Hook strolled down the street, taking his time returning to the docks to only sit by himself on his ship. The Jolly Roger was easily his most prized possession but with no crew and lack of adventure, things could get slow and rather boring so he took the opportunity to wander aimlessly throughout the town.

The more lost he became, the deeper his thoughts went and each one of them seemed to lead back to the blasted Swan girl.

She really was one irksome of a woman, so damn stubborn about everything. Every inch gained was an accomplishment and as shameful as it was, Killian craved more with each bit he won. He loved a challenge, that's what he had told her but for the first time he wondered if that drive would be his downfall in the end. Yes, she was quite trying and it made him grit his teeth and pull his hair but he refused to back down. The only thing to match Emma's pride would be his own and it was a battle of wills from the start.

Just when he began wondering when they would stop playing this never ending game after he'd made the first move last night, and the second this morning, he ran into someone in his absent awareness.

"Aw, man, I'm sorry," the man began to apologize but Hook was already looking at him with a stony expression. Fucking Neal. Or Baelfire, as he'd recently come to understand. Oh and hadn't that been just a pearl to uncover on top of all the rest. Neal stopped talking when he realized who it was he'd collided with. "Hook." He attempted to look tough, straightening his back and puffing out his chest, but keeping his hands in his pockets in case anyone were to happen upon them.

"Neal." Hook replied in the same guarded tone. "I see you made it back in one piece after thieving my ship." He continued, tone conversational but his eyes were anything but. "Pity." Neal's posture slightly relaxed and already Hook knew he was trying to butter him up with his 'I'm a dope' game but he wasn't biting.

"Look, you gave me no choice, Hook," he attempted to reason. "Besides, it was Emma who knocked you out and stole the map. She even found the Roger in the harbor. All I did was sail the thing."

"Firstly," Hook started in a dangerous tone, taking an intimidating step closer and Neal almost shrunk back in self preservation. "my ship is not a thing. She has taken on the worst of foes and strongest tempests that any world has to offer and continues to sail true afterwards. She is the most fearsome vessel in all the realms, a fact that even your cowardly imp of a father recognizes so I would show a bit of respect." he finished sarcastically, before glaring at the man. "And secondly, tell me, young crocodile, do you make it a habit of blaming women for your faults?" Neal had the audacity to roll his head back with a put out sigh and Hook wondered how put out he would be with his metal appendage in his neck.

"Listen, I don't know what Emma told you about Phoenix, but if I had any idea she had been pregnant at the time I would have never helped to get her arrested," he explained but Hook seemed to not listen after the words 'pregnant' and 'arrested'. At least, that's the impression Neal got after finding himself pressed up against a nearby brick wall with Hook's hand wrapped around his throat.

"Ahh," the pirate hummed, almost sounding pleased at his, well, upper hand. "So you're the one."

"The one what?" Neal sputtered, thankful that he could at least still breathe around the grip.

"You're the one that has been making my life so bloody difficult," Hook replied as if that would make any sense to the younger man. But that didn't really matter because all that did matter was the little click in Hook's head when everything snapped together.

This was the man that Emma used to love, the one that closed her off from hope and trust and replaced it with a sodding wall that went beyond the limits of the stars. He was the reason Hook had practically gone mad trying to penetrate those barriers and was kicking himself for it in the process.

Yes, Neal was the very center for all his current problems.

But before the man could demand just what the hell was going on, someone spoke the words for him. Neal looked over to find Emma staring at them, seemingly debating stepping in or not.

"Emma, ple-" he began to plead but she held up a hand. If she was going to get the less twisted version from anyone, well, it wouldn't be Neal.

"Hook." she prompted, but as always, it was actually a demand.

"The Crocodile's son was just telling me about how the two of you fell out. Riveting tale." He kept his eyes on his prey the whole time, smiling menacingly despite being caught.

"And..?" she trailed off, gesturing for him to continue despite him not looking at her. "You were going to do what exactly?" Neal watched Hook falter for a moment, glancing over his shoulder at her in bewilderment. Emma stared back at him with raised eyebrows, giving him a look that Neal couldn't decipher. "Let him go," she commanded, nodding at her ex boyfriend. Her voice wasn't nearly as angry as Neal would have preferred but he quickly let it go when the hand around his airway dropped after a moment. "Now get out of here Neal."

"But Emma you don't understand how danger-"

"You don't get to decide what I don't understand. Now go," she ordered, anger reaching her eyes for the first time since she arrived. He stood there for a second longer, looking uncertain before scuttling down the street back to Granny's.

The remaining pair stood in silence, watching the man leave. Emma sighed, sticking her hands in her coat pockets and avoiding his gaze. Eventually the quiet got to her and she glanced up, seeing Hook looking passed her as he seemed to mull something over. His thoughts must have been frustrating if the tightness in his jaw was anything to go by.

"You've been out for less than an hour and already you're threatening civilians?" she finally cracked. "Do you want to permanently live in that cell?"

"What can I say? Must be the delightful accommodations," he replied snarkily, giving her an unamused smile as he began to walk backwards. "Besides, I'd wager that was about ten years coming for what he had done," he added with a more reserved tone, head gesturing to where Neal disappeared, feet pulling him ever further away.

"I don't need anyone fighting my battles, Hook," she called after him, almost a plea at his retreating form.

"You may not need it love, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve it," he told her, staring into her eyes, seeing the hidden vulnerability there, before twisting around and turning the corner, leaving Emma cursing alone on Main Street.

Hmm I feel Neal might make some more appearances... What do you guys think?

Keep following and leaving reviews! It's what encourages me to continue writing despite the craziness of school and everything. Was that a bribe? Maybe but oh well.