As Killian got closer to Pan's meeting place he couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious blonde mermaid. Emma was unlike anyone he'd met in a long time, beautiful yes, but he could also sense a tragicness about her. She'd been hurt badly, that was obvious, but she also had fire and determination in her, and he admired that.
He was still lost in thought when a voice stopped him dead in tracks. "Hook."
The pirate captain turned, and there in front of him was the devil imp himself.
"Pan," he said with veiled contempt.
"I was beginning to think you weren't going to come back, that something had happened to you," Pan said, almost disappointed that it didn't.
"Yeah I'm sure you were all torn up inside," Killian said sarcastically.
Pan stepped forward into Killian's face. "I'd watch your tone. Remember, It's up to me if you ever get to leave this place, so I would be a little nicer if I was you," he sneered.
Killian hated that he had to swallow his pride, but the demon child was right. If he ever wanted off this wretched island he was going to have to play Pan's game. "My apologies," he reluctantly said.
Pan smirked. "That's more like it." He paused, suddenly growing very serious. "Well, where is it? Where's my stone?'
"I didn't find it," Killian lied, putting as much conviction in the statement as he could.
Pan's face grew hard as stone. "What do you mean you didn't find it?"
"I mean, I went to where you said this cave was, and imagine my surprise when there's a lagoon between me and it," Killian said, giving him a pointed look.
"What? Don't tell me Captain Hook is afraid to get a little wet," Pan taunted.
Killian didn't take the bait, but kept going. "I ventured into the water, but I never made it to the cave,"
'Why not?" Pan asked, starting to become irritated.
"Because I was bloody attacked, that's why!" Killian knew that he would have to be extra careful if he had any chance in protecting Emma. "I only made it halfway when something pulled me under." He paused to gauge the imp's reaction. Seeing no inclination that Pan thought he wasn't being truthful, he pressed on. "It was a mermaid."
"Oh, Really," Pan said unsurprised.
"Aye. Bloody fish tried to kill me. We fought, then all of a sudden something slammed into ?. The next thing I know I'm waking up on the shore of the lagoon," Killian finished, waiting to see what Pan thought of his tale.
Pan stood there silently contemplating for several moments. It was starting to make Killian nervous, until finally, he responded. "Well, you'll just have to go back to the cave and try again."
Killian was taken aback. "Come again? It sounded like you said you wanted me to go back?"
"Did I stutter? You are to retrieve that stone for me, whatever it takes," Pan said menacingly.
"What is so special about this stone? Why do you need it so badly?" Killian inquired.
Pan was in front of him in a flash. One of his hands came up to wrap firmly around Killian's neck. "Why I need it is none of your concern." He squeezed a little tighter. "Now are you going to be a good pirate and do what you are told?"
Killian struggled for air, trying and failing to pull Pan's hand away from his throat. He was only able to croak out a barely audible. "Yes"
With a triumphant look Pan released him. "Good. You'll try again tomorrow. I'll be waiting here at at dusk." With that he turned and disappeared.
Killian stood there gasping as he tried to catch his breath. "Fucking imp!" he rasped out, not caring if he was overheard. He gathered himself together and started in the direction of his ship.
When he reached the beach he walked over to the rowboat that he had pulled up on shore. Having pushed the small vessel into the water, he started rowing towards the Jolly and thought about what he was going to do next. Pan wasn't going to stop in his pursuit of the stone that was around Emma's neck, and he would be damned if he was going to betray her and hand it over to him.
Suddenly, Killian heard a splash coming from somewhere over to his left. As he turned toward the sound, he thought he saw a flash of blonde hair disappear behind an outcropping of rocks. Turning the rowboat around, he headed in that direction, slowing down and coming to a stop when he reached a small cove.
"Emma?" he asked cautiously as he peered into the water.
"So, what happened?" a voice called out beside him.
Killian jumped, turning to see Emma with her elbow propped up on the side of the rowboat. "Bloody hell, love. Don't do that."
Emma winced. "Sorry. I didn't mean to sneak up on you."
Killian smiled gently at her. "It's alright, love," he quickly looked at their surroundings. "How did you get here, Emma?"
"The cave has underwater passageways that lead out to different places on the island," she informed him.
Killian nodded his head at the explanation. "Well, why are you here?"
"I was worried about happened with Pan?" she asked anxiously.
Killian contemplated whether he should tell her everything about his encounter with Pan. Looking down into her imploring eyes he decided that he wanted to be completely honest with her. "Well, shall I tell you the good news first or the bad news?"
Emma's face fell at his response. "What happened?"
He took a deep breath and proceeded to her tell his entire conversation with Pan. From telling him he didn't find the stone, to being attacked and pulled underwater, to finally waking up on the shore having no idea how he got there.
Emma pursed her lips at him. "Do you think he believed you?"
"He seemed to, but..." Killian stopped, hesitating for a moment.
"What?" Emma asked nervously.
"He wants me to go back to the cave and try again," Killian reluctantly told her.
Emma reached up to touch the stone around her neck. "He's never going to stop. He's just going to keep coming and coming," she said as tears began to gather in her eyes.
Killian leaned forward and gathered her hands in his. "Emma, I promise you that I will not let him get you."
Emma scoffed a laugh towards him. "I appreciate the sentiment, Killian, but I've learned the hard way that the only one who can save me is me."
Killian looked at her in confusion. "What does that mean, love?"
Emma looked away quickly. "Nothing. It's not important."
Killian tightened his hands around hers as she tried to pull them away. "No. It's not nothing. What happened to you, Emma?"
Her eyes start to dart around wildly , not wanting to make eye contact with him. "Why would you think something happened to me?"
"Because you're somewhat of an open book, love. You have the look of someone that's been hurt and betrayed," Killian said gently.
Emma jerked back, snatching her hands from his. "You know nothing about me. I don't need your help, or want it. I can take care of myself," she sneered at him before turning and disappearing beneath the water.
"Emma!" he called out, realizing too late that he had struck a nerve. When there was no more sign of her Killian sighed and cursed under his breath before turning back towards his ship.
XXX
Later that evening Killian was nursing his flask on the deck of the Jolly. He had volunteered to take over the night watch from Mr. Hughs, his quartermaster, so that he could clear the events of the day from his head. He didn't know why Emma's rejection stung so much, or why he cared about what happened to her. He just knew that from the moment he met her he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. Which was ridiculous/ Killian shouldn't be caring about anything except getting off this island, killing that damn Crocodile, and avenging (and probably joining) his Milah.
Killian froze with his flask raised halfway toward his mouth. Milah. He realized that throughout the day his thoughts hadn't been consumed by those of his lost love. Guilt, then anger, began to eat away at Killian as he couldn't believe he was becoming distracted from his goal. He vowed from that moment on he wouldn't be swayed by anything,not even a beautiful, green-eyed mermaid. He still needed to find a way around Pan's ultimatum about the stone, but he'd figure that out when the time came.
Secured in his renewed determination, he lifted his flask for a self-celebratory drink when he heard something hit the deck in front of him. Shocked, he crouched down and saw that it was a shell that had been launched at him.
"What the?" he whispered in confusion as he picked it up.
Ding! Killian jumped as another projectile hit the wheel beside him. Standing, he cautiously walked to the railing and peered over the side, and was surprised to see Emma looking up at him from the water.
"Well, it's about time," she said impatiently
Killian shook his head, wondering if he was imagining that blonde mermaid was there. "Emma?"
"Yeah. Hi," she said nervously.
Convinced he was, in fact, not imagining her, he asked, "What are you doing here?" while frantically looking around for any sign of his crew.
"I needed to see you. Can we talk?" Emma asked him with pleading eyes.
Even though Killian knew he should tell her 'no' and send her away, looking down at her he found he just couldn't. "Aye. I'll come down to you."
"No. I'll climb up," Emma responded.
Killian watched as she began to scale up the side of the ship until she settled on a wide ledge that was right below the railing making them eye level.
"Well, love, what did you want to talk about?" he asked nonchalantly.
She started to wring her hands in front of her, clearly on edge and uncomfortable about being here, then squared her shoulders and took a deep breath before saying, "I'm sorry."
Killian cocked his head at her. "Come again, love?"
Emma let out a deep sigh. "I'm sorry about the way I acted before. It's just that," she paused looking away quickly to compose herself, "You were right. Something did happen to me, and I was just so rattled that you could read me so well that I panicked, and... well, you know the rest." She shrugged her shoulders sheepishly.
Killian leaned against the railing, trying not to show her how much her words were affecting him. He could tell that it took a lot for Emma to be here, and he didn't want to risk saying the wrong thing again and send her running… or swimming, as the case may be, so all he did was nod his head for her to continue.
"I'm sure you know that it has something to do with this." She gestured to her throat where the green stone lay.
Killian nodded. "Yes."
"I lied when I said I didn't remember how it got there, because I do," she told him.
Killian's eyes widened at that. "What happened?"
Emma's hands began to shake as she lifted them to her throat the caress the stone. "I was tricked by somebody that I thought I could trust. One minute I was walking with him and the next I had this thing around my neck and was sent here to Neverland," she confessed tearfully.
Killian was shocked by her confession. "You're saying that you used to be-"
"Human," Emma interrupted him. "I used to be human."
