"Where are you off to so early, dear?" Granny's voice somehow managed to break through the torrent of thoughts that whirled around Anna's head.
"Wha?—oh… umm just a… a camping trip." Her voice cracked at the last syllable, as she adjusted the strap of her backpack and resituated her roller suitcase. Anna berated herself as she saw the lie fall flat.
Granny's furrowed expression led Anna to believe that she didn't believe her story. Hurriedly she muttered, "I'll be back soon, Granny. Could you leave this note for Mr. Gold?"
"Of course!" she took the envelope with Mr. Gold's name, as Anna turned from the counter to the door she paused.
Turning back she said, "Be sure that he gets it Granny…"
The old woman reassured her, though she was still bemused at Anna's behavior.
Anna abruptly shut the door behind her as she hauled her belongings down the cement sidewalk. The sun's blood-red light was just spilling over the tops of the trees as the street lamps were still glowing dimly up and down the narrow road.
She gazed up and down the alleys, breathing in the little owned shops that were still closed up. Everything looked so dreary bathed in the pale blue light of pre-dawn, only adding to Anna's sadness.
Gulping she came to Mr. Gold's shop. Touching the window and peering inside at all of the trinkets and collectibles she had looked after and repaired over the years made her heart ache in places she didn't know existed. She feared she would stay broken forever, like the knickknacks that would inevitably break over time with her not there.
It seemed as if Anna walked forever, lost in her musings as she reached the dock. The smell of the sea carried on the breeze for a moment relieved her of all of her worries. It was a small moment, but she couldn't help but feel as if there was something else waiting for her entirely beyond Storybrooke. She almost forgot what she was leaving behind as the Jolly Roger came into view.
Hook's crew was already moving on deck, carrying barrels of supplies and adjusting the sails.
Anna took a deep breath and whispered to herself, "Brace yourself, Anna. It'll be a bumpy ride from here on out…"
She stepped toward the large ship when a revoltingly familiar voice sounded from above her, "I suppose punctuality isn't your strong suit, is it love?"
Looking up, Anna saw the pirate rogue, his boot braced against the side of the boat, a smug look on his face.
Anna rolled her eyes and said shortly, "I'm not a morning person. You're lucky I don't punch you in the face before 10 A.M."
The pirate chuckled and, grabbing a rope, swung down to where she was. The action reminded Anna vaguely of a scene from Tarzan.
Hook regarded her for a moment, looking from her two small bags back to her again and remarked amazedly, "That's all you packed?"
Anna looked at her bags and back up at him and shrugged, "Yeah… why?"
A devious smile appeared on Hook's face as he loomed over her and said, "Did you forget to pack your clothes?"
Anna rolled her eyes again and pushed him back, "I didn't have time to fit my entire wardrobe into two things, Hook. I brought what was necessary."
He nodded and replied, "Whatever you say, love." Though his eyes still held an impish glint to them as he walked up the wooden plank and yelled commands at the crew.
"Anna!"
Her voice leapt to her throat as she whirled around to see Mr. Gold, Emma, Henry and half of Storybrooke behind him racing toward her.
"Mr. Gold!" she rushed to his arms and hugged her guardian with all her might.
"Wh—what are you doing here?" Anna was confused how he could have possibly known she was here.
Mr. Gold held her at arm's length and replied, "Granny opened your note and told me right away… Anna, what are you—"
"I have to Mr. Gold… I—I don't have a choice."
"What does he have over your head? What is he holding over you?" Emma cut in, looking back and forth between Anna and the Jolly Roger.
Anna swallowed and looked at her mentor once more. His eyes were desperate as he said, "Anna—Belle left… I couldn't bear for you to leave—" his voice cracked at the last word, as if it pained him to speak of it.
"Well, well, well. Looks like the Crocodile's getting emotional over his little girl. Touching, really. I think I actually teared up a bit just now." Hook sauntered down the stave, his gaze holding no amount of remorse.
"What are you doing with him?!" Gold's voice was venomous.
Before Anna could answer, Hook cut in, "Oh haven't you heard? Your adopted daughter wants an adventure… with me…"
"What?"
"I—it's not what you think—" Anna desperately tried to explain.
"We have an accord, Rumplestiltskin. Her life in exchange for yours. I think it's more than a fair trade, don't you agree?" He said quirking his eyebrows as he approached.
"You—Anna, what did you do?" Mr. Gold's stare was horrified as he looked at her.
"He—he came to the shop last night, while you were with Belle… I made a deal that if I go with him, he wouldn't hurt you or Belle—" Anna's voice broke at the last syllable, feeling that if she intervened earlier, she might've spared what happened to Belle.
"But ye—you can't…"
Smee suddenly interrupted and asked, "Ready to shove off, Cap'n?"
Hook grinned, "Ahh, splendid. Mr. Smee, would you take our guest's luggage up to my quarters." He said with a wolfish sneer. He took her arm in his hand, pulling her close as he announced pompously so that the crew would hear, "you'll be rooming with me, my dear." Pointing his gaze at Anna he finished, "After all, it is the best lodgings on board, and I know I'll get terribly lonely at night…" his slated eyes held hers, and he was pleased to see her blush bright pink.
Mr. Gold lunged for Hook's neck.
"No!" Anna cried trying to peel the two off of each other with no luck. The two men were frantically hurling punches violently.
"Hey! Hey!" Emma finally stepped in and separated them. "Enough!" she said.
"Hook, you can't do this." Emma commanded.
"Well it seems I can, love. What's done is done. A deal has been struck, and we all know how binding a contract is… don't we Rumplestiltskin?"
Mr. Gold looked positively feral at Hook. Emma looked to Henry, David and Mary Margaret as if silently pleading for help, but no one had any idea what to do or say at the moment.
"Come along." Hook said to Anna before turning his back and walking onto the ship.
Anna looked towards him and back at Mr. Gold before saying, "Can I have a minute to say goodbye?" Her eyes were beginning to grow misty.
Hook deliberated for a moment looking back and forth between Anna and Gold before nodding silently.
Anna turned to Mr. Gold with tears in her eyes before he enveloped her into an embrace. His hand came up to the back of her head as he smoothed down her hair in a fatherly gesture.
"There's gotta be something we can do." Mary Margaret murmured.
"Hook can't get away with this…" David agreed.
"Well, right now there's nothing we can do. I'm not one to agree with Gold but…this may be coercion but I don't know how this can be settled with someone like Hook." Emma responded.
Mr. Gold pulled away from Anna and wiping the tears from her eyes, slipped a ring into her hand. Anna looked at him confused before he explained, "It's enchanted… it's sort of a location device. As long as it's on your finger, I can track you."
Anna replied, "But Hook said that if you tried to come after me—"
Gold cut in, "Nothing's going to happen to me… and I'll make sure nothing happens to Belle either. I will get you back, Anna. Mark my words. Hook's already stolen several things from me in the past. He won't steal you too."
Anna hugged him one more time before he whispered, "Now go. I love you."
"I love you Rumplestiltskin. You've been more of a father to me than my own flesh and blood. I'll never forget you."
She finally let go and looked at her beloved friends one last time, memorizing their faces trying to imprint them in her mind forever. Though she did not doubt what Mr. Gold was capable of, she wasn't sure if she'd see the rest of them again.
Anna made her way on board the Jolly Roger, and as the ship sailed further and further away from shore, it seemed as if an anchor was being dropped in her heart. She may have wanted adventure, a chance to explore, but not at the price of the ones she loved.
Hook's arms came on either side of Anna as she watched. Whispering huskily into her neck he asked, "Ready for an adventure, darling?"