Another type of driving

Yoyo asked for a oneshot of Emma, whilst a teenager, worked on a ship. So when they are on their way to Neverland everyone is surprised at her skills navigating the Jolly Roger.

So I'll be setting this like they were on the JR for a lot longer than they were in canon.

Emma could see that Hook was practically sleeping at the wheel. They'd been in Neverland for nearly a week now and still had a few days to go before Hook predicted they'd reach the shore. Emma admired how chivalrous the pirate was being. He was giving up most of the time he should be sleeping or eating to captaining the Jolly Roger. He claimed the sooner they were off this cursed island the better, but Emma knew there was more to it than that. She knew he cared for Henry's wellbeing, and that he cared for her. She didn't want to see him passing out whilst on duty. That certainly wouldn't help their time. She knew she had to step in. She walked up to the captain's wheel (well aware that both of her parents were watching her) and stood by Killian.

"Go grab something to eat and catch some sleep. I'll man the ship while you do." She told him. Hook looked back at Emma and gave her a slightly patronising grin.

"That's kind of you to offer, lass. But this isn't like driving one of your strange mechanical wagons. You need to actually know what you're doing." He explained.

"Which I do." Emma told him. "I spent some time on a ship. I know how to work the wheel. Go, you'll be no use to us when we reach land if you're exhausted." Emma told him. Hook smiled at her more gently, Emma didn't look him directly in the eye, not wanting to see what was hidden in his smile.

"Well, thank you, Swan. I'll go below deck and get some sleep." Hook lingered for a moment, as if wanting to say something, before going below deck.

He wasn't gone for a few minutes before Regina and her parents came up and joined her.

"And just how will drowning when you crash us into some rocks help us save Henry?" Regina asked angrily. Emma scowled at her.

"I'm not going to crash." She told her. "I can control a ship."

"You can?" Charming asked her. Neither he nor Snow knew that about Emma. Emma shrugged.

"I spent some time in Providence in Rhode Island. There weren't many jobs going that didn't involve being out at sea. It was a fisherman's ship. He took me under his wing and taught me everything there was to know about working on a boat. He was a good guy and a good captain. When I told him I was thinking about moving on from Providence, I didn't like to stay in one place too long, he said he had a contact down in Dover in Delaware who was looking for someone to join their crew and that he'd be more than happy to recommend me. But by that point I'd had my fill of the ocean. So long story short, I know how to handle a ship. No big deal." Snow and Charming just looked at Emma. To them, it was very much a big deal. Every new thing they learned about her was.