A/N - Thanks as always for the reviews! I am desperately (like, months) behind in sending out thank your, but please know how much I appreciate them! And as always, thanks so much to my beta, textbookone! She is awesome :)

CHAPTER 15

Emma had been different since they'd moved to the cave, Bae had noticed - quieter, almost withdrawn. Gone were her sharp retorts and biting statements, replaced by words of affirmation - or no words at all. He wasn't quite sure what to make of it; it hadn't quite crossed into the realm of worrisome, but it certainly was peculiar. He couldn't quite wrap his brain around where her head was, what she was thinking - what had caused her to close off instead of firing every discomfort his way.

Of course, that wasn't the only change he'd noticed. During their time in the cottage, he'd assumed her adverse to hard work - breeding of a princess and all. Sure, she'd done the dishes when her turn came up (and she couldn't find a way to pawn it off on him,) but she'd spent so much time flitting off to visit this royal or that noble that the rest of the housework had fallen on him. But as those first days in the cave turned into weeks, she'd encouraged him to teach her more - how to build a fire, spear a fish, set a trap. They'd run to keep her safe, she'd said, she needed to do her part to keep them alive.

Which was how they'd ended up here. Without utensils, sharpened sticks had become their mainstay - for fishing, cooking, eating - and Emma had declared that after all of the twigs she'd snapped, the least she could do was learn to sharpen the new ones. With great reluctance, Bae had agreed to hand over the knife. At present, Emma sat on a stump they'd maneuvered into the cave - that had been its own miraculous feat - with a thin branch braced across her lap. She held the knife in her right hand and looked up at Bae expectantly, awaiting his instruction.

"All right, try this. Plant your feet on the floor, about yea far apart," Bae said, his arm gestures amplified as the fire projected them onto the cave's walls. Emma did as he said, earning a nod of approval. "Now place the branch crosswise on your knee - no, not straight across, you don't want it to touch the other one. Kind of angle it out in front of you." He sighed, watching her swing the branch about. "Truly, Emma, did you even watch when I did that before?"

She bit her lip. "I suppose not."

"All right, then. The idea is that should you slip off the end, or lose your grip on the knife, you won't stab yourself. So aim away from your body, but at a natural angle." She complied, finally, and he moved onto the next instruction. "Okay, now hold the knife level - you want to scrape bits of the wood away, just enough to bring it to a sharp point. Don't put too much pressure or you'll -" he jumped out of the way as the knife went flying "- lose your grip on the knife when you hit the end." Bae employed a heavy sigh as he retrieved it. "Come on, I need some skewers to cook dinner. How about you let me whittle down a couple, and then you can go back to trying to impale yourself."

"Very funny," she said, rolling her eyes. But she stood as requested, handing over the knife and moving away from the stump. She grabbed a couple of prime branches as he sat, ready to hand them over once he got settled.

"Another Neverland skill?" she asked, watching him cautiously as she spoke. He'd stopped flinching when she mentioned his time on the island - truth be told, he'd come to appreciate being able to talk about it with someone. But sometimes she went too far - edged too close to some invisible wound - and he was surprised to find that she'd learned to tread carefully.

"Everything that's keeping us alive is a Neverland skill," he said, a sarcastic smile creeping onto his face. "Not much to do when you're living alone - learning skills keeps your mind off of the loneliness, at least."

"Boy, do I understand that," she replied.

He shot her a cross look. "And what do you know of loneliness, growing up in a castle with a million people all around?"

She sighed. "Being surrounded by people doesn't preclude one from being lonesome."

"No?"

She shook her head. "There were always people around, sure - nursemaids, castle staff, various folks who had business with my parents. I was never alone. But lonely? It's hard to form a connection with anyone when no one is in a position to understand you. It's not like I had a right to fuss at the castle staff, there solely to ensure I wanted for nothing. Even the various nobles would come stay for several days - but then disappear for years. There were my parents, of course, but as much as they adore me, they were also raising me.

"It was always the same refrain - 'Eat your vegetables, Emma dear, the kingdom's relying on you to grow up strong.' 'Chew with your mouth closed, Emma dear, you'll be queen some day.' As close as we were, there was hardly a moment to connect on a true personal level without the shadow of responsibility eclipsing it all. Now, there was Alex - she was in a position to understand - but she reveled in the idea of being a princess. Be waited on hand and foot, marry a prince, eventually boss around the whole kingdom. I adore her, but she never seemed to grasp the enormous responsibility placed on our shoulders. At least she had a sister to share it with - maybe that's why. For my kingdom, it was only ever me."

Bae paused in his whittling, squinting at Emma as he saw this other side of her. Never before had she expressed hesitation at her path in life - not openly, anyways. There had been hints, now that he thought about it, but never so honest as this. "You don't want the responsibility?"

She shrugged. "It's not that I mind; I've been groomed for the task and who else could do it, anyways? It's more that my parents never did ask how I felt about it - nor was I given a say in the matter." She sighed. "I'd like to have had the opportunity to explore some other avenues, have a few adventures - especially now, when my parents have the kingdom well in hand and my lessons are finished, leaving my presence as unnecessary."

Bae shot her a crooked smile, gesturing to the cave around them. "Seems to me you're getting an adventure now, huh?"

"I suppose," she said with a laugh. "I'm not sure this is quite what I had in mind."

"No, I would guess not."

"I mean in some ways it makes me appreciate what I have. Getting back to somewhere with a bed and food I don't have to catch myself sounds wonderful. But giving up the freedom, the ability to make mistakes without someone mindful of my every move - it'll be a challenge."

"Your parents won't give you the freedom to make your own choices?"

"I don't - I don't know anymore. I'd thought we were close - closer and more open than I could be with anyone else - but then it turns out there was this enormous secret they'd been hiding from me. 'We hope you'll find someone who loves you for who you are, just as we found in each other,' they used to tell me. The fact that they never ever let on that it might be an impossibility... that's a deep wound, one that will take much time to heal."

"It hasn't yet, I take it."

She shrugged. "I haven't had the opportunity to speak with them about it, really. Though I doubt they'll change their tune - their explanation is that they thought your father would renege. Like that's supposed to excuse it all away."

"Of course it doesn't. One would think they'd tell you…"

"Precisely. It's a responsibility of kingdom, not unlike negotiating treaties or issuing proclamations."

He paused to squint at her again. "Seems a marriage is a bit more significant than a treaty negotiation, no?"

"You'd be surprised what you can adjust to if you're allowed to come to terms with the idea. Daddy and I visited kingdoms whose rulers led nearly separate lives, linked together only by their required heir. But the unions were favorable for both kingdoms, so…"

"That's awful," Bae replied, shaking his head. "I can't imagine living that way."

Emma chuckled. "Is imagining that scenario necessary, Prince Baelfire?"

He propped his stick against the wall, reaching back as Emma passed him another branch. "This feels different somehow."

"Yeah?"

"I mean, my goal is and always has been to reunite you with your parents - you know that. But were we to be perpetually stuck in this marriage, well -" He paused, considering the words to explain his feelings on the subject. "You understand me, Emma. And I value your friendship more that you'll ever know."

A peculiar look crossed her face, one that he couldn't quite read, before her eyes darted to the floor. And maybe it was just the glow of the fire playing tricks on him, but he almost would've sworn a slight blush rose to her cheeks. Had the princess really been paid so few compliments in her life?

"Thanks," she finally mumbled, eyes still fixed to the ground. "Same."

She made her excuses moments later, scooting over to the fire where she poked at some branches that didn't really need to be moved. Bae looked after her, puzzled. Whatever had come over the princess?

"Cora, it's been weeks. What could you possibly be doing in these stacks and stacks of books."

The pirate leaned against the doorjamb of Cora's room, having been barred entrance days earlier. But she was his only companion - and he was sick of being consumed by boredom - so he languished there, in search of attention.

Cora spoke, eyes never leaving the volumes she was scanning. "The realms... the Dark One says there are twenty seven of them. The first dozen were easy. I've found nine more, but the last few elude me."

Hook sauntered into the room, stopping at the edge of her desk and peering at the list she'd written. He placed his hook on the corner of the paper, dragging it across the table towards himself. "Enchanted Forest... Wonderland, Agrabah, Atlantis..." He skimmed down the list. "You've missed Neverland, love."

Cora snapped her fingers. "Neverland! I knew there was one staring me in the face. Though certainly my Regina's not there..."

"No, I can't imagine she'd be categorized as either a Lost Boy or the mother they've spent centuries longing for."

"Certainly not," Cora replied. "But there are still more, another five that I'm missing. I need to make sure I've found them all, every last one of them, before I set out to find her… can't afford delays in the process once I've begun."

Hook spun the paper back at her. "You'll finish the princess off yourself, then, before you go?"

"Of course not," Cora replied. "What good would that do me? She's untouchable by me right now - under the protection of the Dark One and all. Regina and I together can defeat him - I have no doubt - but things will be ever so much more efficient if I find her first. Then we can both be happy, my dear pirate, me with my princess and you with your croc." She paused, eyes drifting back to the book laid open in front of her.

"You'll be jumping realms in search of Regina? How do you plan to accomplish that?"

"I have a little friend who owes me a favor," she said, "Leftover from my Wonderland days."

"And how long will that take?" Hook asked. "My patience is growing thin!"

"It will take however long it takes!" she snapped, scowling at him. "Now please - leave me to my study! Time is of the essence!"

Hook headed to the door, frustrated as he considered Cora's words. Running the conversation back over in his mind, he stopped and turned back to face her. "The princess is under the crocodile's protection? Whyever would he agree to that?"

Cora chuckled. "Since she's gone and married his son. Dear Snow insists they fell in love, but I know a political move when I see one."

Hook's eyes grew wide, unnoticed by Cora. "His - he has a son?"

"Seems so," she replied, turning another page in the book. "Just when you think you know a man..."

Hook swallowed, anticipation building in his mind. He was careful to keep his tone even, curious, not to tip his hand to Cora as he issued a final question. "The boy... does he have a name?"

"Ball - Bale - Bar - oh, something like that. Why should I care?"

"Baelfire," Hook said, breath stolen away by the luck of it all.

"Yes, that's it," Cora replied dismissively, waving Hook out the door as she did so. "Can't imagine why it matters. Begone with you now."

"Indeed I think I shall, Cora. As you're not living up to your end of the bargain, I think I shall set off on my own now. Thanks for - well, nothing really."

As he disappeared, Cora squinted after him, puzzling for a moment where he'd acquired his sudden change of heart. Then she shrugged; he'd been no help for a while and his manipulations were none of her concern. Instead she turned her sights back to her ultimate goal: Regina.

Emma and Bae finished the sustenance they had labeled dinner and cleaned up before crawling into the pallet that functioned as a bed. Bae had dried some more leaves, adding bulk to the pile, and it was almost enough to keep them from making contact with the stone of the cave floor. He tossed the blanket over the two of them, pulling it tight around his shoulders and bidding Emma goodnight. She listened as his breathing grew deep and regular.

As for herself, despite the fatigue that had become a constant companion, sleep did not come so easily. Instead Emma considered their earlier conversation and allowed herself to wonder - just for a fleeting, fledgling moment - what if he should ever reciprocate her feelings. A warm arm slung around her waist, holding her tightly - instead of the impersonal practicality of his back against hers. Warm breath on her neck and a soft voice in her ear; space shared out of want instead of necessity.

But no - wandering down that path could lead to nothing but heartache. She shook herself off, scooting incrementally closer to the fire, telling herself it was to absorb its warmth... not out of a need to put some distance between herself & the husband she wasn't supposed to love.