Kindling

Pirate. There wasn't much that was very gentlemanly about that, how could there be, he had ripped the heart out the chest of a princess, and for what? So Cora wouldn't leave him behind? He was no better a man than the one he sought revenge over. But the Swan girl would live; he made her promise him that much. So he had gone soft and had become a coward…wonderful.

Now he was standing here yet again before her. Emma's stormy eyes pleading for him to help them. He felt a flash of anger towards her for abandoning him at the top of that beanstalk, for not trusting him as he did her and he told her as such, feeding her some speech about a withered up old bean.

"The time for making deals is done, just as I'm done…with you." The words were bitter in his mouth and now it was dear Emma's turn to look betrayed. Cora on the other hand looked pleased as he turned on his heel and left them trapped there without another word. He had made good with the witch, attained a heart for her to control until she regained the compass; but now the levity of his decision to give up his search for the woman in the woods was weighing on him. She was going to leave them there, with no way to escape. Left to die in a hole in the ground.

"You said no harm would come to her!" Hook snapped as soon as they were out of ear shot. "You gave me your word!"

Cora's lips twisted into a grin, "And I kept true to what I said. I did nothing to harm her or the others."

"They're trapped in that cell," Hook snarled, "one you said The Dark One himself couldn't escape!"

Cora merely shrugged. "Oh, well I guess nature will just have to take its course. Such a pitiful way to go if I must say so myself."

Hook let out a yell and drew his sword, brandishing it towards her neck but finding himself soon thrown up against a tree. He groaned in pain, getting up to his knees and crawling over to where his weapon landed.

"So persistent," Cora smirked, waving her arm and sending him soaring back once more.

"We made a deal!"

"We've made a few of those, and as I recall you broke the first one the minute you choose her. Tell me, Hook, what were your plans after accompanying her to Storybrooke? Hmmm? Kill Rumplestilskin and sweep her off her feet. I don't think she'd take too kindly to that. Besides what business does a lowly pirate have with a princess?"

Hook's eyes widened slightly, his mouth dropping open.

The corner of Cora's mouth twitched. "What? You didn't know. That the trouble maker that you chose over me is the sweet little product of Snow White and Prince Charming." Cora swayed over to him and knelt do his level, bringing her face close to his. "You might have chosen her, but she'd never choose you."

The flame that had been kindling inside of him had just been snuffed out at her remark. He didn't deserve a bloody thing from any woman. The only one that he had wanted to protect had ended up dead in his arms and took his own heart with her. Life hadn't been worth living and now in this moment he realized it still wasn't. The only thing that made his heart even beat was the thought of getting his revenge, and he would not be changing the course of his sails now.

"Get up. We need to keep moving," Cora waved her wrist airily, already leaving him behind.

He stood but found no will to move, looking back towards the cave that held the cell. Dead inside or not he still felt it wrong to leave them to their deaths. The lass did say she had a son.

He thought of Bae and a small smile flickered its way onto his face. The boy was cunning and had managed to best even him on the odd occasion. Hook had almost felt guilty when he had left him behind in Neverland; for what he had planned for the Crocodile he would never wish the boy to see. He was still the lad's father after all, monster or not.

"Time is of the essence, Captain!" Cora hollered after him.

Hook sighed, dusting off his hands and following after the wretched woman. "Good luck, love," he whispered with one final glance over his shoulder; hoping that somehow they would at least find a way to gain their freedom.

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This was it, he was finally going to this new land to get his revenge on his sweet Milah and his thirst for blood would finally be quenched. He emptied the vial of 'sparkly dirt' into the now revived waters of Lake Nostos and watched as it became a vortex of purple and blue hues. He placed his hand over the top of the compass and felt a small weight lift from his chest. Soon, love, soon, he thought as his fingers curled around the edges.

There was a strong kick against his palm and the compass went flying out of his hands and somewhere into the sand.

"You're not going anywhere, the portals taking us home!" her voice yelled from across the gap.

Hook suppressed the grin that he felt building behind his lips. There's a good lass, so she made it out after all.

Naturally she'd charge after him, after all that built up tension between them he was glad that she did. It would feel good to spar with her. Shame it wasn't on different terms.

Oh, and he did enjoy it! The pleasurable clang of hardened steel against steel, the eagerness in which she came at him, her form wasn't even half bad to boot. He couldn't resist the opportunity to flip her over into the sand, but as he grabbed hold her leg to pull her to him the fire in her eyes vanished and was replaced by unadulterated fear and her gaze was fixed over the portal. He saw the small satchel containing the princess' heart coming down into the whirlpool.

He wouldn't be responsible for something like this again, not when he could avoid it.

Using Emma's leg as leverage, he leaned over the portal and caught the satchel with his hook. He released the Swan girl and tossed the parcel to the woman that has been helping Snow White fend off Cora. She looked back at him with wide eyes. That's right lass, still ever the gentleman. When he turned back to continue on with Emma he saw that she had scurried off and reclaimed her sword and was now standing guard.

"I may be a pirate, but I bristle at the thought of a woman losing heart, unless it's over me." Hook tilted his head. Oh, if only they knew how true those words rang.

She was coming back at him now, accusing him of having a soft side. Only for you, darling, his mind replied while his mouth uttered something cocky. Emma made the move to kick at him again and his hook snagged around her ankle and once more he had her in the sand, only this time she was pinned. Her sword between his own and his hook as he slowly slid down its length with a sly grin.

"Normally, I prefer to do other more enjoyable activities with a woman on her back. With my life on the line you've left me no choice." Hook bounced his eyebrows, grinning as he came in closer to her, so close he could feel her chest rise and fall with every breath. It was beginning to stir more feelings than the clenching he had in his chest on the beanstalk, or the worry of her safety. This was a different pull entirely, a feeling of want, of need. Oh yes, he wanted her, badly. For the first time in three hundred years Killian Jones needed to feel this woman beneath him.

No, Killian is gone now. Only Hook remains, he quickly reminded himself, pressing further into the stormy eyed beauty beneath him.

"A bit of advice? When I jab you with my sword you'll feel it."

Emma's eyebrows jumped at his words and he'd be damned if she didn't twitch slightly under his hips.

"You might want to quit." He suggested with a smirk.

"Why would I do that," she breathed lifting the compass from the sand, "when I'm winning."

She took the advantage of his surprise to push him back onto his feet and managing to block his sword on its way down.

Hook managed to swing her sword around his and bring it back down and he had a moment when he could have gained the upper hand; but then their eyes met. He had to let her go. This was a mother wanting to get back to her child. Milah had given up her son so easily, yes she missed him dearly but she still gave him up. This woman would do anything to get back to her boy.

He lessened his grip and knew that she felt it. Emma tilted her head in confusion, to which he simply raised his eyebrows and gave her a half smile of defeat. Emma glanced down at the compass, tightening her grip on the object before her fiery eyes came into contact with his.

"Thanks!" She ground out.

"Anytime, love," he whispered, forgetting the fact that he just might have given up his revenge for this woman he only just met. He still wanted her, he needed her, and somehow he would have her.

Her hit came fast and hard and his world went black. His mind thinking of the unorthodox princess that had come along and started to awaken his heart.

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A/N: Well I guess not a dang soul liked the beanstalk chapter...maybe two of you...I hope you like this one better, I tried to stay away from the pre written episode and did it as in in head thing. But the good news...The next time he sees Emma is at the crash site. So I get to take my liberties from there. Thank god for that! I do hope you're so inclined to leave me a review, it makes my shipper heart oh so happy.

Shelly