And here's Chapter 2. Hope you liked the first one.

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Chapter 2 of Hallow's Eve: Pushing Back, Holding On

Mary-Margaret watched Emma absentmindedly stir the whipped cream around the top of her hot chocolate, her look dismal as she leaned her head against the heel of her hand. Every once in awhile her eyes would glance at the clock and then she'd let out a long sigh before dropping her gaze back to the drink she wasn't even sipping.

"You okay? You look a little off kilter tonight."
"That's because I am a little off kilter," Emma mumbled.

Mary-Margaret threw the dish towel over her shoulder as she dried her hands on her apron, fixing a concerned look on her daughter.

"Well, do you want to talk about it?"

Emma let out a long sigh and straightened her shoulders before sitting up in her seat.

"Hook called me out this morning. On everything."
"Oh? What would he have to call you out on?" Mary-Margaret asked feigning a lack of knowledge at what Ruby had already told her. She obviously didn't do that great of a job though if Emma's glance was any indication.
"Ruby already told you didn't she? Damn her wolf thing."
"Fine, yes, I know and yes, he did call you out but he only did it because he cares."

Emma stared at her for a moment, considering what she said before rubbing her face with her hands and tangling them in her hair.

"It sounds like he likes you!"

Emma nearly fell off her chair at the sound of David's voice from the sitting room a little ways a way and she turned toward him with her eyes wide.

"Holy shit, when did you get here?"

He looked at her confused as he glanced at the clock. "A couple of minutes ago. I said hi and you said hi back."
"I'm losing it."
"Maybe but hey, who hasn't," Mary-Margaret smiled at her before turning to pull the lasagna and French bread from the oven.

The door opened then and Henry burst into the room, his back pack bouncing behind him as he threw his arms around Emma and squeezed her in one of his signature hugs.

"Whoa! Hey there," she struggled to breathe but still managed to laugh. "Did you have a good time?"

It was the right question to ask because for the next several minutes as they settled in for dinner time and proceeded to eat, Henry talked nonstop somehow managing to feed himself between words. Hook had taken him on an official tour of the ship and had showed him how to tie knots and such, the descriptions causing Emma to raise her brow.

"I thought you were wanting to know what pirates wear not what pirates do," she said and if she didn't think his grin could get any bigger, it did.
"That's the best part. I finished my homework. The assignment was an interview someone we look up to and since I did David before the whole Greg, Tamara, and Peter Pan thing, I did Hook."
"Oh."

Henry went on as if she hadn't interrupted at all, sparking David's interest when he asked if Hook and David had ever had a sword fight and if so who won. They hadn't ever come to each other at sword point and Henry seemed just a bit disappointed in the fact but before he could dwell on it he was on the next topic.

All the while Mary-Margaret watched the conflicting emotions flirt across Emma's face as Hook took place as the main topic that evening at dinner. She remembered her own prior misgivings toward Hook before Neverland and even for awhile on the island but she'd learned there were two sides to the man: Hook and Killian. She couldn't help but wonder if what had Emma unnerved was the fact that when he was with her he wasn't Hook. He was the man who had once loved and lost and sought to love again. He wanted to love her.

Oh, Emma, don't push him too hard, she silently prayed but she knew that no matter what Emma did to repel him, Hook would fight her kicking and screaming until she let go of everything that held her back.

Emma was in the office a couple of days later, shifting through the papers that had grown too crowded on her desk. Typed complaints, suggestions, and letters of appreciation blurred in her mind as she grabbed the next pile, taking a swig of her coke as she leaned back in her chair. The first one was a concern from an older citizen about how late the Festival was going to be taking place and anything after that was a lost cause.

At the mention of the Festival, Emma's mind shot to Henry and Hook.

Hook had offered to not just show Henry what pirates wear but had found some smaller pants and a shirt that looked like his somewhere on his ship and had donated them to the cause. Henry had been ecstatic and if that hadn't been enough Mary-Margaret had betrayed her and invited Hook to come along with her and Henry on a shopping excursion around town for the vest and coat.

Emma had sat out on that one, claiming that she had so much to do back at the office even though she'd spent most of her time that day tossing paper balls at her trash can. She knew she was doing exactly what it was he had called her out on, but she couldn't help it. He unnerved her, exposed her and she didn't like the lack of control it made her feel so yes, she would be avoiding him until he gave up and left.

She did have to give him credit, though. He was stubborn.

"But I'm even more stubborn," she muttered as she placed the stack back on her desk.
"I couldn't say the truth better myself, love."

She jumped in her seat and looked at the door where the subject of her thoughts leaned against the doorway, an amused smirk tugging across his face. He held a takeout cup in his hand, the smell of hot chocolate and cinnamon tantalizing her senses.

"Hook! What are you doing here?"
"Well, I came by to see if you wanted a hot chocolate but it looks like you already have yourself a drink."

She glanced at the coke on her desk and suddenly it didn't seem as appealing as the hot chocolate in his hand. Sucking in a breath, she looked back at him and gave him a wry grin.

"It's not as good as I thought it was going to be."
"Oh, so you do want the hot chocolate?"
"Well, you came all this way," she said slowly, starting to feel a bit awkward for accepting a gift from someone she'd literally been running away from.

Hook smiled at the desire in her face as her eyes skimmed the hot chocolate that warred with the hesitancy to accept his gift which was more or less than some sort of bribe. All he wanted was to hold some sort of conversation with the lovely Swan girl, a task that had proved difficult the last several days even with the time he spent with Henry.

Although that time wasn't completely empty and void. He had learned a great deal about Emma through Henry's lovely talent for telling stories. He'd learned how she first came to town, about her becoming Sheriff, cutting off the branches to Regina's beloved apple tree and many more tales that he found very much reflected the heart and soul of the woman in front of him.

He stepped forward and held out the drink for her to take and she reached for it, freezing when her finger tips brushed against his. Something warm and electric passed between the two of them that brought a faint blush to her cheeks and after a second's pause, he finally let go.

"So what brings you down here? You know other than the cocoa."

She leaned back in her chair and sipped on the drink, a warm smile coloring her features. He perched on the edge of her desk and stroked his hook as he studied her, marveling at how she could be as cold as a blizzard one moment and then as warm and balmy as a day on the ocean the next.

"Nothing really. We got the finishing touches to Henry's costume."
"Oh really? I bet he's loving that."
"I'm sure you won't be able to get him out of it for days," Hook agreed and shared a smile with her.
"More than likely. He'll probably find every reason and excuse under the sun that will help him to get away with it, too."
"Well, he's more than welcome to wear it when he comes to visit me…if that ever happens."
"Oh, I'm sure it will. He practically worships the ground you walk on."

Emma watched his blue eyes twinkle and she allowed herself a weak moment to observe the man in front of her. His hair was carelessly tousled as if he'd just come in from a wind storm but not in a crazy way relative to Einstein and she could appreciate the stubble growing along his jaw line, imagining that without it he wouldn't look quite as devilish. Her eyes rested on his lips and for a fleeting second she wondered what it would feel like to feel his lips on hers. The thought was bold and one she realized she wasn't completely repulsed by.

He remained quiet while she silently assessed him, her eyes finally meeting his once again but this time he noticed something different. The hard glint wasn't there, her guard somehow slipped and he felt the pride of progress swell in his chest.

"Emma?"

She shook her head slowly and closed her eyes, whatever thoughts she'd been having interrupted and gone. She looked up at him and the warm feeling that had been there was gone and fear widened her eyes.

Before he knew what was happening, she was standing from her seat and grabbing the jacket that hung over the back of her chair. Avoiding his questioning gaze, she rounded the desk and moved to walk past him but he grabbed her arm with his hook, jerking her to attention.

"Hook, let me go. I have to get home. Mary-Margaret needs help with dinner. I was supposed to be there moments ago actually," she said calmly but just a bit rushed, still not daring to meet his gaze.

He wanted to shake her, to yell at her, to crush her lips with his own and the thought of pushing her up against the wall and invading her space wasn't beyond him but he just bit his lip and with a loud sigh let her go. Ever the gentleman.

"As you wish, love."

She met his gaze then, apology shining in her eyes before she turned on her heel and left him alone in the office staring at her abandoned cup of cocoa wondering if she would ever want him. As soon as he had the thought he pushed it back and allowed his eyes to wander around the office. An idea suddenly entered his mind and he thought on it, mulling it around for awhile before a smile lit his face.

He pushed himself off of the desk and strode toward the office door with intent and purpose resounding in every step as he walked down the hallway out into the brisk air. His mind remembered Henry's story of Operation: Cobra between him and Emma and he knew he had to get the lad involved. Only this mission's target was Emma.