Hook's eyes scanned the inside of the clock tower and he wondered if Jefferson's madness was making him believe the beans were there.

"No sign of anyone living her, mate."

"No" Jefferson spun "She stayed here…you know her better than anyone. Where would she hide beans?"

Hook threw up his hands, "She was a prisoner. I wasn't privy to her secrets. Nor did I care to be." he searched for anywhere a thief may hide a treasure. "You however…you ran with her. And you don't know her any better?"

Jefferson ignored his comment looking for places the dust was disturbed and coming up empty. "Time to earn your trade, Captain. Find out where the beans are. I only need one, you can keep the rest and the girl."

Hook glanced him up and down, "You are truly desperate to come to me for help. To turn on old friends."

"She was never a friend."

….

Hook's hand hovered over the trunk. Taking a deep breath he turned the key and the trunk lifted open. As it creaked open Goldilock's pushed herself away from him in terror. Hope fled. Hope that the second figure was some new adversary. Hook's fingers locked around her arm and dragged her closer to him; she struggled until the cold hook came to her neck.

Tearing away the gag Hook loomed over her and she waited for what would happen next.

"Where are the beans?" the hook pressed into her neck and he sounded annoyed at the question.

She breathed a shaky laugh, "It always comes down to the beans doesn't it? We've come full circle, Hook."

"Aye." he agreed

"Maybe this time can be different?" she looked at him hopeful and was met with the same cold look she remembered so well.

"Where are they?"

"Go ahead." she begged "Kill me."

"I know how to make you talk" he reminded her "You know well enough I'll get what I want. Are you willing to pay that price?"

She squeezed her eyes shut as the hook's point dug into her shoulder. She remembered well.

"Fine! I'll tell you." she was familiar with his tortures. The scars reminded her everyday. If he got what he wanted he would leave her alone for a time. Then she could find a window for escape.

Killian Jones brought his glistening hook back to her neck "Where are they?"

"Loose floor board." she told him. "Bottom of the stairs..it isn't hard to find."

…..

Hook caught the bag Jefferson tossed to him. Over the years Goldilocks hadn't used many and the weight felt almost the same as the first time he'd held it in his hands.

"I have my one." Jefferson turned over the bean in his fingers "The rest are yours. Take the girl…I have no further use for her."

Hook made his way back down to the car. Glancing around he noted they had the street to themselves as the sun was barely touching the horizon. Once more the trunk creaked open revealing Goldilocks, this time she lay still, waiting. Hook drew a knife from his boot and cut the rope around her ankles. As soon as her legs were free she sent a kick square into Hook's chest. Grunting Hook stumbled back while attempting to catch his breath. With her hands still tied Goldilocks struggled to get herself out of the trunk. As her feet finally hit the pavement she felt herself being yanked back and dragged away from the car. Twisting about Goldilocks got her feet underneath herself and quickened her step to keep from being dragged. Hook threw her over his shoulder as she made another attempt to kick him.

Hook kept his eye out for anyone wandering the street. A glimpse of an early morning jogger at a distance was the only movement he saw as he made his way down to the docks. Wooden planks creaked under foot and Hook dumped his load with a heavy thud. Goldilocks groaned into the gag. Lying on her side she looked at the Jolly Roger towering over her once again. Hook pulled the knife from his boot; Goldilocks watched the blade with big eyes as it shimmered in the morning light. Forcing her to her stomach Hook cut the bonds around her wrists and Goldilocks scrambled away from him further down the dock.

Her wrists were raw from the rope and she pulled the gag from her mouth scanning for an escape. She considered the water but she knew her swimming wasn't strong enough to get away from him. Turning she saw Hook between her and land. She stepped back as Hook calmly reached into his pocket drawing out the sack of magic beans.

Pulling one out he held the shimmering bean up to the sunlight. So many people had suffered for this small treasure. It cost him Milah and his hand. It cost the girl in front of him her freedom. The giants their lives.

"Time for you to go."

Startled Goldilocks caught the pouch Killian tossed to her, "What?"

"Well I can't have you stay here and kill me can I?" he said matter of factly. "I hope I won't regret giving you the beans."

"I regret ever bringing them to you." she hissed.

"Fair point. Consider this the one thing I've done right by you." he said as he slowly closed the distance between them.

"Stop lying to yourself, Hook. You've never done anything good with your life."

"Maybe." he told her, "But if I hadn't helped Jefferson who knows where you'd be right now. I could have brought you to Emma."

"What stopped you?"

"That wouldn't be justice. I can't atone for what I did. But I can keep you from suffering more."

"You mean your guilt would eat away at you. Stop lying Hook. You're doing it for yourself."

"Does it matter?" he asked, "Emma won't stop and you can't leave town without magic." He took his final step towards her. "Time to go." he was surprised she didn't back away from him.

Hook tossed the bean to the end of the dock and watched as a green hole began to swell open.

Goldilocks turned and stepped towards it. The portal pulled fragments of the dock down into it growing wider. Turning Goldilocks looked to Hook with an expression he couldn't quite read, "Tell Will- -" a shot rang out across the water. Goldilocks stumbled. Hook scanned the wharf for the source. Emma. Emma stood at the railing with pistol in hand as David ran from the other side of the patrol car. Hook looked back to Goldilocks. Her face was pale and etched with pain as she collapsed to her knees.

"Emma, what have you done." Hook whispered

The dock shuttered as a support beam fell into the portal pulling more of the dock with it. Boards under Goldilocks crumbled as she reached into the air desperately trying to find something to save her. Hook's hand closed around her's the dock shuddered once more.

Emma watched as the portal swallowed Goldilocks and Hook. The water settled as the portal closed leaving fragments of the dock floating in the water.

"No!" Emma sprinted to what was left. "Killian.." She looked at the shredded planks before her and wondered how anyone ever survived jumping through portals. "We have to go after them…we have to find.." she breathed

"We don't know where they went." David reminded her, "We don't have a way to get there. Why'd you take the shot, Emma?"

She looked startled at his directness. "Was I supposed to just let her go?"

David shrugged, "Maybe…she looked like she was leaving."

"No," Emma shook her head. "Why would she bring Killian here?"

"I don't know…but Hook wasn't in immediate danger."

"She was reaching in her jacket." Emma argued back "We know she has knives."

David held up his hands, "Alright…we'll see what we can do."

…

Pain ripped through her body as they fell. The portal felt like a whirl wind pulling her in different directions. Suddenly it was over as she was dumped onto a forest floor. Roots struck her as she rolled to a stop. Her eyes roamed the forest and her ears picked up the heavy thud of a man falling nearby.

Hook groaned as he pulled himself to his feet and scanned the trees for anything that looked familiar. Nothing stood out to him except the pale girl bleeding on the forest floor.

"Bloody hell," Hook searched her jacket

"Leave me…let me die in peace."

Hook pulled out the bag of beans from her pocket, "I can't do that." he plucked a bean out. "We have to get back. You won't make it if we stay here."

"Just go," she groaned as he picked her up, "Please leave me."

Hook dropped the bean at their feet and slowly the green swirl returned.

….

The beeping was driving her crazy and somehow she couldn't seem to figure out the source. Metal clinked as she moved and her shoulder felt like it was on fire. Blinking Goldilocks peered at her hospital room.

"You're awake"

Startled Goldilocks looked towards the voice, "Emma." she croaked

"You've been out for days. But don't worry. You're going to live." Emma smiled

"Where's Hook?" Goldilocks whispered

"He saved your life you know." Emma told her

"After you shot me." Goldilocks hissed jerking her handcuffed arm.

"Do we need better restraints?" Emma asked concerned.

"No." Goldilocks scowled at her "You shot me." Emma nodded, "Why?"

"Hook was in danger."

She laughed darkly "Is that what he told you?"

"That's what I saw."

"You haven't seen much of anything this whole time." Goldilocks closed her eyes. "You think you know so much."

"I could know more. If I had the book I could learn everything." Goldilocks eyes snapped open "But you stole it."

"I steal a lot of things."

"You were in Henry's room."

"Oh, so is that why you really shot me?" Goldilocks smiled at her "I don't have it."

"I know you stole it."

"But you don't get to know the people you're after. I'm always for hire, Emma."

"Who has it now?"

"Gold" she shrugged

"Gold? Why did he want it?"

"Not my business to know."

"Are there any beans left?" Emma asked

Goldilocks thought back to when Hook gave her the beans. There were plenty left. But she didn't know what happened to them at the second jump, "Haven't you already asked him?"

"I'm asking you."

"I don't know. Ask your true love."

….

"How is she?"

Emma sighed at the question. For nearly two months Goldilocks had consumed her thoughts. All she wanted now was a quiet evening with Killian.

"She'll be fine." Emma told him, "You saved her life."

"Doesn't make up for anything…saved her life for what kind of future? Prison."

"What am I supposed to do?" Emma wondered.

"I don't know." Hook admitted. "We can't send her over the town line."

"We could send her back…"

"With what?"

"Weren't there beans left? We could send her to Wonderland with one. We could go to the Enchanted Forest."

"They were lost in the jump." Emma's face fell. She had hoped they'd made it through. "Whatever happens you'll make the right decision. Just don't let your personal feelings towards her cloud your judgement."

"Personal feelings? Killian she's a kidnapper. She tried to murder you."

"She's a tortured soul."

Emma softened her tone, "She's wrong you know. You have changed."

"Have I?" He asked sorrowfully, "Or is it just guilt?"

…..

Scarlet paced the hospital hall. He held up the sunflowers he bought and made his way to a nearby trashcan. Shaking his head he let them fall back to his side and made his way back to her door. He stopped in the doorway and watched her.

"Are you just going to stay in the hall?" she asked "Or are you actually going to give me those flowers?"

Scarlet smiled sheepishly, "Wasn't sure if you'd like them."

"They're beautiful."

"How you feeling?"

"Like I got shot and fell through two portals."

"You did."

"Should have listened to you, Will. Should have gone back to Wonderland."

"Still can. What jail can hold you?"

"The jail doesn't matter." she told him "I don't have the beans."

"Are they in lock up?" he whispered.

"No…I think Hook has them."

"Then Emma has them." Will reasoned

She shook her head, "Emma asked me about them. Hook has the beans" she said confidently.

"Always comes down to that bloody pirate and those bloody beans." Will stood up and paced. "I can get them."

"No." the handcuff clinked as she tried to sit up. "I want you to wait. We have to be ready to leave as soon as we get them. Right now I can't jump through another portal."

"I can't help you kill him." he turned to her, "I won't help you kill him."

"I'd never ask you to do that. Put yourself at risk. Once I'm better I'll find you. We'll steal back the beans and go home."

"And Captain Hook?"

Goldilocks paused, "I don't know."

Her answer surprised him but he didn't push. He wanted her to find peace and maybe this was the start of it.

"Don't come back to visit." she continued "Lay low."

"I'll see you soon." he pressed his forehead to hers. "Be careful, Goldie."

…..

Metal clanked softly as she shifted in the bed staring at his approach. Watching him closely she gave no outward indication that she feared his presence, the heart monitor betrayed her has he sat beside the bed.

"Didn't expect to see you again." She watched him closely as he settled into the hospital chair.

"That makes two of us." he ran his finger tips over the cracked upholstery.

Goldilocks watched him closely as he sat in silence , "Why are you here, Killian?" she snapped.

"Well, aren't you just as charming as ever."

She glared at him as he put his feet up on the bed and reclined. "Why can't I be rid of you?" she whispered.

"That can be arranged." she watched him suspiciously.

"Regretting not leaving me to die?"

"For once we both want the same thing- to be rid of each other." he told her "Once you leave StoryBrooke we need never see each other again."

"I'm listening."

"There are all sorts of nooks and crannies a key could fall into in that cell." he informed her. "Did you know the bed frame is hollow?"

"Seems foolish."

"Indeed."

"You didn't tell Emma you still have the beans"

"No" Hook answered thoughtful. "Didn't seem right"

"You have a strange sense of right and wrong." she told him.

"Maybe," he admitted "But right now it is benefiting you."

"Until you change your mind."

"Not this time." Hook told her, "I want you to leave as much as you want me dead." he cocked his head as a shadow passed over her face "Or have you changed your mind?"

Her face hardened, "This won't change anything…you helping me. It won't change what happened."

"It won't." he agreed "But it keeps both of us alive."

"You've always been about surviving, haven't you?"

"Aye, girl. That I have."