CHAPTER SEVEN

The mermaid screeched violently forcing Emma to clap her hands over her ears, which whilst holding a sword was a more skilful move than you'd expect.

"You can rescue us any day now Love!" Hook shouted above the sound of the siren, her suggestion of makeshift candle wax ear plugs seemed to be working out for him... until she noticed his hand and hook were working feverishly in tandem to free himself from the ropes she'd lashed around him. The rest of the crew were in worse shape, the sound of the ethereal voice having turned them into hopeless morons, desperate to fling themselves to their briny deaths; if they weren't similarly tied down that was. At least being female she was relatively immune, although the wailing was starting to give her a migraine. The boat rocked violently as the bitch sent a surge of water their way, trying to topple any unsuspecting sailors out of the safety of the boat. Emma clung on to the centre mast, trying to hold onto the sword and promising herself that she wouldn't hesitate, she'd run this scaled temptress through.

Hook had freed an arm... Emma felt a twinge of panic, trying and failing to assess if the feeling was genuine, and deciding it didn't really matter. She had to save him, because frankly this ship without Hook was not going to be a place she'd want to stay long. Stumbling across the deck, Emma practically fell into him.

"Kiss me Love." He insisted, straining against his bonds to reach her, his free hooked arm trying to draw her closer. "Distract me from this sea demon with your charms." Emma bit her lip, focusing instead on capturing his wandering arm at the wrist and pulling the hook off. She'd have done it earlier, but he hadn't exactly been cooperative with the thought of losing his weapon. For a brief moment she considered tossing it overboard... she slipped it around his belt instead, ensuring it was firmly attached, before lashing the ropes he'd managed to cut, back around his body. "My darling girl, would you deny a dying man his last request?" his lips were inches from her face as she tightened the ropes aggressively, causing him to wince.

"You're not dying. Shut up." She snarled. "In case you haven't noticed I'm trying to save your ass. You and the rest of your stupid crew." She drew her blade again, convinced that Hook was contained for the time being as her eyes scanned the rest, they were held firm. Great. Now all she had to do was kill a mermaid.

"Starboard." Hook rasped and she watched him out of the corner of her eye, making the conscious decision to go port instead and almost losing her eye to a swipe of claws as the creature leapt out of the water aiming for the threat. So Hook was addled too, whatever good her ear plugs had done had clearly faded, he was no longer on her team. Emma swung the sword, but the bitch was already diving back under the water. How the hell was she supposed to do this without getting in the water... which was most definitely not happening.

This was all Hook's fault anyway, the mermaids had never bothered them before, not this aggressively anyway, they were more like opportunistic predators, enticing a man who came to close to his death, rather than the assault a whole ship type. Or at least so Starkey had informed her as they'd started lashing pirates to the deck together. No this was because blasted Hook just had to go looking for their sunken treasure, the giant pearl he'd retrieved and handed to her with a flourish had been a nice gesture... so had her hurling it back overboard. Sadly the mermaids hadn't felt the same way, he'd stolen from them, the fact that they had it back meant nothing. Stupid Pirate.

A blast of water hit her soundly from behind, sending her sprawling onto the ground and scrambling after her sword. She turned in time to see the mermaid clinging onto the side of the ship, her arms latched firmly around Hook's chest, crushing the life out of him, her mouth opened revealing razor sharp teeth...

Emma froze, warring instincts battling, the desperate desire to save Hook, to keep the bitch from taking him away from her; with the desire to simply let her have him; before she forced her legs to move. Not liking one bit the eventual winning instinct that send her careening into the mermaid and without much further thought, straight over the edge of the ship, to land heavily in the freezing water with a shout of surprise. Strong fingers wrapped around her ankles and dragged her spluttering under. Emma stabbed blindly downward, surprised to find her sword still in her hand as she hacked away until the pressure on her ankles released and she shot towards the surface, breaking it and inhaling as much air as she could.

Turning on the spot, Emma tried to scan the water, deciding the murky depths were impossible to see through she hastily began to put one arm in front of the other, desperate to reach the rope hanging over the side of the ship.

"Emma!" Hook's voice bellowed, breaking through the sound of the sea and the fresh sounds of the mermaids screeching wail, which were like nails on a chalk board to her. The bitch had decided apparently to renew her attack on the men now that the only woman was overboard and helpless. Terrific.

Something slammed into her back, the blade sailing out of her hand to sink beneath the water and she had a moment to appreciate the devious little mermaids diversion before she was dragged under. Emma struggled against the vice like grip, kicking and lashing out with her bare hands, trying as they got ever deeper not to panic, as her lungs began to burn with the desperate need for air. Don't panic, panic was death, she reminded herself, sure she'd seen that on Baywatch years ago…

What the hell was Baywatch? Her mind threw the question at her and she felt herself reel, Baywatch was a TV show, from her world… her world, she wasn't from Neverland, didn't belong here.

Henry!

Panic flooded her, she'd forgotten Henry, forgotten about getting home to him. She hadn't been here that long had she? But her vision was growing dark, her lungs were screaming at her now to act or lose them forever. The grip on her ankles rose until the mermaid was in her face, the razor sharp smile should have worried her, but she was drowning… the effort to move was too great. Henry's image flashed behind her eyes as she felt her eyelids closing, her body convulsing beyond her control. She couldn't fail Henry, she had to get back to him… she had to. Her hands went around the mermaids throat, keeping those teeth out of her jugular as she fought for control. It was futile she realized as the mermaid batted her hands away, her teeth clamped around her throat and bit down hard.

Time froze. Emma saw the blood changing the colour of the water all around her, felt the sting of the bite, the tearing of the flesh. But it was far away, all she could feel was the burning of her lungs… and the thought of Henry. He'd never know what happened to her. Never know the adventures she'd had on board a pirate ship. Never see just how far she'd come, how she believed… in him, in her. How much she loved him.

Light tore from her body, the entire ocean illuminated in the blinding flash of purple that seared her very soul. The mermaid was torn from her, her screech was a dying wail as she fell still, twisted and damaged by the force of the blast. Emma blinked, the light had not faded, it was coming from her.

"Henry." She had to live for Henry. But there was no strength left in her body, her limbs wouldn't respond, her brain couldn't even seem to find her limbs to control. The pain in her lungs wasn't even as bad now she acknowledged as her eyes drifted shut, she just needed to rest, then it would be fine.

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Emma awoke spluttering, vomiting water as she desperately tried to draw air into her starved and burning lungs. The mouth that had been on hers withdrew with the force of her movement, hands were on her shoulders, trying to ease her back down, she flailed, panicked. The mermaid was killing her.

"Easy Love, calm down, you're alive." Hook's voice was clear enough as she felt his hand brushing the hair from her face, groggily she opened her eyes, he was soaking wet and inches from her, the desire to pull him down to press those snarky lips of his against hers was almost all consuming. She bit down sharply on the inside of her mouth, forcing the pain to become her focus for a moment as she drew in one shaking breath after another. He'd saved her life.

"Is it dead. Did I get it?" she asked when she'd finally got her breath back, accepting the help of Hook and Jukes as they eased her up into a sitting position. Starkey she noticed was already cutting loose the rest of the men.

"Oh you got it love. One deep fried mermaid…. dead just not quite as expected." He grinned rakishly back at her, but she could see his expression was masking anger. He'd almost lost her, it was written plainly all over his face. "How did you manage that trick by the way Love, from my experience, water tends to trump fire."

Emma stared back at him; how the hell had she killed the damn thing? The last thing she remembered was drowning, of panicking and the feel of teeth tearing at her neck. Her hand rose and she hissed in pain, pulling away bloodied fingers.

"Get me water, a clean rag and some rum." Hook barked an order, his hand removing hers firmly as he examined the wound. "Let's get her down below. Jukes." He instructed as the larger tattooed man lifted her up like she weighed nothing and did as instructed, carrying her until he was able to sit her down on the wooden table Hook's cabin. Juke's didn't leave as Hook returned, the items he'd requested in his hand.

"Thank you my Lady." Jukes told her firmly, drawing her attention to him in surprise. He was a man of few words, and they weren't usually encouraging, but clearly mermaids were a particularly problem for him, because she nodded abruptly, accepting his thanks as he nodded and exited the room locking it firmly behind him.

"Tilt your head to the side." Hook instructed, seeming to ignore the exchange as he approached her with the now alcohol soaked rag. "I need to clean it."

"The bite's not poisonous is it?" Emma asked uneasily, hissing sharply as the alcohol hit the damaged flesh.

"No idea. Most men don't survive a run in with a mermaid once their under water." He snapped, clearly his anger hadn't abated, as he dragged the cloth a little sharply across the wound, forcing her to grip onto the edge of the table hard enough until her hands ached rather than scream.

"That's comforting." She managed to retort as he tried the water instead, which was a blessed relief compared to the rum.

"You used magic." His tone brooked no argument and Emma closed her eyes, not wanting to discuss it, but certain he'd push her to anyway.

"Apparently." Emma supplied. Not even certain of it herself.

"Oh it was magic alright. Damn blast of it travelled up through my bones and tore the ropes from my body. Seemed like you were calling me for help Love." He smirked, his touch more gentle now as he raised his hook to her chin, using it to turn her head back to face him, the rum soaked rag once more pressed firmly against her throat. "Hold it there." He instructed and she raised her hand, keeping it pressed.

"So you what, decided to dive in the water after me on the off chance I'd taken care of the mermaid already?" Emma quirked a disbelieving eyebrow at him, seeing the flicker of irritation cross his face. He could pretend all he liked, but Emma knew he hated being a slave to his emotions just as much as her. She'd bet he'd felt compelled to come after her, his own safety be damned.

"Curse or not Love. I'd have come after you." He insisted, and Emma smirked, wondering which of them he was trying to convince.

"I held up my end. The mermaid's dead. Guess we're even." She informed him dryly, hating the fact that his proximity was doing strange things to her already exhausted body.

"Hardly even. You threw a priceless treasure… one of my priceless treasure's overboard." He snarled, but it lost some of his bite, given as his hand was trailing through her wet tresses, trying to draw her head closer. Emma placed her palm against his chest, stopping the movement dead, not removing her other hand from the still throbbing neck wound.

"It wasn't yours; that was the whole point." Emma bit back. "You got us into this mess and as usual, I had to get us out of it. Stupid Pirate." She muttered, hating that he smiled every time she used the damn term, like it was some sort of pet name.

"Emma." He almost sighed and she stood, pushing passed him, her leather outfit becoming heavier by the minute.

"I need to change." She instructed, not caring to hear whatever his next comment would be.

"We need to talk about the magic." He caught her arm with the hook, stopping her movement dead. His dark eyes searched her, looking for something.

"What's to talk about?" Emma shrugged. "I have magic, you have magic, half the damn world has magic."

Hook's blade bit into the bicep as he tugged her back, his hand moving to catch her other one and spin her around to face him. "No Love. They really don't. And not the type that can do what you just did. I felt it remember, tasted all sorts of delicious power wrapped up inside this unassuming package of yours."

Emma rolled her eyes. "I don't know what you want me to say. I have no idea about magic, whatever it was, it was a fluke, a desperate last gasp."

Hook didn't relent, his hands slid around her waist tugging her closer. "I nearly lost you today." He breathed and she held hers, not wanting to temptation she knew she'd be able to smell all over him, his scent did ridiculously teenage things to her body. "So it matters." He admitted, his gaze was one overwrought nerve away from panic and it unnerved her. "What were you thinking about in that moment Emma, try and remember?"

Remember. That was the problem with this place, it was so damn impossible to hold onto any emotional memory for long enough for it to be of use to you. But she had to try. "I didn't want to die." She supplied, having searched herself and coming up empty. "I was panicking. I tried not to."

"Why?" he pressed.

And Emma shrugged, "I don't know, because panicking didn't seem like the most useful thing to do right then… because." She stopped. Because she remembered something telling her that. Emma fought with the memory, trying to cling to it. "Because of Henry." She breathed, the word was like a prayer she realized, blazing inside of her like an inferno.

"Who's Henry?" Hook frowned, looking as confused as she felt.

"I have no idea." Emma closed her eyes, searching for something, anything to associate with the name, but all she felt was fear, and loss and… love. Then it was gone. She opened her eyes onto him. "I've lost something." She told him quietly. "Killian." She whispered his name, seeing him soften fractionally as he always did when she resolved to call him by it. "What does this mean… I need to remember it I'm certain, whatever that magic was, it was all about this Henry, how can I find it again if I don't even know who he is?"

Hook kissed her and she turned her head away, giving him her cheek instead. "There is a name that rattles around my head too." He admitted and she turned back, staring, he'd never mentioned it before. "Rumplestiltskin." Emma frowned.

"Funny sort of name." she admitted, and his lip twitched, something about the name seemed to strike a nerve in him.

"I think I'm supposed to kill him." Hook admitted, turning away from her and focusing instead on taking a swig of the rum.

"You think you're supposed to kill a lot of men." She pointed out uncharitably, his violent nature as ever a bone of contention between them. Although strangely, she was certain she'd heard that name somewhere before. "Was he a crocodile?" she asked hesitantly, seeing Hook's eyes flash.

"Yes… yes. My Crocodile, I have to skin me a crocodile." He grinned, before it faded, clearly along with the memory, she could see him struggling to hold it futilely.

"You said Neverland wasn't cruel." Emma recalled, surprised how easy the memories associated with him specifically were to bring to the fore, when everything else just seemed to wash away. "How is this not cruel?"

"No idea Love." Hook muttered, handing her the rum, she hesitated a beat before taking a long sip of it, she could almost taste his lips on the bottle and she hastily handed it back, watching him enjoy the same feeling as he savored the sensation. "Why is it that you resist me at every turn… is that not just as cruel?" his eyebrow arched imperiously at her, but he couldn't even manage a smirk this time, she shouldn't let him drink she realized, he always got this way with rum in his hand. The last trip out to Tortuga she'd had to get Jukes to help her dunk his entire body in a barrel of frozen water in an attempt to sober him up and stop him lamenting about the torment she caused him.

"No." she bit off pushing away the memory and answering his question, why was it memories formed in Neverland faded slower? She swiped the rum from him and took another long swallow, feeling it burn all the way down, but it would numb the pain of her neck and the soreness of her limbs.

"Do you even know why you're resisting this… us?" he pressed, taking the rum and letting his fingers trail down hers as he grasped it.

Emma rolled her eyes. "Because I'm not interested." She retorted, far too quickly.

"Of course you are Love. I saw that flying leap you took at that overgrown fish woman. You couldn't stand to watch her sink her teeth into me." Now he was grinning.

"No more than you could let me drown." Emma replied, just as smoothly, taking the rag off her neck and examining it, pleased to see the bleeding seemed to have stopped.

Hook snorted. "Please Love, I have hardly lied about my intentions, you know full well my desires for you. It is you that denies us even this measure of happiness." He smirked. "How about that time I rescued you from those savages… they'd have boiled you up for dinner, all because you couldn't keep your mouth shut and just bow to Princess Tiger Lilly and her well armed men with the rest of us. Did I not prove then that I was just as willing to risk life and limb, several in fact, for you?"

Emma glared soundly at him, the conversation was far too close to a subject her mind didn't seem to want to let her approach. Why did she resist him so strongly? She was certain there had been a reason, certain it explained why she refused to take the bed beside him and continued to sleep poorly on his couch. She hated Neverland she decided, it felt like she was constantly battling a fog within her own mind, until she had no idea what was real and what wasn't.

"You're no good for me." Emma supplied finally, the words were a struggle even to get out, and even then she questioned them, not certain for one minute if it was the truth anymore.

"You don't sound so certain." Hook pointed out, sitting on the edge of the table casually watching her for any tick of expression that he could no doubt exploit.

"And you don't sound like a Pirate." Emma bit back. "Go bother someone else with your feelings." She snarled, turning away from him. "I need to change and sleep. Neither of which I want to do with you in the room."

Hook was silent, no biting retort this time, she didn't dare look back, approaching the wardrobe cautiously and removing fresh, dry clothes.

"You're cold." Hook supplied finally and she bowed her head, wondering if he'd meant to sound so broken. But a blanket went around her shoulders and she sighed, wondering how the hell he could be both a monster and a man… if he even was. His arms rubbed the blanket across her shoulders, the friction warming her slightly, she hadn't even realized her skin had gone like ice.

"Dry yourself, there's more blankets in the trunk." He indicated the ornate wooden box. "You take the bed tonight. I'll take the couch." He wasn't offering she realized, hearing the bite of the order, but right now, she couldn't be bothered to argue, she needed to rest, she felt like she'd been hit by a truck.

"Thank you." She admitted, turning to face him, surprised how close he was, at the emotions dancing behind his normally inscrutable eyes.

"Thank you." He replied. "You saved my ship, my crew and my life. I think a night in a warm bed is barely gratitude enough." His lips curled. "I'd offer you other rewards, but I'm certain you'd reject them." He leant in, placing a lingering kiss to the corner of her mouth that for once she didn't jerk away from, allowing him that at least as he withdrew. His smile seemed genuine and she couldn't fight the one she gave in response. Sometimes he wasn't all bad she admitted to herself, wrapping the blanket tighter around her as he left the room, the distinctive sound of the lock clicking.

Emma waited a beat before crossing to the mirror, she stared at her own reflection. The name Henry swirled inside of her like a maelstrom, that cleared only when she thought of Hook. Neverland was playing head games, she had to fight it, fight through it, there was something she was supposed to be doing. But no answers presented themselves and the name drifted away as she pressed her palm into the glass, touching it as if trying to touch another life… there was something behind the mirror, something always behind the mirror, she just needed to reach it.