Lake

Captain Swan, season 3a divergence

Yep. She was lost. Of course she was lost. Everything in this damn island looked the same. She should have left a trail of rocks or something. She sighed deeply before continuing her trek, trying to make sense of the leaves in the forest or something. The sound of falling water caught her attention and she derailed her walk towards the source of the noise.

A small, beautiful lake stood before her, a waterfall at the end. It was a breathtaking view; she had to recognize that this damn island had some beautiful spots. She was taken aback by the beauty of the waterfall that it took her a moment to notice the figure standing on the waterfall.

But she eventually noticed the tall figure, the dark hair, the lean shoulders. That was Hook on the waterfall and if anything, the sight of his bare back made her aware of the fact that she was interrupting a private moment. Or bath. Or something.

She started to back away slowly, trying to avert her eyes, but she was mesmerized by the lean muscles of his back. Her stare moved lower and lower on its own accord. She couldn't deny she had fantasized about how he'd look like underneath all that leather and bravado.

He was gorgeous. And she was only seeing the back of it… she couldn't begin to image how the front would look like…. She mentally chastised herself as she moved to hide behind the trees and bushes, still maintaining a good view of the lake but avoiding being seen from it. Just in case.

And she was right on time, as she witnesses how he turned around and immersed his head in the waterfall current before walking back to the shore. Emma couldn't help her mouth from dropping as her cheeks blushed at the sight of him, walking naked towards the pile of clothes nearby.

She watched mesmerized as his hand ran through his wet hair, water drops falling everywhere. He stood there for a moment, letting the wind dry him, before reaching for his pants. Emma admired how his arm muscles flexed as he slowly put his pants back on, turning around and facing the lake as he laced them with dexterity.

He turned around after that and looked directly to the spot where she was, his head tilting and a sinful smirk on his face.

"You can come out now, Swan." He called to her, as his hook motioned for her to join him. She blushed as she slowly left the bushes and tried very hard to avoid his stare as she looked to the ground.

"I- I was…" She stuttered.

"Eavesdropping." He finished for her, a mischievous smirk on his face as he bit his bottom lip. "Did you see anything you liked, love?" He asked intently, popping the last word about his mouth.

"I'm sorry…" She mumbled in embarrassment before moving away from him.

His hook caught her wrist and he turned her around, making her face him, only centimeters apart.

"Oh no, Swan, you don't get to escape so easily…" He spoke huskily. "It's only fair I get a peak as well, don't you think?" He whispered as his hand caressed her side, his fingers touching her bare skin underneath her shirt. She shivered under his touch but she pushed his hand away and he removed it immediately, giving her a flashing grin.

"Perhaps you cannot handle it, love?" He teased her, his eyes looking at her with mischief.

"I think we have established that is you who cannot handle it…" She replied harshly, quirking her eyebrow at him.

She could see the hurt flashing his eyes before he masquerade it with a smug smile; and she regretted her harsh words instantly. But she did not know how to apologize to him anymore.

"Hook, what do you want from me?" She asked; a tired expression in her green eyes, almost void of light.

This quest was taking a toll on her, he could see it, feel it, and it made his heart ache with a need that he hadn't felt in centuries. He looked at her, a playful smile on his face as he leaned closer to her again, capturing her in his arms.

"Well, I could take you here and ravish you, making you come over and over, love." He whispered into her ear. "But I don't think it's what you need right now. When was the last time someone cherished you, Swan?" He asked earnestly.

"Cherished me?" She asked confused, her eyebrows almost reaching her hairline.

He pulled his arms tighter around her, leaning to whisper in her ear. "Cherish you, love. Speak words of adoration in your ear," He said before pressing a soft kiss on her earlobe. His lips trailed down her neck, soft, tender kisses being placed by him as he spoke softly, "Shower you with soft kisses, make you feel adored, cherished; not just lusted after, but wanted." He trailed down her collarbone, "In every sense of the word. Wanted, Swan. Not just your body, but you. All of you." He trailed down her jaw, kissing it very slowly, very softly, his lips a hint of tender caresses. He looked at her, his blue eyes crystal clear, empty of ulterior motives, as his wet hair trailed water droplets on his handsome face. "Worship you, Emma. For the bloody brilliant woman that you are." He spoke, his voice almost breaking. "Comfort you."

"When was the last time you did that?" She asked, almost unable to mutter the words.

"Centuries ago… I've never felt the need, the desire, to do it again…" He said as his hand cupped her face, his thumb rubbing softly against her cheek, his fingers burying in her hair. "That is until I met you…" He whispered, his voice full of emotion as he leaned in softly to press his lips to hers.

He kissed her softly, tenderly, his lips capturing her upper lip in a sweet, tender motion. She felt the butterflies fluttering in her stomach; but unlike their last kiss, it wasn't a raw desire. It was something different, completely strange to her. It was a need nested deep within her to surrender to the tenderness of that kiss, to let go of her bravado and the walls she'd built that shielded from her from everything and let that tenderness in, let it wash over her fears and demons. To let someone else be her anchor, even just for a brief, fleeting moment. To let go, knowing that someone would catch her.

"Hook…" She whispered as she broke the kiss, looking at him with pleading green eyes.

"I've got you, Swan." He said holding her tighter, his strong arms pulling her flush against his chest, her chin resting on his shoulder as he pressed a soft kiss on her hair. "I've got you, love."

Her arms pulled him even tighter, if possible, and her hand ran back and forth his spine. She could feel the different textures on his skin, the product of several centuries of a hard life translated into scars; but it didn't feel weird or awkward. It felt real; it felt like him, as if he was wearing the scars of his soul as marks in his body. She ran her fingertips through his shoulder blade and he sighed deeply, his eyes closing as he buried his nose in her hair.

"I thought I was supposed to be comforting you, Swan." He whispered.

"We can comfort each other." She whispered back, her lips pressing a soft kiss in the middle of his collarbone before pulling away to face him, her green eyes squinting at the sunlight that was casting his face in a contrast that made him breathtakingly beautiful. A broken man, desperately embracing a second chance after centuries of loneliness and revenge. A broken man, willing to change. For her.

She pressed her lips softly against his, melting into his embrace, molding herself to him, letting her guard down and taking what he was offering. His hand ran through her back as he tilted his head and his tongue licked her lips almost shyly, requesting more than demanding. Asking more than taking. Begging more than claiming. She opened her mouth to deepen the kiss and was taken away by the firm tenderness of his tongue searching for hers, exploring carefully, almost reverently.

He kissed her again and again, always taking his time, tenderly, softly, warmly. His hand would alternate between softly caressing her back and cradling in her hair. He would break for air, rest his forehead against hers and look at her with such awe and care before slowly closing the space between them for another kiss.

"Swan…" He whispered breathlessly. "You are so beautiful, love." He said as he moved away from her, his hand grabbing her as he pulled her down the ground with him. He sat there, his long legs scattered and he brought her to his lap, his arms embracing her tightly against him. She rested her head on his shoulder, her hand on his chest, tracing patterns with her fingertips around his scars or fidgeting with the charms of his necklace. Her other hand rested at the nape of his neck, stroking his hair lightly. He sighed in contentment as he placed a soft kiss on her temple. They stood in silence, just leaning into each other, until she spoke softly, her hand still caressing his chest.

"I gave birth to Henry in jail. Neal had framed me for his crimes and I gave birth to my son handcuffed to a bed in prison. I gave him up without even looking at him, I – I just couldn't face him. I couldn't raise him, I was alone and scared." She said softly, her voice only a whisper and he could sense her sadness and heartbreak. He pulled her even tighter to him, his head resting on her hair, kissing it softly. His hand on her waist, slowly caressing back and forth in a comforting gesture. "After that, I just wasn't interested in letting anyone in. It wasn't worth it anymore. I was done." She breathed deeply. "And then on one of my birthdays he knocked on my door with his big eyes, his warm smile and this ridiculous far-fetched story of curses and fairytales." She felt his smile against her temple and it made her smile as well. "I tried so hard to keep my distance, but he's impossible not to love. He has this big, pure, innocent heart and he just believes. He believed in me like no one had ever done before. And then I had to watch him almost die…" Her voice broke. "Nothing prepares you for that moment, Hook."

"I know." He whispered softly, his own memories coming to him. Her hand moved from his chest to his cheek and she pulled his head to hers, capturing his lips in a soft kiss. "I know you know." She said against his lips. She looked at him, her green eyes void of all walls, of all masks, all her emotions swimming in there and he could have gladly drowned in there for a lifetime and it wouldn't have been enough. "I barely had him back that I was thrown in the Enchanted Forest and I had to fight my way back to him."

"You fought well, love." He assured her, the hint of a smug smirk coming to his lips. She smiled at him, her hand moving from his hair to the place where she knew she'd hit him with the compass. He leaned to her touch, closing his eyes and sighing deeply. "That feels nice, Emma." He said. She smiled at him before snuggling again against his chest, her voice breaking a little as she continued. "And then Greg and Tamara took him here and he's at the mercy of Pan…" She trailed off, tears coming suddenly to her eyes. "I keep losing him, Hook."

He held her tighter to him, his lips pressing a soft kiss on her hair as she cried against his chest. "We'll find him, Swan. I know we will. We are going to find your son and get back to Storybrooke. I promise."

Once her tears have dried out, she slowly caressed his bare arm, her fingertips lingering on his tattoo. The heart pierced by a dagger with her name on it. He tensed at her touch.

"Do you miss her?" She asked him, wanting to know his answer but afraid of it at the same time.

"Not as much as I used to." He admitted. "It's been centuries since she died."

"But you loved her." She said.

"Very much." He sighed, his arm moving away from her waist to run his hand through his hair. "I miss what I had with her. I miss our relationship." His voice sounded as if he was remembering a very distant memory. "She would hold me in the nights where I dreamt about Liam and I woke up crying over his death. She would hold me and softly whisper words of comfort, words of love." He looked at her, his blue eyes filled with sadness and longing. "I was loved, Emma. I no longer had to be strong all the time, I had someone to hold me when the demons of my childhood came back haunting me." He averted his eyes and looked at the reflection of the setting sun on the lake. "And then he took her from me. I watched her die in my arms, her heart being crushed, her eyes losing life and light until there was only darkness, pain. I cannot recall how losing my hand felt because all I could feel was the pain of losing her. My love, my Milah, the only person who truly loved me other than my brother." His voice broke at the last sentence. "No one has held me in three centuries," He whispered.

She snuggled closer to his bare chest, her arms circling around him, pulling him tighter to her, her hand cradling his head as he buried his nose on the crook of her neck. "I'm holding you now…" She whispered.

He sank into her arms, letting her warmth invade him, letting her light wash away his pain, his loneliness. She felt so soft against his chest, so full of life. Broken, but whole at the same time. He could barely breathe.

Eventually, he pulled away from their embrace and slowly spun her around so she was sitting between his legs, her back leaning against his chest, his arms circling her waist and pulling her tighter to him. He rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "It's a beautiful sunset, don't you think?"

"Yeah..." She nodded as he kissed her neck softly before their eyes focused on the sun fading on the horizon.

They stood there for a while, watching the sunset in each other arms and breathing each other in silent company, before she slowly turned away to capture his lips in a soft kiss. He tilted his head as his hand cradled her face and the kiss became more passionate, a desperate plea of two souls to finally be together. She eventually broke the kiss, her eyes looking hesitantly at him

"Killian…" She whispered, her forehead resting against his, her breath ragged.

He understood the meaning. It wasn't a no. It was a not yet. And he knew it, he knew she wasn't ready. He knew she couldn't focus on anything else other than Henry. And it was ok. He had time; he had all the time in the world. He was a patient man; he'd waited three hundred years for a chance to get his revenge. He would wait as much as needed for a chance at love with her.

He slowly nodded as he pulled away, standing on his feet and reaching his hand through her to help her. She took it and slowly got up. He quickly found his shirt and put it on, fastening a few buttons before moving onto his vest. As he started to fasten his vest, she reached out to do it for him. His hand hesitated before moving to his side.

"If we're back…" She started.

"When we are back…" He reassured her, his hand pulling a strand of her hair and tucking it behind her ear.

She smiled softly at him, her eyes filled with gratitude, pressing a kiss to his lips.

"Thank you."

"Anytime…"

"Be patient, Killian." She sighed.

I am, love. I am.

He nodded before pulling on his coat and securing his sword belt while he watched how she started to walk towards the camp.

She turned around and looked at him confused.

"You coming?" She asked

"I thought you might want me to wait five minutes, gather wood or something," He said uncertain, his voice carrying a hint of self-deprecation as he averted his eyes.

"No," She said. "Walk with me."

He quickly reached her side and started to walk slowly next to her, in silence. As they ventured into the jungle, her hand reached for his, her fingers intertwining with his. He didn't say a word, he didn't flinch, he didn't give her any type of look. He just squeezed her hand tightly before setting on a calm pace walking back to the camp.

She didn't know if she was going to hold onto his hand for longer, or if she was going to pull her hand away before they reach camp. But at this moment, it felt as though his hand was anchoring her back to everything she was, everything she had to be, everything she wanted to be. She didn't want to pull away, not at this moment and perhaps not when they reach the camp.

She didn't.