Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT.
Summary: Emma had never met someone as infuriating as the captain of the Jolly Roger in her 28 years of being a talented thief. When he requires her help to find a dagger to "skin" the Dark One as he likes to say, what she's really agreeing to is late night fights, breaking her walls, falling in love, oh, and winning the war with her parents she knew nothing about. Emma Swan doesn't know what she should be mad about. How about that coin purse he tried to steal that started this whole thing….
Warnings: This is AU. There is no Curse. Hook returns to the Enchanted Forest from Neverland when Emma is 28. Emma is still an orphan. Reasons being that I prefer her to have that lost boy/lost girl connection with Hook. Henry does exist and will be explained for as the story progresses.
A/N: Happy Sunday! I AM SO SURPRISED at the amount of responses I got last chapter O_O you have no idea I was giggling every time my phone 'ping'ed! So there were a few concerns that I feel necessary to clean up!:
Originally I liked where this was going it was sassy and snarky but she just keeps getting more and more angry at him. and she doesnt even seem the least bit attracted to him. he isn't playful at all with her, for the most part he is crass... making him seem like most of the anti-hook people make him out to be. an asshole. which he isnt. for him his banter was a defense mechanism. I really don't see how this is ever going to be CaptainSwan at this point. Especially with him and Henry not liking each other as much as they do. I'm sure you will fix it. but right now I'm upset with how things are moving forward. not to say you arent a wonderful writer, bc you are, but Im not happy with the plot direction.
When Hook first came along in OUAT I never, ever got the feeling that Emma was even remotely attracted to him. Until they landed in Neverland of course. I plan to do just the same just not as drawn out as the episodes are. Emma needs her moments to grow with her affections for Hook because having someone you love leave you is different from having someone you love being killed in front of you. So I've always figured that falling in love again is easier for Hook, not so much for Emma. I did state a few chapters back that my version of Hook is a little bit darker than usual and that is because I have plans for it. This chapter clears up a bit because well… I WANT Hook and Henry to bond. And they will. Just be patient.
HOLY MOLY HOOK DONT TOUCH HENRY! Why am I loving/hating him... I cant wait to see how henry acts.. shall he listen to his mother ooooorrrr are the two over there heads...
thank god robin sent emma maps.. just incase things don't work out.. which I am hoping shall happen so emma and henry travel by foot.. and hook has to chase after them (lil worried and mad)
I suddenly feel like you're reading the chapters I'm editing over my shoulder… Just pretend you didn't see any of it… LOL You're on a good starting point but it's just that, you have to read everything! *smiles*
ENJOY AND I'LL SEE YOU ALL THURSDAY!
They had spent two days at sea and Henry was still upset with her.
When Jameson showed them their private cabins below deck Henry whirled on his mother, eyes flashing with hurt.
"You lied to me… You promised you wouldn't." Emma bit her lip. Jameson was placing their packs away, but he made no move to show that he was listening. This was a conversation she didn't want the pirate to hear.
"Henry, not now—"
"No! You told me Robin was sending us off to check on the others. He wouldn't send us on a ship full of pirates!" Henry slumped on one of the bunks and crossed his arm. His bottom lip trembled and his eyes were full of unshed tears. "Especially the ones you and I fought against…"
Emma rushed to him, crouching to his level and grasping his shoulders. "Henry… Robin did send us off."
"To where?" He asked. The words lodged in her throat and Henry stomped his foot at her hesitation. "Mom, you can tell me anything…I can take it…"
She shook her head and unfolded his arms, taking his hands in hers. "We're going somewhere, where I would rather you be… I don't have all the details yet… Robin was trying to tell me about it earlier but…" the damned captain of the ship stole the letter and I've yet to see it. "Henry I need you to understand that I'm doing this for you." She grabbed his chin and stared into his hazel eyes. He really wanted to believe her, she could see that much. But even she knew how damaging lies could be to one's trust.
Emma pulled her hands away when Henry didn't respond. She felt her stomach squirm and her blood rush through her ears. At which point, Jameson cleared his throat.
"I shall fetch you during lunch and dinner to eat. For now, it's best you two stay in the cabin and away from the captain." He reached forward for the knob, sent Emma a nod and closed the door.
When she looked back at Henry, he was already curled in the bunk, facing the wall opposite of her. She sighed and gave him the space he needed.
The past two mornings, she'd wake up to find Henry gone. The first time, she ran throughout the ship, trying to find him. And when she finally found him, leaning against the railing and watching the waters split beneath the ship, he didn't even look at her, just walked back to their cabin when she said "Good morning".
It was well into the afternoon, the crew took turns taking lunch. Emma was chewing through a bright, red apple while she stared at the horizon from the bow. She really wasn't hungry, but she knew she should eat. She had to stay alert and on her toes when dealing with pirates. Emma was already on bad terms with most of them because of her latest incident with the captain. She never really took pirates to be so loyal. But when you're stuck with a man for three hundred years and he got you back home safely, she supposed that tighter bonds were meant to happen.
Emma didn't even try to go looking for Hook. She figured, with this being his ship and all, he'd find her when he was ready to look at her without the drive to punish her for her insubordination. Emma smirked and took a rather large bite out of her apple. Sorry, she wasn't one to just lie on her back and take orders so easily.
She closed her eyes from the freshness of the apple and breathed in the salty wind. It really wasn't so bad, being out at sea. It was almost like hunting through the forest, just minus all the extra shrubbery. There was always a chance of danger, but the nature that surrounded her was so calm and beautiful. Not too long ago, they ran across a heard of dolphins. She was so surprised at their appearance and grace that she followed them all the way back to the helm—she eventually figured that the ship was indeed very fast. The pirate at the helm watched her curiously. It was late afternoon at that time, most were having dinner in the galley, so Emma forgot her surroundings for a second to watch the beautiful sea creatures.
When she finally noticed the pirate, she blushed at her childish infatuation and told him it was the first time she every saw them in person. Dolphins never swam close to Rumplestiltskin's castle. The pirate nodded to her and looked ahead. As she left, she saw the smallest upward tilt in the corner of his lips.
She tried to tell Henry about it, hoping it would rouse some excitement back into him. He started to, asking her what they looked like, how fast they swam. But when she couldn't answer any more questions, he returned to his sulking.
The wind blew her hair from her face, giving the sun a better chance to warm her skin.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself, lass."
Emma swallowed the last of her bite and looked over her shoulder. He was a lot closer than she had thought. Hell, he was leaning against the same railing nearby, watching her. She didn't even know when he came around.
"Yeah, well… first time at sea. It's pretty nice." She said, biting into her apple.
"Aye. I've been at sea my whole life, I've never grown tired of the beauty the seas have given me. Even the treacherous storms she sends my way can have their moments."
Today, he wore his double-breasted red brocade vest, giving more color to his obsession with black. Emma hummed. "Good to see you have more than just black in your wardrobe."
Hook chuckled and turned his gaze to the sea. "Aye." He crossed his ankles and arms. The wind tousled his hair and the sun brightened his eyes to the point where she almost couldn't see them. "Your boy… I've seen him sneaking across the ship with no supervision. Early morning, late at night. Last night I found him lounging on the deck, watching the stars."
Emma sighed and folded her arms over the railing. "He's upset with me."
"Ooh, well what man wouldn't be? You've hurt his pride, barging in like a mother lioness. Boy wasn't able to stand his own ground to prove himself in front of grown men."
"My son is eleven," she hissed. "He doesn't need to prove himself to grown men. And I've never let the other thieves train him how to fight yet…"
Hook scoffed. "You're smothering him, love. At eleven, most boys know how to wield a sword with basic footing."
Emma pursed her lips. She turned to him and found a smirk on his handsome face, there was also a healthy dose of laughter in his eyes. "My son, my decisions."
Hook laughed. "And I suppose you know what's best for him? Being a mother and all?"
"I don't expect you to understand." Emma pushed herself from the railing and started to leave.
"Swan."
"Fuck off, captain."
Before she could get far, she found herself yanked back and into the arms of the pirate. His hooked arm left her upper back—where she was sure she would find a hole in her cloak—and settled along her waist. He grabbed his left arm with his good hand and locked her in. There was a lecherous glint in his eyes this time and his tongue flitted across his teeth. "Only if you join me love. I've been told that spitfires are rather adventuresome to have in bed."
Emma struggled, baring her teeth and trying very hard not to buck her hips against him. There was no telling what that would do to this kind of a man. "Let me go, Hook!"
The captain clucked his tongue and released her just as she gave a very hard push to his chest. The surprise made her stumbled back and fall on her right side. She hissed when her shoulder met the floor and stayed there for a second too long.
"Are you alright, darling?"
"I'm fine," Emma spat, pushing herself up with her left hand and cradled her right arm closer to her body, hoping to ease the pain in the shoulder.
"You're wounded."
"I said I'm fine!" she started to leave but felt his hook slip into the crook of her arm, pulling her back.
"No, you're not." Emma whirled around to face him, her hand shooting up to hold her throbbing shoulder.
"Look, it's nothing. I just got hit with an arrow not too long ago. And as luck would have it, every time I see you, the wound decides to take some fresh damage."
Hook observed her silently. He clucked his tongue again and nodded for her to sit on a cargo box. Emma rolled her eyes, but did as she was asked.
"Take off your cloak." He stepped behind her and moved her hair from her shoulder. "During our sparring, I noticed the look of pain on your face, though I had yet to even touch you… in any way that I would prefer." Emma groaned.
"Can you stop with the crude insinuations? It's going to get you nowhere with me." Emma shrugged out of her cloak and felt his rough, calloused fingers pull down the top edge of her shirt. She jerked, slapping his hand away and turning to look at him. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"Calm down, lass. I've been on a ship full of wounds for years, I might be able to dull the pain for you." Hook rolled his eyes and forced her to look forward.
"It's been stitched already. It just needs time to heal…"
"Aye, with that being said, perhaps you should listen to me when I ask of you to do something. Decreases your chances of angering me. Which, decreases your chances of getting hurt again."
"Ask? So what, you think yourself to be a gentleman now?" Emma scoffed and tried her hardest not to run away when he pulled her shirt over her shoulder and grazed the blazing wound.
"I'm always a gentleman."
"Well, with how you've been treating me, I wouldn't know. Stealing from me, trapping me with that damned hook of yours, on numerous occasions, oh and let's not forget you pulling your sword on me." Emma laughed bitterly.
"Let's get one thing straight, love." Emma shivered when she felt his breathe tickle the shell of her ear. "I could do all those things, or I could've just taken you, with no regards to your well-being, or your morals. I could've had those pretty lips of your bruised and bloody from my assaults. I could've abducted you, tied to my bed with no way of returning to your son. I could've tossed you throughout my crew without blinking as they all had their way with you. As I said before, I chose to steal the purse instead of you. I needed your attention, so I kept you in place in my hook. You held a bloody dagger to my throat, I may have pulled my sword but you received not a scratch from my blade." The side of his hook grazed her cheek and pushed her to face him. Emma glared while he watched her with an insatiable hunger in his eyes. "So yes, love. I'm being very much a gentleman."
He left her view and his hook left her face. Emma kept her mouth shut, while her hands trembled in her lap. She fisted them to get them to stop. The man was a raving lunatic.
She heard a soft 'pop'. The hook rest on her shoulder in such a way to hold her down and a burning liquid ran down her shoulder. Emma yelped and hissed. "What the hell is that!?"
"It's rum, lass. It has many uses." She heard rustling and felt a cloth pressing into her wound. "It's festering a bit. You might need your boy to help you clean it." She winced when she felt him apply pressure.
Emma remained quiet as the captain tended to the infected wound. She swore to herself that she's been cleaning it good after Mulan stitched it. But when she saw the rag that Hook had been using tossed on the floor and speckled with the yellow pus, she huffed.
"You know, most men would find your silence to be rather off putting, but I do love a challenge." She could feel his smirk.
"I'm trying very hard not to shove you off this boat and storm off." Hook chuckled.
"Oh, don't be like that, lass. I've cleaned out most of it but…" she arched her back and bared her teeth to the sky hissing when he poured more rum down her shoulder. He laughed again. "Just for safe measure."
Emma fixed her shirt and watched him strut away with the bottle of rum pressed to his lips.
Hook watched the sails swell from the wind. He kept the wheel steady, and hummed to himself. The first night since they had left with Swan and her son in tow Hook kept to himself at the helm, using the sight of the sea to calm his nerves and the powerful urges to throw the boy off his ship. By his hook in his belly.
The captain shook his head. He wasn't in Neverland anymore… the boys here were not as horrid as the ones there... Plus the boy was part of his ticket to revenge. He breathed in and counted to ten to bury what should be a forgotten urge.
It was getting late. The skies were starting to turn violet.
He had spotted Swan grabbing a few things for her plate in the galley not long after their last meeting. Her and her boy had kept to themselves as well. She was almost as quiet as a mouse. Almost. While his crew had not noticed her, he noticed those long, blonde locks with ease. She had a loaf stuffed in that pretty mouth of hers and left with two small plates. Not making a single sound, even while closing the door. She proved to be a decent thief.
When he had, ehm, helped her with her wound, he enjoyed the rather pleasing smell of forest and wilderness from her hair. She had a lot of spirit in her. And a touch of too much pride. Hook knew exactly where that pride would get her if she didn't start trusting him.
He was rather surprised when she sat down at his insistence. While standing he had a very lovely view of the top of her breasts when she removed her cloak. Her skin was fair and soft, just as her mother's looked. Oooh, and when she arched her back... Hook smiled to himself. What he would give to have that body full of fire beneath him. He continued to hum to himself, a small grin on his face.
When he looked to his left, he spotted a rather small body emerge from below deck. Ah… the boy. If he remembered correctly, he was rather unhappy with his mother. The boy leaned on the railing and stared at the water. Hook smirked.
"Be careful lad, if you fall over, I haven't a clue what a scorned woman with nothing to lose would do to a man like me." He saw the boy start at his voice and lean a little too far for his liking. He almost left the wheel immediately, thinking the boy might fall over. Thankfully, the lad braced himself.
When Henry's feet touched the ground, he looked at Hook. The boy gave him a small smile and made his way to the helm.
"Looking for something?" Hook asked, cradling his hook on a handle.
"My mom mentioned dolphins… thought I'd be able to see them." Henry stood beside him and observed him. "I thought maybe mermaids too."
Hook barked a laugh. "I try to steer my ship clear of mermaids. They're lovely creatures to look at but that's how they draw you in. They enjoy drowning humans and they have a penchant for lying."
"You know a lot about them?"
"Aye, spent many years in Neverland avoiding them," Hook grimaced and looked at the boy. The wind tousled his hair and color rose in his cheeks and the tip of his gently curved nose. Hook squinted his eyes at the boy, unable to shake off an odd feeling. Had he met this boy somewhere before? Henry turned to face him and tilted his head to the side.
"Is there something on my face?"
Hook's eyes darted around. It was just an odd feeling. He made it a habit of avoiding young boys, especially ones with such a similar history to himself. "No, lad, you just seem rather familiar to me."
"I've been told I look a lot like my mother, so it makes sense." Henry bowed his head and dug his foot in the floor. "I… I'm really sorry. For yelling at you. I just…." At least the boy had enough manners to apologize, unlike Swan.
"Ahh, it's alright boy. You care a great deal for your mother." Hook looked at him again and Henry was staring at him, biting his bottom lip.
"She's all I've got…"
Hook nodded, "Aye, I know that tale well."
Henry wrapped his cloak tighter around himself as the wind picked up. "Do you?"
Aye, that he did. When abandoned by his father, all he had was Liam. And when Liam died, it became Milah, who only spent seven short years with him. Hook had no one left, but himself and his revenge.
He licked his lips and nodded to Henry. "Care to try your hand at the helm?"
"Uhh…"
Hook chuckled and sunk his hook in the opening of the boy's shirt, careful not to nick him. "You've got decent sea legs for a land lubber. And besides, once you get your bearings it's the easiest thing you'll ever encounter."
Henry laughed and placed his hands on the handles. Hook inhaled sharply as he took a step back and watched the boy take his wheel with ease even though he could hardly see over the spokes, even on the tips of his toes.
"Uhm… I'm a little short." When Henry turned to face him Hook saw a taller boy with the same nose, mouth, eyes, and ears. He grinded his teeth, trying to forget the boy he once wanted to be father to.
"Too right, something must've tricked my eye," he sent the boy a smirk and put his hand on the handle to help the boy steer. "You say your mother is all you've got. What of your father?"
The boy shrugged and looked at the sea between the spokes. "I don't know. Never met him. He left my mother before she had me."
"Ahh, couldn't handle the pressure?"
Henry wrinkled his nose and the shrugged. "I don't know. My mom lied to me about it. She told me he was a knight of sorts… died in the war. I believed her because well… I don't even know him. But then I overheard the Merry Men, on my birthday, about how if they ever saw my father again they'd hang him by his toes and skin him. Didn't take long for them to mention how dishonorable it was for a man to leave a mother behind with a child, thinking only of himself."
"That it is…" Hook pushed down on the handles when they drifted too far to port.
"It's why I'm mad at my mom right now… she lied to me, after she promised me she wouldn't do it again."
Hook shrugged his shoulders and watched the seas again, allowing the waves that his ship rode on calm him. "She's your mother, she's only thinking of what's best for you."
Some of his men emerged from below deck. A few wrestled with the riggings while others ran about, lighting lanterns. One shimmied himself up the mast and nestled himself in the crow's nest. It was getting late, wasn't it?
"She doesn't have to lie about it… But, then again she doesn't even know where she's going."
The feeling still hadn't left. Hook too another look at the boy and watched him with an analytical eye. "Perhaps she should figure it out then. No worries, I know exactly where we're going. But I already told your mother that I would take my concerns with you to her."
When Henry snorted, a small smile quirked the right side of his lips and exposed a bit of his teeth. Hook gulped and almost reached for his rum. That smile… The boy looked too much like Baelfire for his liking.
"You never said that. You pulled out your sword and engaged her. Said something about 'good form' but nothing about agreeing with her."
Hook laughed and ruffled his hair. "You've got sharp eyes and ears, boy. Perfect for the life of a pirate."
Henry tilted his head and look up at Hook. "I'm pretty sure I was being raised to be a thief…"
He waved the boy's comment off. "Yes well, pirates are better extensions of thieves." Hook flashed Henry a grin and the boy laughed. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but your mother told me that she never let you have a sword in your hands?"
The boy gave him a sheepish grin. "I'm not supposed to but… I always made Little John show me a bit when she wasn't around."
He placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. Hook steered him away and beckoned an approaching crew member to take the wheel. "Seeing as how you're a tad short for the wheel, why don't I show you a thing or two about the art of sword fighting? Might come in handy one day."
Henry jumped on the balls of his feet and his hazel eyes grew as bright as the stars. Hook couldn't help the warm smile that crept onto his lips. "Really?!"
"Aye, lad, we can start now if you like." Hook drew his sword.
Emma was walking through the corridor below deck. Henry went missing, again. She wasn't in a panic this time, thankfully. She figured he went to the main deck based on what Hook told her. He had asked her about the dolphins again during dinner and left promptly when his plate was clean. She reminded him that they needed to rest their stomachs. The ship wasn't always smooth, and the sudden jerks kept making Henry sick. But of course he didn't listen.
She pulled her hair in a braid and started to climb upward. She froze when she hear the clashing of swords. Where they being attacked? Had Regina found them? Emma placed her hand on her sword and slowly crept up.
The clashing was slow, and soft in sounds for the most part. It wasn't fierce fighting at all. She wrinkled her nose and peeked over. It was getting dark and the lanterns were lit, and a few men were cheering, shouting what sounded to be advice. Then she heard a deep laugh, followed by instructions.
"You don't always want to block, you'll tire yourself out. You'll need to counter to throw them off and find openings. Watch me." The swords resumed.
Emma stepped onto the deck and walked over to the small crowd. She straightened her back and her eyes widened.
Henry was fighting off the pirate. No… he was learning from the pirate.
Hook had tossed aside his coat and brocade. His black shirt billowing in the wind like a sail as he stepped to give Henry oncoming attacks. He threw a couple of soft jabs at Henry who blocked them. Henry lunged at what he thought was an opening, both hands on the short sword someone had given him. Hook dodged and laughed, catching Henry around the middle with his left arm to make sure he didn't topple over from the overextension.
"Don't lunge like that, laddie! You'll have your body cleaved in half if you do."
Emma pushed past the pirates and grabbed Henry, pulling him away from the captain.
"What the hell is going on?!" she hissed between her teeth.
Hook looked at her and chortled, raising his blade to rest on his shoulder.
"Mom, it's ok, Hook is teaching me how to sword fight," Henry pushed himself away from her and looked up at her, breathless but glowing in the dim light.
"I didn't tell him to," she glared at Hook, who shrugged.
"As I said before, Swan, most boys his age already know a thing or two about sword fighting."
"And I don't want him to!"
Hook widened his eyes at her comically, his eyebrows bouncing to his hairline. "He's a growing boy, he can make decisions on his own. If our ship, god forbid, gets caught in a raid, how will the boy be able to defend himself?"
"I'll defend him."
"And if you're wounded?" he nodded to her shoulder and gave her a mocking expression of concern. "Who would be there to protect your boy then?" He sheathed his sword and crossed his arms, as if he knew she had no answer for this.
Emma's cheeks flushed. She was having enough of this.
"Mom…"
"Hook, can I talk to you in private?"
Some of the men laughed. Hook grinned and licked his lips in such a slow, and sensuous way that Emma was tempted to cover Henry's eyes. "Oh, well, love. We take one foot in that direction then I can guarantee you that talking will be the last thing you'll be doing." Emma rolled her eyes and pushed Henry towards the hatch.
"You, in the cabins, now," Henry started to protest but she swelled with anger and he looked at his feet, unable to handle the pressure.
"Captain," Henry said, walking over to give the captain his short sword. "Thanks. Meant a lot to me."
Hook smiled sincerely, and ruffled Henry's hair. Emma almost fell flat on her ass in shock. "No need to thank me. As soon as I tame your mother over here, we can start again. First thing in the morning."
Henry looked over his shoulder at her and then beckoned the captain to his level.
"Good luck with that," Henry tried to whisper and then scurried off before Emma could grab him and give him an earful.
"Hook." She growled. The man had the nerve to wiggle his eyebrows at her. The smile was gone, and the smirk had returned.
He picked up his brocade and coat, gesturing her to the captain's quarters. "Swan." He gave her a once over, and his eyes grew heavy. "We have privacy awaiting us."
Emma rolled her eyes.
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