This chapter is dedicated to Sofia and Rachel for both being such amazing supporters of this fic. (Shout out to Sofia for betaing this chapter too, thanks my love.)

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, mates. I'd appreciate if you could hook me up with a review or let me know your thoughts on Twitter or Instagram (hooknleather)

See you next time with some Hook shenanigans in Storybrooke.

Queen of Hearts

Hook and Cora lurk in the shadows of Rumplestiltskin's cell, waiting for the opportune moment to strike and capture the heroes. The women discuss some form of bloody ink and Hook tries not to growl with anger at the sight of Swan sitting on the floor with a piece of parchment in her hands.

The holding back only grows more strained when she speaks, the voice that he had once hoped would trust him ringing out clearly in the damp dark cave.

He hears Cora whisper softly and suddenly the previously-captured princess whose heart he had stolen throws a rock at the pulley system, resulting in the cage quickly sliding closed. The heroes all look at her in shock.

"Aurora, what are you doing?!" They yell out as the barrier traps them in the cell, hands reaching to grab the bars in a vague attempt to stop it from closing them in.

"Helping me." Cora says and they finally look up, spotting the two lurking in the shadows. Cora uses her magic to pluck the compass from Emma. Hook grins at the sight of the blonde woman helplessly pulling and climbing on the bars of the cage, an attempt that is completely useless.

Hook listens as Cora thanks Aurora and the women turn on her, so easy to distrust their companion who's eyes are wide with confusion. But, the witch is soon to reveal the truth, pulling the pulsing, glowing heart out to show to them.

"You took her heart?" Emma says in shock and almost fear. Now, now… Cora can't get all of the credit… Hook finally speaks up.

"Actually, I did." He says softly, feeling Emma's gaze shift to where he is nonchalantly leaning against the cold stone wall. Time for her to see how wrong it is to betray Captain Hook. "It was a gift."

He doesn't expect Cora to cause Aurora pain, but she does. She squeezes on the glowing red muscle in her hand, resulting in the princess crying out and clutching at her chest. Hook knows what the witch is doing, this is a warning. A warning that interference only ends in pain and heartache. A pain I know all too well...

"Forgive us." Cora says. Time to go. "We'd love to stay, but Storybrooke awaits."

The witch turns away from the heroes, walking past Hook and out of the damp cave. He glares at Emma as he pushes off of the wall and turns to follow. But the Swan girl surprises him once again, calling out to him desperately. "Hook. Wait."

He reluctantly turns back to her, his face stony and filled with anger. Don't try and play this game with me, Swan. "Please don't do this. My son is in Storybrooke. He needs me."

He isn't going to have any of it. He counted on her, he trusted her. But she betrayed him. Now he's going to repay the favour. "Perhaps you should've considered that before you abandoned me on that beanstalk." He says, his eyes flashing as he walks back towards her. He glares darkly as he draws nearer.

"You would've done the same." She says, evidently she feels that the abandonment isn't as badhe feels. He steps even closer to her, close enough for her to see the hurt, betrayal and honesty on his face as he responds.

"Actually, no." He whispers softly before pulling the shrivelled bean he stole from the giant out of his pocket. "Do you know what this is, Emma?" He holds the chain close to the bars so that she can clearly see it, recognition crossing her features in an instant.

"The bean that the giant kept." She thrusts her hand towards it, evidently eager to grab it from Hook's grasp. But he's too quick for her, pulling it away and holding it up tauntingly. He can see the pain and desperation in her eyes as she hopelessly stretches her hand towards him, but it's a useless attempt.

"Uh-uh-uh…" Now now, Swan. There's no point in even trying to get your hands on this small piece of magic... "Yes, indeed." He says as he holds the bean up, looking at it in satisfaction.

He knows what he's doing to her, knows how angry and irritable she will get. "A pirate always keeps a souvenir of his conquest, but this… Well, this is much more than a mere trinket."

"This is a symbol. Something that was once magical, full of hope, possibility… Now look at it."

He holds up the shrivelled, grey bean. What a lovely metaphor.

"Dried up, dead, useless. Much like you." He whispers the last line. He's done with humouring this woman. He needs to kill the Dark One, and she is standing in his way. Well not anymore. "The time for making deals is done, just as I'm done… With you."

He walks backwards, still looking at the anger and frustration in her eyes before he turns, leaving the four women trapped in the cell. Only a little time longer… and then he can skin himself a crocodile.

~K&E~

How much longer is this going to bloody take? Hook sighs agitatedly as he and Cora walk through a barren field, dirt and dried grass paving the way.

"Where are we going?" He is sick to bloody death of secrets and mystery and blindly following Cora. If he is going to trust her again, he needs to be absolutely certain that she isn't leading him astray.

"Lake Nostos. The legend says its waters hold the power to restore what was once lost." Aha! Well, if Cora leads him into a trap, or betrays him, he now has a backup plan. The pilfered magic bean.

"It'll return magic to what remains of this wardrobe. And then, we'll be able to cross worlds." As she speaks, the lake comes into view. Or, at least it was a lake.

The plain of dry dirt, wood and skeletons may look just like the bottom of a lake, but there isn't a drop of water in sight, magical or not. "I may be a simple pirate, but… I know one thing – lakes have water."

Unsurprisingly, Cora waves her hand and a small vortex magically forms in the middle of the former lake. Dust circles up into the air and the ground breaks away. Hook watches with an eyebrow raised as a large geyser of water shoots up from the dirt, pouring out onto the bare lake floor.

"After everything we've been through, why do you still doubt me?" Cora says, looking over at him with an air of smugness that makes him want to sigh and turn away. But he doesn't, this is one of his only chances to get revenge. So, it's probably best not to aggravate the witch.

The roaring geyser gradually subsides, leaving behind a small lake, which - to be brutally honest - is more of a pool or puddle. But it's enough. It will get them to Storybrooke.

Cora pulls out the vial of sparkling dirt. "And now, the ashes." She passes them to him. "Would you care to do the honours?" Oh yes, I would.

Hook takes the ashes from her, popping the lid from the bottle and sprinkles them into the lake. The effect is almost instantaneous, a magical dip forming in the water, a large whirlpool portal that will get them where they need to go. To the Crocodile.

~K&E~

Once the portal has grown enough to be recognisably safe to travel through, Cora holds the compass out to him. That damned thing…

Hook pushes all thoughts of Emma Swan from his mind, forcing the guilt he feels from leaving her locked in the cell deep, deep down. I can't be distracted. Not now. Not by a woman.

"I told you I'd deliver you to Rumplestiltskin." Cora says, the portal causing a wind to stir around the two of them. He put his hand onto the compass as she talks. "Now don't let go. Unless, you want to end up someplace that isn't Storybrooke."

The two of them prepare to jump, adrenaline coursing through Hook's veins. Then, before he can even think about leaping into the portal, an arrow shoots the compass from their hands.

Hook looks up, shocked to see the heroes stood on the other side of the pool. Why do I feel relief that Swan is safe, no longer trapped? "You're not going anywhere." Swan shouts. "This portal's taking us home."

The three start moving around to them and Cora turns to Hook. "Find it first. I'll take care of them." He obeys her command and immediately turns to search for the compass, ignoring the burst of heat and flame that signals Cora has thrown a fireball at the heroes.

Hook heads towards the compass, pulling his cutlass from its sheath just in time as Swan's sword comes clashing down against his own. It's immediately obvious that she has never been in a fight before, at least not with blades.

Hook could easily beat her, but he wants a bit of fun first. He'll taunt her, tease her, bide his time. Then, he'll end the fight and get the compass and go, Cora be damned.

It's not long before he manages to swing Emma's sword from her grip, but he wasn't expecting her to rush at him when unarmed. His reflexes are quick though, and he lifts her, throwing her to the floor. Snow White fires an arrow at him, which he dodges.

Swan starts to crawl towards her sword. Oh no, love. Not today… He grabs her by the ankle, dragging her across the sand as she struggles. How did I end up fighting this woman? There are three of them, and it has to be Swan I battle with?

Hook glances over at the other members of this fight just in time to see the satchel which contains the missing princess' heart soaring over the portal. He strains as he reaches his hook out, bending uncomfortably in an effort to catch the bag.

He lets go of Swan's ankle, not caring that she rushes to grab her sword, as he tosses the bag to the warrior woman. "I may be a pirate, but I bristle at the thought of a woman losing her heart – unless it's over me."

After a brief discussion, Mulan rushes off to return the heart and Emma once again advances on Hook. Her stance is all wrong as she points her sword at him, which he once again ignores. "I had no idea you had such a soft side."

"I don't." He rolls his eyes, readying himself again. Just like a fair fight."

Hook swings his sword again, the two blades clashing together. His coat flies around him as he turns, advancing on her as she deflects his attempts with his sword.

The duel continues with Hook going easy on the woman, for some reason he just doesn't want to hurt her. A fair fight indeed...

His blade pushes against hers and he uses his upper body strength to push her arms down, his face close to hers. "Good form." A lie, she's terrible at this.

"But not good enough." He catches the leg that rises up to kick him with his hook, flipping Emma onto her back.

Swan holds her sword up above her, and so Hook decides to tease her. He crosses his hook and sword, sliding the two pieces of metal down Emma's sword, pinning her to the ground completely. Hmm, that's a sight…

"Normally, I prefer to do other more enjoyable activities with a woman on her back." He says, not even caring as she looks at him with an expression of almost complete disgust.

"With my life on the line, you've left me no choice. A bit of advice? When I jab you with my sword, you'll feel it." It's a horrendous line, he will admit it. But he can also see the way it affects her, weakens her. "You might want to quit."

"Why would I do that when I'm winning?" Suddenly she pulls the compass from underneath her back and his smirk dropping. Annoyingly, she manages to keep him distracted long enough to kick him off of her, a grunt sounding from his throat due to the force of her boot impacting with his stomach. Bloody hell…

He is still winded but managed to catch her sword with his before it connects with his body, struggling as the duel starts up again. He uses every inch of strength he can muster to force her sword down before realising she has a hand free. "Thanks." She says, her arm pulling back.

The world almost seems to go in slow motion as the compass in her fist moves closer, a burst of pain on his jaw and he falls back, slipping unconscious immediately.

~K&E~

"Emma!" Hook's eyes peel open at the shout, his vision blurred but he can still clearly tell that Cora's hand is deep inside Swan's chest. No! He doesn't know why, but for some reason seeing Emma about to die makes his heart clench.

"Oh, you foolish girl." Cora says and Hook manages to sit himself up, watching with wide eyes and a racing heart. "Don't you know? Love is weakness."

He winces when Cora tears her arm back, waiting for the moment that he sees Emma Swan's heart within the witch's grasp. But the moment never arrives. Instead, Cora's hand appears to be stuck within Emma's chest, apparently unable to rip her heart out. Well, that's a new one...

"No." Swan says, her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide with shock. "It's strength."

Hook jumps when a burst of white light emanates from Emma's body, knocking Cora backwards. He doesn't move, knowing that he and Cora have lost.

He watches as Snow White runs over to Emma, both of them discussing what just happened with shocked expressions.

He stays still while they look to the portal, his body apparently frozen to the spot with awe as he watches them leap into it.

And just like that… She's gone. Why does it hurt so much seeing her leave? He's been through it before. Well, then again. It hurt that time as well… Who is that woman? Why does she have a hold of him so easily? And now he'll never find out… Except… Wait! The bean...

~K&E~

His head aching slightly, Hook makes his way over to Cora who is staring out at the now calm water, a shrewd expression on her face. "We failed." She states, and Hook bites back a grin. Time to save the bloody day.

"Really, Cora. After all this time, why do you still doubt me?" He holds up the mummified bean, hoping for a reaction but she just stares at him. Way to kill the dramatic entrance of the way to Storybrooke...

"Well, that bean's petrified. It's useless."

"But these waters have regenerative properties. Perhaps, it's time to do some gardening." He smirks to himself as the realisation appears on her face. She gets to see her daughter and he… Well, he gets to have a long awaited chat with a certain Crocodile.

~K&E~

A small town, full of colours and strangely shaped houses, comes into view as Hook raises his telescope to his eye. Cora stands beside him as they sail closer to the much awaited destination, a black wilted rose in her grip, assumedly for her daughter.

"There it is." He says, gazing at the town with a confused expression on his face. It certainly is a strange looking place, although Emma and Snow White's clothing does make a lot more sense to him now.

"Storybrooke." Cora says, a smirk on her lips. Hook can't help but smile too. Time for a long overdue chat with the Dark One. A chat that will finish my revenge once and for all...

~K&E~