Emma stomped up the steps, she couldn't believe Neal. They had just rescued their son and were traveling back to Storybrooke and Neal seemed to think this was the perfect time for them to resume their relationship. Fat chance. She didn't even know what she wanted, and she wasn't going to open her heart to Neal easily after all their shared history. Her eyes met Hooks and he winked at her.
Okay, maybe that's not the only reason she wasn't sure about Neal. The feelings around Hook weren't easing, she thought that kissing him would put a stop to the tension between them, if anything it made it worse. What could she say? It was a hell of a kiss
"You alright love?" Hook asked, Emma nodded once, that's something she didn't understand. Before their kiss, she could always see the flirty undertones of his words, now his eyes were soft. Almost. She ignored the pull to him and glanced to the horizon.
"How long?" She asked, Hook looked worried.
"Not long. But in order to get out of Neverland, we need to travel through the storm.
"Storm?" Snow asked, making Emma jump, she hadn't realised everyone was now on deck. Suddenly grateful she didn't say anything about Neal, or Hook.
"Neverland doesn't like people leaving," Neal commented. "I nearly died getting out of here the first time.
"That's because you weren't on a ship. The storm takes the person, not the vessel." Hook grabbed some rope and tied it to the wheel, keeping them on course. "The ship will be fine. Us, however..." His voice stopped as a gust of wind picked up around them. "Need to hold on. This storm will be worse than that one we encountered on the way here." Emma grabbed Henry's hand and pulled him to the edge of the ship, wrapping his arms around the rigging.
"Don't let go okay?"
"Okay." Henry's voice was quiet, but he didn't sound scared. He rarely did. Emma did the same, glancing round, Snow and Charming were on the other side, both clinging onto the ship. Neal also came to their side, the other side of Henry.
"Don't worry. I got you. Promise." Neal smiled at them. Gold and Regina were both on the lower deck. Regina was already holding on, her eyes locked on Henry to make sure he was safe. Hook was next to Emma, his hook wrapped tightly around the ropes. The wind picked up, the ship beginning to rock as the water churned below them. Emma held on tightly, her feet losing balance as the rain began to pour, Hook was right, this storm was worse. Thick heavy rain, she couldn't see where the sky ended and the sea began. It was just water. The wind was relentless, pushing her hard, the water on the floor making it slippery. She felt herself lose balance, her hands losing grip on the ropes as her body flew to the side. An arm wrapped around her waist.
"I got you, love." Hook shouted over the storm, pulling her to him and covering her body with his own. Out the corner of her eye, she saw the same thing happen to Henry, his legs gave out, holding on to the ropes tightly.
"Henry!" She screamed, reaching out for him. "Neal! Grab Henry!" She shouted over the wind. She could just about see Neal's form through the rain, but he didn't move to their son.
"Neal!" She shouted again. This time he looked over. He still didn't move. His hands tight around the rigging.
"No! Henry!" Hook heard her scream and glanced over, the rain almost too heavy to spot the lad. He put a firm hand on Emma's back, keeping her steady. He planted his feet firmly to keep himself upright and reached out with his hook to grab Henry. Henry's hand found the slippery metal, he would have to be quick before Henry lost his grip also. Hook sharply pulled him to them. Emma's arms wrapping around him, her own covered by Hooks. She didn't even realise their hands were clinging on the same rope until he was gone. Emma gasped and reached back. Her hand pulling Killian's back to the rope.
"Got you." She called. Entwining their fingers on the rope to keep them both steady. She tried to see the others but the rain pour made it impossible. She pressed her head into Henry's hair as she waited for it to be over.
The wind suddenly died down, the rain stopping like it hadn't even started
"Is it over?" Henry asked, his hands loosening slightly.
"Keep holding on." Hook shouted, glancing around. "It sometimes likes to play with us." He slowly untangled himself from Emma, looking around the now calm sea. "How do we know?" Emma asked. "I'm looking for an island, once we pass the magic of Neverland ends." He said loudly.
"I see it!" Charming called, pointing behind them. Hook rushed over. Emma wanted to shout at him, he just said to hold on
"It's safe." Hook called out. Regina was by Emma's side immediately, grabbing Henry and inspecting him, Henry hugged her tightly.
"I'm okay. Hook saved me." Regina glanced over to the pirate. Who was busy looking at the sky.
"He saved both of us," Emma said quietly. If he hadn't been there, they both would have gotten swept away by the storm. She glanced at Neal, his eyes were wide and he looked pale. Emma ignored him. Snow reached Emma and gave her a hug, David right behind. Emma tensed into the hug, still not fully comfortable with the number of hugs she gets recently.
"So what now?" Gold asked, coming back up the steps, his clothes already dry. He must have used magic. Regina glanced around and waved her hand, the sodden clothes suddenly dry and warm as if they had been in a dryer. Hook frowned, still not happy speaking with the dark one. "We need to be fast, the sun is rising.
"How is that possible?" Regina asked. "We left in the middle of the day."
"To get to Neverland it's the second star to the right and straight on till morning," Neal frowned. "Therefore, to get back..." Hook squinted.
"Can you see it Bae?" He asked, Neal also looking to the sky.
"There!" Henry pointed. Hook laughed.
"You'd make a good pirate lad!" He said as he adjusted the course.
"The second star to the left, and straight on till evening," Henry whispered.
"So if it's sunrise...We have around a 12-hour sail." Neal sighed loudly. "We should probably get some sleep. Snow nodded. "It's been a long day, we need to rest." Hook looked over to Emma and Regina. "The boy can sleep in my cabin if he wishes." He offered. "The bed is a lot more comfortable than the ones in the crew cabin." Emma went to make a comment about how clean his bed would be but it died in her throat. She smiled softly. "Thank you, Killian." His head jerked up. Eyes wide in surprise before nodding and turning back to the sea. "Come on kid."
"I'm not tired. I want to stay here." Henry argued.
"You're tired. You haven't slept in two days. You're not going to miss much." Regina told him sternly.
"But Moms..." Henry whined.
"If anything fun happens I'll come to wake you myself." Hook supplied. Henry grinned and nodded, rushing down the stairs.
"Thank you Hook." Regina said quietly. Almost if it pained her to say it. Hook shrugged. "We all nearly died trying to get him, I wasn't going to leave him stranded was I?" Regina nodded and also went below deck. Emma looked at Hook for a long moment. There was so much she wanted to say, but her throat constricted. It was all too much. She went below deck, walking towards the captain's quarters to see Henry. If she could also sneak a look at Hooks life while down there, that was an added bonus.
"Emma." Neal's hand was on her arm, pulling her to the storage room. Emma wasn't surprised that most of the barrels looked like rum. "What, Neal?" She said tiredly. Not wanting to argue but could see from the look on his face he wasn't going to let this go. "I'm sorry. I couldn't reach him. "You were closer to him than Hook was." She snapped. Neal held his hands up. "I was scared okay? I didn't want to be swept up either." "So you almost let our 12-year-old child get lost instead?" She spat at him. Neal shook his head. Grabbing her arm. "You don't understand..." "You promised him. Just like you promised me all those years ago... and you let him down. Again." She pulled out of his grip. "This was never going to work." "Wait... please. You said you loved me." "I did... I will always love you." Emma admitted. "But I can't trust you." "But you can trust him?' Neal snarled, eyes pointing up to the main deck. "Hook has nothing to do with this." Emma pointed out. "Even if he wasn't here. I still don't want to be with you." Emma pulled her arm away, her heart feeling lighter. She knew. She now knew that no matter what, Neal would always put himself first, and maybe 3 years ago she wouldn't have minded. She would have done the same, but now she has Henry and she would die for him. She peeked into the room where Hook's cabin was, smiling as Henry was already asleep, Regina was next to him stroking his hair. Emma let them have their time, but not wanting to go to the crew cabin and sleep with her parents and her ex she returned to deck.
"Got any rum?" She asked Hook, who was looking at the horizon. He turned, smirking "Who am I?" He pulled out his flask and handed it to her. "Bit early for drinking." "Shut up." Emma rolled her eyes, taking a deep swig. "Aren't you tired?" She asked. Hook shrugged. "Just setting course and I'll rest up here." He jerked his head back. A hammock rolled up in the corner. Emma glanced at the ship. She had never questioned it before. Hook had managed to sail her without a crew. Well, without a competent crew. "Enchanted Wood." Hook said quietly. "She sails herself. I just point her in the direction. Unless we have storms, we don't need to do much." "So why did you have a crew?" Emma asked, remembering Smee and the other crew members of the Jolly Roger. "Loneliness." Hook admitted. "The sea can be a lonely place, and 3 months at sea with no one but your own company will drive you mad."
Emma nodded. She understood, back in Boston she would go weeks without spending time with anyone. It was a lonely life. Emma ran a hand through her hair, she could feel Hook's eyes on her. She glanced over to him. That was mistake one. His eyes bore through her like he could see inside her soul. He did once call her an open book. His eyes glanced down to her lips. She remembered their last kiss, how firm his lips were against hers. She forced her eyes away. Turning to the hammock and setting it up for him while he sailed. She made quick work and sat on it. Looking up at the orange horizon.
"Shouldn't you sleep love?' Hook asked quietly. Emma slowly nodded.
"Sounds like a good idea." She swung her legs up, moving so she was on the edge, holding the wood of the ship for balance. "You coming?" Hooks mouth dropped open"I..." Emma smiled triumphantly, this was better. She is in control.
"It's either here or with Neal." She shrugged. Hook smirked, pulling off his jacket and dropping it to the floor. "You know this is going to be..." his eyebrow raised. "Cosy?" Mistake 2. Emma knew; she knew he would have to be very close to her, and she didn't care. "I'm okay with that. Unless you can't handle it?' Hook let out a bark of a laugh.
"Well, I couldn't handle it last time." He admitted, carefully getting into the hammock beside her. Their bodies rolling together. Emma shifted to get comfortable, freezing when her nose bumped Hooks. Blue eyes meeting green. They were so close. Emma could give into temptation right now. However, she wasn't brave enough. Hook pushed a strand of hair away from her face. The look on his face surprised her, she expected him to make a comment, a flirty smile and brushing off any feelings that may be stirring, however, Emma realised, he was now an open book, looking at her with such fondness, it made her heart melt.
"I meant it you know." He said quietly, his voice low which caused butterflies to spark in Emma's stomach.
"Meant what?' She breathed. She was drowning, gasping for air, part of her wanted to run, part of her wanted to stay.
"When I win your heart, it won't be through trickery." He breathed.
"It's because I want you." She finished. She wanted him. She knew she did. And that thought was terrifiying
"I won't make the first move.' Hook continued. "It's your choice. Always yours. Even if I have to wait 50 years." And that's 3, she shouldn't have let him open that mouth of his. She was falling, she couldn't stop even if she wanted too. She didn't want to. Her lips met his, it wasn't like the first kiss, where lust and passion overtook them. This was soft, slow, and gentle. Killian's hand was on her cheek, his thumb stroking slightly. Emma tilted her head, the kiss deepening as Killian let out a soft moan. He was letting her take charge which surprised her. She was expecting a battle of dominance.
Emma pulled away, leaning her forehead against his as she caught her breath.
"Are you going to let me finish my thought now?"
Emma slowly nodded. Last time she cut him off, said it was a one-time thing, and as she looked at Killian now. She was lying to herself. It would never just be a one-time thing.
"That was..." Killian breathed. "Amazing."
Emma laughed softly. "Really? After all that? That's the best word you could come out with?"
"There are other words..." Killian grinned. "But I'm trying not to scare you off."Emma rolled her eyes.
"You seem to think I'm easily scared."
"In matters of the heart, I think you are." Emma couldn't respond. Once again, Killian Jones read her like an open book.
"Thank you." She said suddenly. "For grabbing Henry."
"As I said to the Evil Queen, after spending weeks saving the lad, I wasn't going to let him down."
"You grabbed me too."
"Aye, did you think I wouldn't?" Emma shook her head. She knew that he would have grabbed her, and if he hadn't, he would have returned to Neverland for her. "You saved me too," Killian said quietly. "I lost my grip." Emma let out a laugh. "Well, we need you to get us back home."
Killian laughed loudly. "That and I'm an attractive man to look at?" His brow raised. Emma rolled her eyes. "You're a little full of yourself, you know that?" "I'd say confident." "I'd say full of yourself." "Says the woman who has climbed in bed with me." "It's a hammock, not a bed." "Still, you made the first move." His eyes suddenly darkened. "Well then, if you were waiting for me. Maybe you should make the second move?" She said boldly, pushing any scared thoughts down. She wanted this, and she needed to lower her walls to get it. Killian let out a low groan. "You really are a bloody Siren, Swan." His mouth was then on hers, hot and wanting. His hand on her waist and pulling her closer. Emma's hands met his shoulders and gripped tightly, letting out a small sigh. She pushed him, trying to roll on top of him, the sudden change in angle caused the hammock to sway dangerously and Killian's hand flew out to steady them. Laughing as he pulled away. "Not the best idea." He said quietly, his eyes still dark. "To be continued?" Emma nodded, breathlessly. "To be continued." She carefully moved so her head was on his chest. She could hear his heart pounding under her ears. His arms wrapped around her.
She hadn't been held in a long time, back in Boston her one-night stands were often out the door before she could even get underwear on. She told herself that she didn't need it. It was claustrophobic and uncomfortable. She needs to stop lying to herself. Laying here, in Killian's arms, she had never felt more at home./p