had begun to gather parted for her. She cast an annoyed glance at the two women that were still struggling and with an imperious wave of her hand put them both to sleep.

"They're…"

"Mom, wait." Emma cut her off, sliding down to her knees to let Ruby slump softly onto the ground, looking at Regina even as she did so. "Why do you want to find them?"

A look Hook couldn't place crossed Regina's face before she answered, "I want to make sure Henry's okay."

Emma's face twisted in suspicion. "That's not exactly a lie, but…"

"Where's Neal?" The same bright, fevered look that was in both Ruby and Tink's eyes came into the Evil Queen's as well.

"I have no idea where they are." Emma responded, not breaking eye contact with Regina even as Hook shifted closer to her, although he had no idea what he could do to help.

Regina let out a huff and vanished in a puff of purple smoke, apparently forgetting that Snow had seemed to know exactly where Neal and Henry were.

"What the hell is going on around here?"

"A love spell, probably." Snow answered her daughter at once, having the same immediate thought both David and Hook had.

"Those are real?"

"It's not really love, but lust, obsession." Hook answered. He might not be able be able to perform magic himself, but he'd had a long time to learn about it. "We need to find your boy, love. Tink and Ruby both said they saw Bae at breakfast, Regina probably a bit later when he stopped by to pick Henry up."

"Just seeing or talking to him caused this?"

"We've no way of being sure, but can't afford to be wrong." Hook responded even as the four of them moved closer together, lowering their voices as other people continued to mill about. "Have you seen Bae or do you just know where they are?"

Snow realized the question was directed at her and answered at once. "We ran into them a few hours ago, they said they were going to the park to practice sword fighting. They're probably still there, but…"

"And you don't feel weird at all?" Emma cast a suddenly wary eye at her mother.

"No, I…" Snow paused as if she was really thinking about it. "I had a peculiar thought when we first ran into them, like it didn't really seem like mine, that I'd never noticed how attractive Neal was, but then David said something and I looked over at him. When I looked back at Neal, it was like the thought was just gone."

"True love." David said softly. "I've heard love spells don't work if you're already in love."

"Let's hope." Emma responded, looking at Snow for a long moment before shaking her head, clearly not wanting to think about what would happen if it just hadn't hit her yet.

"Swan, you should let your father and I go retrieve Henry. And we can hide Bae somewhere on the chance we're right you have to see or speak with him to activate it."

"But I…" Emma trailed off, her eyes widening as she clearly realized what he was saying. True love might protect Snow White, if indeed they were right on that facet, but Emma didn't have that protection.

"We'll keep him safe, love."

Emma looked into his eyes for a long moment, then her father's, before nodding. "We'll get help moving them into the cells, keep an eye out for Regina and get back here as fast as you can. Where are you gonna stash Neal?"

David glanced around at the other people before focusing briefly on his wife. "'I'm not sure, but the fewer people who know the better, just in case."

Both women nodded, and Hook and David hurried away.

The park wasn't far away, and Hook followed along when David broke into a jog, although he didn't miss the glances David kept sending his way and finally huffed out, "Just say what you're thinking, mate."

"It doesn't make sense for Neal to have done this unless he was trying to make Emma jealous, and I just can't see that. But if someone else wanted to keep Neal occupied for the day…"

Hook bristled at the speculative tone. "I doubt you'll believe me, but I told Bae I'd step back if Swan wanted to be with him."

"Why?"

If that question had come from anyone else, Hook wouldn't have answered it, but he knew him and David had to come to an understanding at some point. "Because I've been part of destroying a family before, and I won't be again."

Something moved through the prince's eyes that Hook didn't understand, something that he would have thought was guilt if he hadn't known it was impossible. Before he could further speculate on what that look meant, they'd arrived at the park.

Relieved to spot Henry and Bae at once, thankfully alone, they hurried towards them. "Bae might be safest on the Jolly. He knows how to sail her if it comes to it, that would keep anyone but the queen from getting to him."

"There are other boats in the harbor." David reminded him. "But I can't think of a better idea. Get Henry back to Emma, I'll explain what we know to Neal and get him to your ship."

Hook cast a surprised glance at David, amazed the man would trust him with Henry.

"You and Neal don't exactly get along, and Henry won't be in danger once he's away from him." Even as David finished speaking, they both noticed a woman walking rapidly towards Neal, and quickened their pace.

"Hey, grandpa!" Henry greeted David excitedly as they approached, waving a wooden practice sword around. "You've gotta see what dad's been teaching me!"

"Later, okay, Henry?" David said, resting a hand on the boy's shoulder even as kept his eyes on the approaching woman. "Right now I need you to go with Hook, he's gonna take you back to the station and your mom and grandma."

"What's wrong?"

"Your mom will explain everything." Hook said, barely listening to Neal starting to object as he put a hand on Henry's back and began urging him away. "Everyone's alright, Emma just needs you with her right now."

Henry looked like he wanted to object, but something in either David's manner or Hook's own convinced that lad this was important, and he closed his mouth and silently allowed himself to be herded away.

Hook only glanced back once, and saw David and Bae trying to pry the woman off of the later. He angled so Henry couldn't see the random woman trying to grope and kiss his dad, and moved faster.

TBC…..

AN2: I've always wondered why we draw a heart the way we do, like where that symbol comes from, and it was funny to imagine it not being a symbol used in the EF. I actually don't remember seeing it used in EF flashbacks, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was and I'm just forgetting; either way I thought this would be funny. Cheers! Next chapter out in a day or two This fic will be completed by Valentine's Day at the latest.