Here's the fourth chapter! One more and this little shindig will be done. If you have any hopes for the next chapter, let me know and if you like the way I write I have a story still In Progress-Neverland, A Cursed Place. This particular story isn't a follow up to that one...they're completely separate by all accounts.

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing!


Chapter 4 of Hallow's Eve: Don't Mind If I Do

Hook pulled at the cravat that felt more like a noose around his neck wondering for the hundredth time what the bloody hell he was doing. The original plan had been for Emma to match him, for them to look like a good fit but Henry had thrown a wrench in his plans, declaring that the pirate couldn't waltz into the Festival without a costume.

They had argued back and forth but in the end the lad had won with a defiant lift of his chin and it was then that Hook realized that there was very little he wouldn't do for the boy. It was like Henry had a magic of his own that caused everyone around him to bend willingly and the pirate thought they may as well declare him king of the town.

He had willingly, yet hesitantly followed the boy into Busy Mice Custom Clothing not sure what to expect so he'd let Henry take the lead, glancing through the racks that held costumes and gowns of every sort and god awful color imaginable.

"What are we looking for?"
"I don't know," Henry admitted but continued browsing through the material, "But I'm sure we'll know when we find it."

He finally found something that caused his eyes to light up and before Hook knew what was happening, clothing was being shoved into his arms and the boy was at his back, pushing him toward the back of the store where the dressing rooms were.

"You have to try this on! It's perfect!"
"What the bloody hell is it?"
"Prince Charming."

Hook had looked at him with a slack jaw but all Henry did was smirk and shut the door to the dressing room in his face, leaving him to try it on himself.

So now here he stood, a pirate dressed as a supposed prince which was funny considering Emma was a princess dressed as a pirate. He smiled a lopsided grin realizing that was probably what Henry had been getting at all along and he pulled his flask from his inside pocket and inwardly toasted to the boy. He was smart as a whip that one.

"Why, if it isn't Captain Hook."

He finished his swig and looked to his left to see Rumpel and Belle looking at him, a menacing grin crossing the Dark One's face. Hook just lifted his hook in acknowledgement, wondering what the bloody hell he was dressed as and his face must have betrayed his question because the smile tilted right off of the man's lips.

"You two look rather festive."
"Belle picked it out," Rumpel said rather hastily which made Belle look at him with an amused expression and before she could explain what it was they were dressed as, he grabbed her elbow and left in a huff of bright colors and odd clothing.

"We're dressed like the 80's," she still managed to call over her shoulder and Hook only shook his head feeling sorry for whoever the 80's were because they obviously dressed ridiculously.

He suddenly felt a vibration in his pocket and he reached his hand in and grabbed the device that Henry called a walkie talkie. They had played with them several times that week on the ship when they'd been playing a form of hide-and-seek sword fighting, something that both of them weren't willing to share with Emma.

"'Ello, mate."
"Operation Parrot under way. We have just entered the premises."

Hook smiled at the name of the mission and shook his head with amusement. Henry had explained that all pirates in the movies had parrots which Hook found utterly ridiculous. In all of his travels he couldn't think of one situation in which a bird would have come in handy or made him seem ominous or threatening.

"Roger that."

He shoved the walkie talkie back into his pocket and straightened the dark blue coat that was trimmed with gold decorum. It was not him, not him at all and he could only sigh at what a man could do in the name of love.

He started walking down the street, keeping an eye out for Henry and his mother as people milled about him in full costume, flitting from one stand to the next with a cup of something warm in one hand and a bag of candy in the other. Shop owners gave out candy to children and the sound of music floated in the air. He finally came to the intersection where an area for a dance was set up, the seven dwarves providing a lively tune on several instruments Hook had never seen before in his life.

Distracted for a moment he watched the band and the people swinging around the dance floor, his mind wandering over a memory long past when he felt someone playfully punch him in the arm. Glancing down he found himself looking into Henry's grinning face and he grinned straight back.

"Well, the rest is up to you. Good luck wooing her."
"She's wearing the costume?"
"She's wearing it alright."

Henry tilted his head over his shoulder in the direction he had come from causing Hook to glance in that direction.

Emma was walking toward them in all her pirate glory, her eyes focused on Henry and not paying any mind to the supposed stranger beside him. The clothing suit her to a tee and she looked better than Hook had thought imaginable.

"Henry you just can't go running off like that," she said a bit breathless as she placed her hands on his shoulder. "I need to know where you're going and who you're with."

Her eyes looked up at Hook then and he saw surprise flicker across her face before her jaw slacked as she took in what he was wearing.

"Hook?"
"Milady," he offered and gave a short bow much to Henry's entertainment.
"You're what? Prince Charming?"
"Aye and it looks like you're a pirate, a rather attractive one at that."

She blushed under his appreciative gaze which threw Hook off considering he usually got an eye roll or an irritated glare for any sort of flirtation he threw at her. He felt a foolish sense of confidence swell up in his chest at the small fact barely noticing when a girl in a red hood approached them and bumped shoulders with Henry.

"Hey Grace," Henry's voice cut into the adult's quiet speculation of each other and Emma turned her attention to the two kids, giving Grace a distracted smile. She noticed a mischievous look cross over Henry's face just then and before she could ask questions, he grabbed Grace's hand and started to pull her into the crowd.

"Hey Mom, me and Grace are going to get some hot chocolate!"
"We are?"
"Yes, we are," Henry said firmly and Grace gave him an odd look before understanding crossed her face. She turned to Emma with a wide smile before glancing at Hook, her eyes sparking with the same kind of mischief that reflected in Henry's.
"We'll be back!"

Before Emma could say anything in protest they bolted and disappeared into the crowd of people in costumes and Emma let out a long sigh. That kid. He was up to something and turning her attention to Hook she knew it had something to do with the pirate.

"Lively lad that one is. Smart as a whip, too."

His blue eyes brushed over her face and she couldn't stop the small smile as she gave a faint shrug of her shoulders. Whatever Henry had up his sleeve was going to come about whether she liked it or not. She may as well just go with it.

"Yeah, he's got a mind of his own."

She crossed her arms and allowed her eyes to drift over to the people dancing, catching a glimpse of David swinging Mary-Margaret across the pavement. They made it all look so easy. Hook continued to stand by her side and she slid him a sidelong glance, thinking that his good looks should be illegal in every realm. It didn't matter what he wore; he would always look like the bad boy, the rogue, and against her own will it thrilled her.

"Sorry about last night," she heard herself say and she felt her expression freeze on her face. Where had that come from?

He looked over at her, surprise crossing his features and Emma didn't blame him. She couldn't think of one time she had ever apologized to him. They both just kind of rolled with whatever punches they dealt each other but tonight it was like her mouth had a mind all its own because if that hadn't been enough, she continued to prattle on.

"I just, well I was thinking of things and then you were looking at me and I was looking at you and-" she cut herself off and closed her eyes feeling like the idiot she appeared to be. When had she become this bundle of hormones that stammered out words? She was freakin Emma Swan.

"I scared you."

His tone was understanding and laced with gentleness and she opened her eyes to see him smiling down at her. A real genuine smile. A Killian Jones kind of smile that she had seen time and time again and each time the effect was the same; it weakened her knees but made her want to run.

"Yeah, I guess you did."

He glanced back at the dancing crowd and then looked back to her, contemplation drawing his brows together. Before she could ask what he was thinking he was in front of her, extending his hand and giving a small mock bow with his trademark grin coloring his face.

"Miss Swan, will you give me the pleasure of this dance?"

She looked surprised for a second and then dread colored her eyes.

"No."

He felt his smile falter and she shook her head as if she was warring with herself.

"It's not because I don't want to," she spit out suddenly and rare vulnerability sparked in her eyes. "I just don't know how. Never went to a school dance or anything of the sort."

His smirk reigned on his face again and before she knew what was happening, his hook encircled her waist, resting at the small of her back and pulling her toward him. He captured her hand with his and at his touch, she felt the same bit of electricity she had felt the night previous. She instinctively placed her other hand on his shoulder and let him twirl her onto the dance floor, her feet stumbling in the process.

"Well, love, there's always a time to learn," he whispered in her ear sending shivers down her neck and spine. She bit her lip to keep her smile at bay but failed miserably as he twirled her out once again, his ocean blue eyes clashing with hers.

She allowed him to pull her close again and had to keep the mirth to herself as she thought that if someone had told her back when she was a teenager her first dance would be with Captain Hook, she would have laughed. He caught her expression and lifted a brow and she leaned forward till her breath brushed his ear.

"Then teach me, Captain."

It was a challenge and that familiar spark that had lit his eyes in Neverland plenty of times returned. He dipped her, effectively taking her breath away as his eyes brushed over her face with a dangerous gleam.

"Don't mind if I do."

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