A/n: Thank you so much for the positive reviews! I'm ecstatic that you're all enjoying this. Here's the next chapter!
Hook retired to his ship late in the evening, having happened upon Emma returning to her residence. He hadn't intended on following her, on instigating anything just yet, but when his eyes rested upon her... he felt as a man possessed. Whereas before, his memory supplied the phantom sensations every once in awhile, a scent or gentle touch here or there, but seeing her... he received all of those delicious sensations at once. His head buzzed with the desire to touch her.
Happening upon her under the circumstances he had, a small towel covering not much at all, had been almost more than he could bear. He smirked at the memory; she resisted just to be stubborn, he was sure. She felt the same lust as he, though she was reluctant to admit it. But admit it she would; she would succumb to him in the end, and he would rejoice in it. Several times, he was sure. Emma's touch seemed to leave him insatiable, hungry for more every time. It would take quite a bit of lust to cure him of this distraction.
He rowed the dingy back to his ship, rejoicing in the quiet of the ocean waves breaking against it. He had missed the ocean, had never quite managed to feel at home anywhere else but on a ship. He climbed aboard his vessel and made his way to his cabin; it was exactly as he had left it. Maps strewn here and there, books lining the walls, and a lavishly large and comfortable bed in the corner. Being Captain had it's advantages. He shrugged out of his jerkin and leather trousers and slipped into bed; nude was the only to sleep, in his opinion. His lips twitched upward slightly; apparently Emma agreed. Even thinking her name conjured smells and phantom touches. He drifted off to sleep, her name rattling around in his mind and the warmth of her kiss on his skin.
Cora stood atop the building observing the quiet life of the town. There were celebrations occurring in every facet, the townspeople rejoicing at the return of their Queen and beloved Princess. Her daughter was at home with her son, Cora knew, and not a part of the festivities. She considered crashing the party, revealing herself and letting those fools know that they had not triumphed, but refrained. She had more class than that. She would let them have their petty celebration tonight. Besides, it was more to her advantage that they not know she was here. She had already noted Hook stalking Emma in the dead of night; she grimaced.
That man simply couldn't seem to understand what it was to refrain. She could see the attachment developing, the obsession, and wondered how it would bode for Rumple. Certainly the pretty blonde would prove to distract Hook, giving Cora more time to enact her plan, but Cora had yet to decide whether this would be beneficial or not. True, she and Hook were no longer allies per say, but she was not yet finished with him, she had a feeling.
She supposed, however, that no harm could come from him attempting to seduce the woman; what better distraction could there be? Perhaps he would even succeed, and Emma's attention would be diverted from her son and saving the town from her wickedness. Still, she was resolved to keep an eye on the situation and end it if need be. Her daughter didn't need her just yet, and Cora knew how to be patient; it would not be too much trouble to wait a little while longer.
The next morning found Emma awake quite early. It was six in the morning, earlier than she normally woke, yet she felt well-rested. 'It probably has something to do with the bed,' Emma thought. She was definitely not a camper. Sleeping on the ground just wasn't appealing to her at all. She slid out of bed and changed out of the borrowed pajamas and into her clothes from the night before. It was Monday, and Henry had school today. If she knew her son at all, he would be waiting for her at Granny's to have their morning cup of hot chocolate by seven. She left the Inn and made her way to her car in Granny's parking lot. It seemed surreal to be back in her world, to shower and sleep in a bed and not worry about whether or not an Ogre was going to eat her in the middle of the night.
She drove to the apartment, parking in the street; she noted that the lights were on in the apartment. Snow was probably preparing to go back to work as a teacher. Emma jogged up the three flights of stairs to their apartment, pausing outside the door. She stared at it uncomfortably for a few moments, unsure whether to knock. Technically it was still her apartment... Emma sighed and knocked anyway, not wanting to walk in on something that would scar her further.
"Who is it?" Snow called out, a giggle in her voice.
Emma smiled upon hearing it. "Emma," She replied. "Is it safe to enter?"
The door flung open and Snow embraced Emma warmly, laughing. "Of course! Come on in! I just finished making breakfast."
Emma raised an eyebrow, stepping into their apartment. A veritable breakfast buffet was laid out before them, pancakes, bacon, eggs - you name it - waiting to be devoured.
"Sit, sit!" Snow ordered, bustling back to the kitchen and pouring Emma a cup of coffee.
Emma did as she was told, looking at Charming with mild alarm and confusion. He looked happy, but still sleepy - much like the way she felt. He chuckled when seeing her expression. "Snow's kind of a morning person," He whispered affectionately, his lips twisting upwards into a soft smile.
For a moment, Emma wished they weren't her parents. It would have been so easy to joke and comment on how there was probably a correlation between Mary-Margaret's chipper mood and the fact that she had gotten laid by her true love. Had they still been just roommates, or even best friends, Emma would have. But not now. Not when these were her parents. She shuddered for a moment, trying to banish the thought of her parents doing the naked tango. Snow had yet to stop talking, she noted with a smile of her own.
She swallowed uncomfortably, not wanting to ruin Snow's happiness. She wished that she could let them believe all was well, even just for a little while longer, but to do so would be endangering them all.
"Snow," Emma addressed her softly, her tone taut and troubled.
Her mother pivoted on her heel, Emma's tone catching her attention. "Yeah? Oh, am I talking too much? People tell me I can be too chipper in the mornings. I'll stop talking, if you'd like," And all of a sudden she was Mary-Margaret again, the sweet, insecure, mild-mannered elementary school teacher.
Emma shook her head, reminding herself that they were the same person. "We have a problem."
Snow set her cup of coffee down and glanced at her husband, who seemed to straighten slightly. "What's up?"
Emma swallowed, sighing. "Cora made it through. She's here."
The silence was deafening. Snow's jaw dropped and closed, shaking her head in disbelief. "How do you know?" She asked, looking at Emma imploringly, as though she wished Emma was wrong.
"I got a visit last night from Hook," Emma admitted reluctantly, hoping that she wouldn't probe further. The last thing she needed was to tell her parents that he had come upon her naked and essentially held her hostage. "They used a magic bean."
Charming stood, wiping his mouth with his napkin and walking around the counter to kiss his wife gently on the forehead. "It'll be okay," He pulled her into his arms, rubbing her back.
Emma could see her mother holding back tears, her face resigned.
"Will we ever get to be happy without having something hanging over our heads?" She asked, sounding broken.
Emma looked down into her coffee, feeling distinctly uncomfortable at intruding on their moment. She stood and moved into her bedroom, hurriedly changing her clothes, eager to get away from the uncomfortable situation. She forewent her red jacket, deciding to give it a break after it's constant use. She traded it in for a grey ruffled cardigan, in stead, pausing at the frame of her door. It was chilly outside, and the cardigan wasn't particularly warm. She shivered slightly, feeling phantom touches along her shoulder and collarbone. Hook. She squared her shoulders, resisting the urge to stomp her foot. She shook her head emphatically, refusing to even consider the possibility of something. There was nothing there, she told herself. He was a pretty face with charming demeanor and smooth voice, and nothing else. She had dealt with men like him in the past; he would be no exception.
She crossed her room to her closet, pulling it open and searching for the jacket she wanted. She knew when she had found it; the worn leather had a distinctive feel. Graham's jacket. She pulled it off the hanger and slid it over her shoulders, feeling the chill abate and a deep sense of sadness and nostalgia. What they'd had hadn't been love - but it could have been, and it would serve as a reminder to her. Most of the men she attracted were con-artists of one variation or another, and a pirate was right in her norm. Wearing Graham's jacket would serve to remind her that there were good, noble men in the world, and that at least one of them had cared for her, and one could again. She didn't need to entangle herself with deception personified to find love. She didn't want to entangle herself with deception personified to find love. She wasn't going to go looking for trouble, she told herself sternly. 'You have a son to think of,' She repeated the mantra in her mind.
She exited her bedroom, finding her parents in the same position as when she had left them. "I have to go meet Henry at Granny's before school," She told them, leaving the apartment before they had a chance to comment on her abrupt departure. The distinct affection, the sadness, was too much for her to handle right now.
She drove back to Granny's, deciding to go back for the rest of her clothes on her lunch break - when she was sure her parents wouldn't be there. She couldn't quite handle them right now, still adjusting to everything. She entered the diner, walking to the booth where she and Henry normally sat, only to stop abruptly in her tracks.
Henry was sitting in their booth, sipping his hot chocolate like he always did. What wasn't in the norm, was his current animated discussion with Captain Hook, who seemed to enjoy Henry's attention. She felt the tender kiss he had given her last night ghost over her lips; she shook herself mentally, pulling Graham's jacket around her form to remind her of her resolution.
She hoped it would be enough.
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