One-shot inspired by the 4X12 promo pics.The hook holding was just too much for me to handle.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Her quiet voice shook him from his internal musings, realizing suddenly that they had already arrived in front of his room at the Inn. He tore his gaze from the cause of his contemplative silence, her hand that was still wrapped casually around his hook. Seeing her green eyes looking at him with concern, he forced a smile and attempted to keep his jumbled mess of thoughts from her.

"Of course, love, why?"

As she has taken to do, she lifted her free hand up to cradle his cheek, her head cocked slightly to the side as she gave him a look that clearly said that he wasn't getting away with hiding from her. Not saying anything further, she kept him locked in her gaze in a silent conversation of understanding and patience. He didn't know how to voice what was bothering him, as it wasn't exactly clear in his own head, really.

Dropping his gaze back down to his hook and her hand, he let out a small sigh before attempting to find the words.

"It's this, I guess." He gestured towards his hook with his head, still not able to meet her eyes. "I'm not sure how to feel about you holding it. I'm sorry, Swan, it's really hard to explain."

She dropped her hand and he swore he could feel the loss, despite the lack of any real connection to the metal and leather to his actual nerve endings. Before she could misunderstand him, he reached out with his right hand to grasp the hand she dropped, pulling her forward slightly. He knew he had to quickly find a way to express what he was feeling before he hurt her. This new intimacy between them was so new and he didn't want to do anything to jeopardize it.

"Swan, I never imagined that you'd ever look at my hook as something to hold as if it was a part of me. When you reached for it at dinner I, well, I think I stopped breathing. I'm feeling simultaneously elated and ashamed at the same time and it's driving me a bit mad, to be honest."

"Killian, look at me."

He did. As soon as he had his cobalt eyes focused on hers, she reached for his hook again and brought it up between them.

"This is a part of you, Killian. I held it because it felt natural for me to. Honestly, I didn't really think about it before I did it. Do you not want me to?"

"God, no, love. That's not it. Bloody hell, I'm making an arse out of myself here. I'm just not used to viewing my hook as something…good. No one I care about has ever touched it the way you did tonight."

Emma's slight chuckle was surprising and it was his turn to look at her with confusion. "Really Swan, what about that was funny?"

"I'm sorry. It's just..well, it's not the first time I've held it, Killian."

"I bloody well think I'd remember something like that love."

He felt her lean a bit closer to him and he watched as she began to trace her fingers along the curve of his hook that was still raised between them, her eyes turning seductive as she did so. Suddenly he felt lightheaded and hazy, as if he was reliving a memory that felt more like a dream. His heart began to race as she stepped forward, trapping his hook between her breasts and his chest. Her breath was warm on his neck as she leaned forward, her lips grazing his ear as she spoke.

"I have a confession to make…"

"Most women do." Wait, what did he just say? Those words came from his mouth without thought, making him feel as though he was outside of his body and someone else was in control altogether. Not that he was minding, however, as whoever was pulling the strings was making this quite enjoyable for him.

Emma pulled back suddenly and gave him a knowing look. "So, you do remember?"

"Lass, I have absolutely no idea what is happening right now or what I am supposed to be recalling, but I don't rightly care as long as you keep whispering in my ear like that." He wiggled his eyebrows at her and she stepped further back, placing her hands on her hips.

"Damn, I was hoping I'd sparked your memory just now. Your former self holds too many of our firsts, Killian. First time we met, first drink together, first kiss. It's damn frustrating."

Sudden awareness overtook him at that, and he huffed in frustration. He wondered if there would ever be a time when he would stop being jealous of himself.

"Bugger, this all happened during our journey to the past with him, didn't it love?"

"Yeah, back at the tavern while I was keeping you, er him…occupied."

"Bloody hell." He reached up and scratched behind his ear, feeling even more out of sorts now than he had when this whole conversation started. A sudden realization hit him and he looked at Emma with an incredulous look.

"Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that even when you were with him, when he was still dangerous, you didn't hesitate to reach for the hook?"

He waited as she looked at him thoughtfully, her eyes darting between his hook and his face. She stepped back towards him again before speaking.

"Killian, I am only admitting this to you because I think you need to hear it and so we can put this whole matter to rest once and for all. There's just something…sexy about that damn hook, okay? So stop being weird about it and get over here and kiss me."

He only allowed his shock to set in for a second before grabbing her and hauling her towards him. Obliging her request for a kiss, his lips sought hers as he wound his arms around her waist. She angled her head, prompting him to deepen the kiss, their tongues slowly caressing as her grip on his arms tightened in response. She slowly eased the pace of the kiss as she moved her hands from his arms up to cradle his face, giving his lips a few slow nips before stopping to lean her head back slightly to look him in the eyes.

"You know, Killian, there's one first I'd really like you to remember."

"What might that be, love?" He really hoped she was meaning what he thought she was, but he didn't want to make any assumptions.

"Well, I was promised a nightcap by a devilishly handsome pirate many, many years ago and I thought it was bad form to keep a lady waiting?"

The look of mischief on her face wasn't quite masking her obvious nervousness at her rather forward proposition. He straightened so he could ease his arm between them, reaching his hook towards her for her to grasp. When she did, he stepped to her side and turned to unlock his door. Once it was open he gestured for her to enter with his right hand, bowing a bit at the waist as he did so.

"Aye, milady, bad form indeed. It would be my honor to fulfill that promise, my love."