2201 Words this Chapter. Spoilers from Season 5 midseason finale, Swan Song.

Chapter Three, The Love Challenge

As Valentine's Day drew closer, both Killian and Emma were planning away. Emma sat on her parents bed, looking through a catalog. She sighed. "Nothing's right. What do you get a centuries old pirate for Valentine's Day?"

Her mother shrugged. "A stuffed teddy bear with an eye patch that says, 'Argh, be my Valentine or you'll walk the plank?"

Emma tossed the catalog down. "Not too helpful, Mom."

She smiled. "Sorry."

Emma paced around the bed. "He's going to go all out, like he did at Christmas. I have to get him something really nice." She flopped backwards onto the bed with a groan. "He only likes leather and rum and he has plenty of both!"

"Come on, honey, you know him better than anyone. There has to be more to him."

Emma sighed and rolled over. "There is. He's really sweet and sentimental," she said softly.

"That doesn't really help."

Emma sat up. "Yes, it does," she said. "His past means something to him. Usually he focuses on the bad, but sometimes the good comes out, like when he's talking about his brother or the sea." She smiled. "He's a sailor."

"So…"

"They went to sea for long periods of time, leaving loved ones behind," Emma said. She reached for the ring he gave her, the one that had been his brother's. "They'd give their sweethearts something to remember them by."

She jumped off the bed. "I'm going to Gold's."

Mary-Margaret winced. "Is that a good idea? You and he have been at odds since…."

'Since he twisted Killian's sacrifice and benefitted from it," Emma said, putting on her coat. "Don't worry. I'll try to avoid him. I'll text Belle. If she isn't working there today maybe can she meet me."

Her mother frowned but nodded. ""I just don't want any bloodshed before Valentine's' Day."

"There won't be any. I'm not letting that...person...ruin my celebrations with Killian," she said, leaving the loft.

A short while later, Emma walked into Gold's and smiled as she saw Belle.

"Hi, Emma,"

She nodded. "Um...is he…"

Belle smiled. "No. I asked him to fetch me lunch and not come back until I text."

Emma chuckled. "You sure have some magic over that...person."

Belle gave a soft smile. "What he did was terrible. He knows I don't approve of or excuse it." Emma nodded. Belle changed the subject. " I've been looking into what you texted," she said. "There is a strong tradition of sailor's giving medallions and other trinkets to their sweethearts, but not much about what a sweetheart might give a sailor."

"Great," Emma said with a huff.

"Except for one thing," said Belle. She pulled a tray from the glass display case. "Lockets, often they'd contain a small drawing or painting of the woman or a lock of her hair."

Emma grinned. Instantly she thought of Killian's fingers playing with her golden strands. "He likes my hair, a lot."

Belle giggled. "See any you like?"

They were all oval or heart shaped and very girly. "No, not really." Finally she focused on a large silver oval with a black border.. It was old but not too worn. She opened and closed it several times to make sure it worked.

She looked at Belle with a slight blush and pulled a strand of hair over the inside. "Just seeing if it will fit," she explained.. Belle nodded with a chuckle. "OK, this will work," Emma said.

"Great."

Emma didn't look happy. "But it's not enough."

Belle thought a moment. "I found two small picture holders while I was looking," she said, moving to another case.

She came back with two small circles of wood. On top of each one was a thin metal cover. Emma twisted one off to reveal a slightly hollow,.empty place. "The picture goes in here?"

"Yes, in old times it would be a small painting or drawing, but a photo would work."

"And there's two: one for my picture, one for Henry's."

Belle smiled. "Killian would love that."

Emma's face glowed. "He would." She fingered the top of one of the holders. "What is this ring for?"

"To attach a chain to fix it to a fob or pocket watch."

Emma snorted. "Killian refuses to tell time in a normal way. He still looks at a sundial or stares at the sky." Belle laughed. "Do you have any pocket watches?"

Belle nodded. She brought out another tray. "Do you think you could get him to use it?"

"It's old fashioned enough," said Emma. "I'll just tell him it's what sexy, debonair men wear, and not everyone looks good doing it." She laughed, so did Belle.

"That would probably work."

Emma nodded. She looked the watches over. There was one that was black with silver edging. She held the picture holders to it.

"I've got some chains here," said Belle. She attached both circles to the watch.

Emma smiled widely. "I like it. I'll take all of them: the locket, the watch, and the holders."

"I think it's a really lovely idea," said Belle. "I'm sure Killian will too."

Emma felt that warm glow inside. "I know he will. Thank you, Belle. For everything."

She nodded. "You two are really great together, Emma."

The sheriff chuckled. "We have our moments."

Meanwhile, Killian was at Granny's. The owner herself sat across from him in a booth. Scattered across the table were menus and several recipe books. Killian flipped through one.

"I wish to feature something from the sea, my old realm," said the Captain.

"How about Lobster?" asked Granny. "It's a big romantic favorite."

He smiled. "I can see the look on my love's face."

Granny nodded. "OK, so that's the main course…"

"Do not veer course so quickly, Love, I also want to feature a dish from the land, to represent my fetching landlover Swan."

"Surf and Turf huh?"

"Forgive me, Lady Lucas, I do not have your culinary vernacular. What is 'surf and turf?"

She smiled. "It means a dish from the land and a dish from the sea."

"Yes! Surf and Turf is precisely what I desire!"

"How about a nice steak?"

"Perfect."

"Do you want a skirt or flank or something nicer like a sirloin, t-bone, porterhouse, ribeye, or tenderloin? Or shall I go all out and do a filet mignon or a chateaubriand?"

"What in heaven's name are you talking about? I thought we were discussing steak?"

She shook her head. "We are. It's not as simple as just saying steak."

Killian sighed and rubbed his hand through his hair. "Forget the blasted steak. Cook a bird."

"Turkey, chicken, duck, pheasant, hen, squab, quail…"

"Stop!" Granny stared at him. He sighed. "This realm makes everything so blasted complicated."

She grinned. "I make a killer herb crusted chicken infused with rosemary."

"Is it good?"

"No, Captain, it tastes like dirt, which is why I suggested it." She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Thank you for your recommendation, let us go with that."

"FIne. Now, for side dishes, how about mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, corn…"

"I must stop you, my dear Granny. Those are all fine, but they are not special enough for the celebration of love."

"Let me guess, you want aphrodisiacs."

"Again, I am unsure of your terminology."

"Sorry, Captain," she said, shaking her head, "but I am not explaining an aphrodisiac to you."

"You must! It apparently has something to do with love."

Granny shook her head again. "Nope. Go look it up."

He glared at her. "Fine," he snapped, standing up and storming off.

He walked into the library. "Belle?"

"Over here," she called. "You're lucky. I just got back."

"I have need of your knowledge, Love. Tell me, what is an aphrodisiac?"

He heard books fall to the floor, then silence. A few moments later Belle appeared. She stared at him. "What did you say?" She was blushing.

Hook sighed. "Why is everyone so unsettled by that word? Now I must know it's meaning."

"Um…"

"You must help me."

She chuckled nervously. She smiled. "Well, there are certain things: smells, sounds, feels, tastes, that uh...help one feel...romantic."

"Oh, is that all."

She laughed. "You're not impressed?"

"No." He gave a leering but cheeky smile. "I do believe I am a walking aphrodisiac."

She laughed loudly. "Possibly, for some people." She shared a smirk with him.

"I only wish to stimulate one person," he said. He sighed again. "I was attempting to plan a romantic menu for her when the Lady Lucas mentioned aphrodisiacs."

"Oh. Well, yeah, there are some foods that contain certain vitamins that help people feel more sexy and...um...perform...better...and longer," she said, blushing.

Killian stared, smiling slowly. "You must tell me more."

She chuckled. "Let me grab a book or two."

He followed her. "I admire that you are able to discuss this with me, Love."

She laughed. "I try to think of anything disturbing or uncomfortable as cold, unfeeling knowledge," she said.

They reached a bookcase and Belle started searching through.

He leaned against the case. "I would not describe this particular grain of knowledge as cold," he said with a teasing grin, "and I do believe the point of the aphro...whatever... is to feel." He smirked wickedly.

She shook her head with a laugh. "Nope, you won't faze me, Killian. I'm just a librarian, doing her job."

He laughed and gave her a little salute.

A half hour later Granny was disturbed in her cooking by a loud bellow of her name. She looked up to see a very happy pirate.

"I have the menu completed."

She put a hand on her hip. "I am so happy for you," she said flatly.

He looked quickly around, making sure the diner was Swan free. "Come, you must take the order."

She sighed, signalled to a worker to take over for her and she joined the pirate in a booth.

"We must have oysters, asparagus, avocados, bananas, figs, almonds, honey…"

"Hold on," she said. "You just memorized a list of aphrodisiacs, didn't you?"

He shrugged.

"They don't all go together."

"That is what your expertise is for, Love."

She sighed. "Fine. Oysters can be the appetizer. They go nice with chilled champagne."

He smiled. "Swan likes the champagne."

Granny nodded. "We could do asparagus with slivers of almond and a honey-lemon glaze next to the chicken. I would still do some kind of potatoes or rice even if they're not aphrodisiacs."

"Potatoes," he said.

"Ok, I'll do a nice grilled herb potato. For dessert…" she stopped, looking over her recipes. "How does a banana and fig dish with a drizzle of melted chocolate sound?"

"Delicious," he said, "and the menu covers...seven foods of love. Oh, well done, Granny!"

She chuckled. "I think Miss swan will be pleased."

He leaned back in the booth, his tongue rolling to the side of his mouth. "If there is any truth to this aphrodisiac lore, I shall be quite satisfied as well."

Granny rolled her eyes and went back to work.

Later in the day, Emma stopped in at Granny's later with her mother. She looked over the menu. "Granny, what would you recommend for a romantic dinner?"

"You too?" she asked.

Emma smiled. "Has someone else been asking?"

"Yes, and come to think of it, I was not supposed to mention that to you. Oops."

Emma laughed and smirked smugly. "I won't ask for hints."

Granny smiled. "Tip me good enough, and I'll spill," she said with a wink.

Emma chuckled. "I don't need more information. Cheeseburgers or grilled cheese ought to be easy to beat."

Granny snorted.

"I kind of want to cook," Emma said. "I don't have much experience with fancy dinners though."

"It doesn't have to be fancy," said Mary-Margaret. "When I say 'romantic dinner,' what do you think of?"

Emma hung her head. "You'll laugh."

"I won't."

Emma sighed, then looked up with a sheepish expression. "I think of the Italian restaurant scene from Lady and the Tramp."

Mary-Margaret smiled but did not laugh. "Italian is very romantic."

Emma nodded. "I can make spaghetti. Is it special enough though?"

Granny scoffed. "Honey, if you're making it for him, he'll be over the moon."

Mary-Margaret nodded.

Emma bit her lip. "OK, spaghetti it is."

Granny smirked. "Make it with garlic and basil. They're both aphrodisiacs."

"Granny!" cried Mary-Margaret.

Emma blushed but chuckled. "I plan on a lot of kissing, so garlic's not the best idea."

Granny shrugged. "Buy some mints."

Emma laughed but nodded. "I will."

End of Chapter Three