Chapter 3

"Get below deck" Killian hissed to Emma.

"But - "

"Get below deck!" he repeated, nudging her towards the ladder. She complied.

"Why send her away? She's the one I wish to talk to." Cora commented.

"I'm afraid I'll be speaking on her behalf." Killian replied.

Cora raised her eyebrows, giving a smile that spelt danger. "I see. Tell me, captain, are you really leaving me, your best chance at revenge, for a girl you've just met?"

"Well, she's more pleasant company, I must say." Killian commented.

"So you decided that her pleasant company is better than my promise of revenge?" she said, a hint of amusement in her voice, before she got up and strode up to him, her gaze cold. "Let's come straight to the point, Hook. We had a deal."

"Of which I have already fulfilled my end." Killian stated.

"That does not give you the permission to interfere in my business." Cora said angrily.

"But, dear Cora, it does not forbid me from the same either."

Cora narrowed her eyes at him. "What do you gain from protecting her, anyway? You only tend to lose."

Killian returned her stare for a moment, then sighed. "It is against my honour to let you harm an innocent child. And I'm nothing if not a man of honor."

Cora chuckled. "Touching. But can you give me one reason not to rip your heart out and taking the child anyway?"

"I can't give you a reason, but I can offer you a deal." Killian said thoughtfully.

"Oh, and what would that be?" Cora said, amused.

"Nothing new, we can just change your end of our deal. In exchange for the help I provided, let them be." Killian stated.

Cora looked at him in surprise. "So you'll give up your revenge for their sake? I'd say you've gone soft, captain."

"Never said that, Cora." Killian said, "I'm just giving up your help. And anyway, what do you lose from it? You don't have any need of the lass or the child here, and if I estimate correctly there are still ten years left before the curse breaks."

Cora chucked, regarding him. "You know what, I may have underestimated you. You do speak sense sometimes. I'll spare you and those new friends of yours, at least today. Have a safe journey." she added mockingly before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

As soon as she was gone, Emma came out.

"So she... left?" she asked.

"Aye. For now. Can't say she won't trouble us again, though, a pestering one, she is." Killian commented.

"How do you know her, anyway? And what was this deal she was talking about?" she asked, but little Henry chose that moment to wake up and start crying.

Killian laughed. "Lucky lad, slept through all the drama." Emma smiled back.

"Hi."

Killian turned around from where he was minding the helm to find Emma standing behind him.

"I was, um, wondering if you needed help." Emma said awkwardly.

"I'll manage, lass, you should get some sleep. And where's the little lad?" he asked.

"In the cabin. I've turned your bunk into a makeshift cot, it should do for now." she said, "I... couldn't sleep. Too many questions."

Killian nodded, but didn't say anything.

"I... I wanted to thank you... for saving us..." she said sincerely, "I don't know what the matter was with the woman, but it seemed you had to make a sacrifice on your part to help us... If I could make it up to you somehow please tell me..."

"That wouldn't be necessary, love." he said, shaking his head, "I might not help people in need on a daily basis, but I've been known to do so on occassion."

"Thank you." Emma repeated.

A loud wail sounded from below, and Killian chuckled. "It appears that your presence is demanded elsewhere, love."

Emma returned a few moments later, the baby in her arms and fast asleep again. "Apparently, he didn't like the bed. Or maye the lack of company."

Killian chuckled. "So... kidnapped the little lad, did you?"

"Not intentionally." Emma replied. "Can I ask you something? Or a bunch of somethings?"

"Go ahead." he nodded, "I know you must be confused."

" 'Confused' is an understatement. Let's start with who that magic lady was, and what was the deal you had with her? She was saying something about revenge..." she asked.

"Her name was Cora. I happened upon her when I was sent Wonderland by her daughter, the Evil Queen, to kill her in return for help with my revenge." his expression darkened considerably as he thought of his revenge. "I failed, and was faced with the choice of either dying or allying with her. She was offering me the same thing as her daughter, so the deal was good enough for me to agree straightaway. That's how we came into acquaintance."

"This vengeance of yours... what is it about?" she asked, unable to help her curiosity.

Killian sighed. "There was a powerful and manipulative man, the Dark One, Rumplestiltskin was his name. He snatched away something very precious from me and cut off my hand, and I've wanted revenge ever since."

There was a moment's silence. "Is... Is Milah what he took from you?" she asked quietly, eyes on the tattoo on his forearm.

Killian didn't answer for a moment, choosing to gaze at the endless sea before them instead. "Quite perceptive, aren't you?"

She shrugged, and didn't say anything.

"Milah... was Rumplestiltskin's wife, before he became the dark one." Killian started, not entirely sure why he was telling her this. "She wanted to leave that life behind, and had good reason to. Rumplestiltskin was a coward who gave her nothing but misery. The only reason she stayed behind was their son. We met in a tavern, and when me and my crew decided to leave, she wanted to come along. I agreed. And Rumplestilskin... the coward didn't even pick up the weapon to fight me." He sighed. "Years later, we came across Rumplestilskin again, but now he was powerful, with Dark Magic feared by all. He taunted and humiliated me, but Milah... he went into a fury and killed her, out of anger for abandoning their son. He took out her heart and crushed it to dust in front of me, and I was helpless to do anything but watch. Then he cut off my hand because he believed I held something he needed. From that moment to this, I've lived for nothing but revenge."

"I'm sorry." she whispered, biting her lip. She almost regretted asking the question which made him relive such a painful experience.

Moments passed in silence as they watched the faraway horizon.

"I was in love too," Emma spoke out suddenly, "not to long ago. I met Neal when we both tried to steal the same car - that's, um, a carriage of sorts." she added in explanation at his confused expression. "We became partners-in-crime, and fell in love soon enough. I trusted him with all my heart, but it was only to be backstabbed. He framed me for a crime he had committed and ran off, leaving me in jail, betrayed by him and pregnant with his child."

She turned to him, and found him shocked.

"So, you have a child?" he eventually asked.

"Had." she corrected, "I gave him away. I-I couldn't give him the life he deserved." she blinked away any tears that were beginning to form and sighed. "It's ironic, really, that I gave my own son up thinking I couldn't be a mother, and now I have to play mother to someone else's baby."

"I think you're doing quite well." he commented, giving her a small smile.

"Yeah?" she asked skeptically.

"Aye." he nodded.

"Thanks." she said awkwardly after a moment.

He smiled a little wider but didn't answer.