Thank you to my two lovely betas, sassyassfandoms and mothermckarther for taking the time to edit this story! Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
*Edit: 12/17/12:
I changed the dynamite between Hook and Emma when she finds the dairy because after working on the fourth chapter, I decided it had been WAY OOC. Anyway, here is the updated version.
Emma awakens on a feather soft bed, her head spinning with heaviness. The feeling is worst than her first hang over; her body feels extremely heavy and is in excoriating pain. Her head feels like the time Henry, when he had been a little boy, he accidentally ran full speed and head-butted her and, causing her to be knocked unconscious.
Grunting as she forces her body onto her elbows, Emma glances around the room; she is in the captain's cabin, on the ship.
The cabin is made out of cherry wood with golden paint along the trim and carvings. Arched panel windows are behind her, letting the sunset glow and adding golden-pink hue to the room. A few feet from the king-sized bed there is a round wooden dining table. Embroidered, deep-red cloths cover the polished wood, and, the table is set for two.
Emma looks down and stares, shocked, at the white bandages that cover her chest. 'The NERVE of that man!' She blushes scarlet, 'Undressing me while I was passed out!' Emma glares at the open shelves of red and white porcelain debating if she should take her anger out on the fragile dishware or not.
"I hope that blush is because of me, love," the pirate captain says saucily, smirking as he stares at the disrobed vixen lying in his bed. Emma rolls her eyes, "Not even close," she says and pulls the quilted blanket over her bandaged chest.
"Too bad, lass," Hook says with his head tilled down slightly, staring at the enticing women before him.
"Where am I staying?" Emma asks as she moves off the bed wrapping the sheet over her shoulders. Hook smirks arrogantly; "Here," he says as he motions to the room with his hook.
"You're joking." Emma says plainly.
"Not at all, lass." Hook grins with satisfaction, "You'll be sleeping here. Think of it as a favor of sorts."
"I didn't agree to this," Emma roars.
"In fact, love, you did." Hook's face is determined, "You said a room, not what or which room."
"You bastard."
Hook smirks as a knock is heard. "Food, Cap'n!"
"Ah! Smee!" Hook says joyfully and lets the man in, "Set it on the table!" Smee nods with a huge smile on his face, "Yes, Cap'n"
Once the food has been placed, Smee smiles once more at his captain before walking out of the room and shutting the door.
"Supper?" Hook gestures to the food as he walks to get some rum, "This, lass," he shows her the bottle, "is premium rum, aged in bourbon." He stares at the princess for a moment. "Perfect for this evening."
Emma rolls her eyes, "If you think you're going to get me to sleep with you, you're wrong."
"Ah! Don't be so brash, love!" Hook shakes his head as he pours the rum into goblets. "Care to join me?"
Emma stares at the handsome face of the captain before glancing at the food: fish. Emma wrinkles her nose in disgust, "Fish? Really?"
Hook looks at her while he takes off his jacket and starts to roll up the sleeves of his loose, black cotton shirt, "At sea, princess." He looks at her one last time before taking a seat.
"Can I at least have a shirt?" Emma sighs hugging the blanket around her shoulders.
Hook smirks up at her, "All you had to do was ask, love." He points to a drawer, "That one."
Emma turns around and touches one of the drawers, "This one?"
"Yes, love."
Ignoring the pet names, Emma opens the drawer and pulls out a beige cotton shirt. When the shirt comes free, a shiny object falls onto the floor. "What's this?" Emma calls to Hook as she bends over to pick it up: a shiny necklace with a large red and gold medallion. Emma's fingers brush over the gorgeous metal.
"Don't touch that!" Hook yells as he stands up abruptly, his chair falling to the floor with a bang. Hook storms up onto Emma and grabs her wrist, "Don't. Touch. It."
Glaring up at the blasted pirate, "Let go!" Emma snaps.
"Just…don't touch this." Hook glares at her, his eyes filled to the brim with hatred and malice.
"Asshole." Emma mutters, "You told me to go through the fucking drawer!"
Silence. They both glare at each other.
Hook breaks the silent first.
"Gods, woman, you would make one hell of a pirate!" Sassy Hook has returned to the ship, "Got an arm on you, love."
"You got one hell of a personality, pirate." Emma says still staring flabbergasted at the crazy pirate whom she had made a deal with, "So, whose necklace is it?" Emma treads softly onto the subject.
Emma watches in amazement as Hook's appearance changes from humorous to tender and shameful. 'Remarkable…' Emma thinks with astonishment at the transformation of the man.
He is staring at his right forearm; a heart with a dagger being pierced through it and a banner saying 'Milah'.
"Who's Milah?" Emma asks as she takes his forearm, lightly tracing the tattoo.
Hook stares at her, blankly, "Someone from long ago."
"Where is she?" Emma asks softly, looking into his eyes that mask his emotions. "She is gone." Hook answers directly and pulls his arm out of her grasp and walks to the table.
Emma stares at his retreating figure, "Rumpelstiltskin. That is why you want to get to him. He did something to her. And he took your hand in the process, didn't he?"
"Tell me, Emma, have you ever been in love?" Hook asks as he turns around to face her.
"N-no."
"Then for someone who has never been in love, you are very perceptive." Hook glances at her once more before taking his seat at the table and starts to eat.
Emma stands with the cotton shirt in her hand, unsure if she should go sit with him after the awkward moment of unintentionally sharing his history to her.
It takes Emma a few seconds to decide. Then, throwing on the loose shirt, Emma walks over to sit across the table from him. Hook glances up at her, "Ah." He grins, "I like it when a woman wears my clothing."
"Shut up." Emma glares as she pulls off a piece of fish.
After both Hook and Emma have finished eating, Hook places the tray outside for one of the crew to pick up the leftovers. "So…" Emma starts awkwardly, "Where will I be sleeping in here?"
"The bed, of course." Hook smiles lustfully, "You know…" He brushes his hook over his chin, "You will be the first woman whom has slept in my bed without…other more pleasurable activities" He winks cheekily at her, "We could…" he says, his voice low as he walks closer to her, "always…rectify that."
"Hook." Emma says sternly, ignoring the tightness in her belly and lower regions.
He grins, "All right." He puts his arms up in defense, "The offer still stands, love." He winks.
"That still doesn't answer the issue of where I will be sleeping" Emma says as she looks around the room for anywhere she could sleep. Hook grins, "Like I said. The bed." Before walking to a couch that Emma had not noticed before.
"Oh! I can sleep there if you want." Emma offers.
"Me offering my bed, with no strings attached, is me being a gentleman." he says as he pulls out a blanket.
"A pirate and a gentleman?" Emma asks as she sits on the edge of the bed, "Isn't that a bit contradictory?" she asks.
"I'm always a gentleman." Hook winks at her, "Now, pet, go to sleep."
"Pet? Really?" Emma huffs as she lies down in the bed, "Why don't you just call me Emma?"
Hook smirks as he starts blowing out the candles, "Because" he whispers, "where's the fun in that?" he huffs as he blows out the last candle leaving the room in darkness except for the moonlight that glows from the window.
"Goodnight, Hook," Emma murmurs as she gets comfortable.
"Goodnight, lass," he mutters back as she hears the faint squeaking of the couch bending under his weight.
Emma wakes up to her body tumbling off the bed. "God damn it!" she yells, trying to figure out what has happened. Emma can hear Hook muttering profanity, "Hook! What the hell happened?"
"I don't bloody know, woman." Hook snarls as he throws on his jacket, "I'm about to find out," he says as he storms out of the room.
Emma immediately follows after him, "Are we being attacked?" Emma shouts as she catches up to him. "I don't know." Hook glances down at her, "Why did you even leave the room, pet? You'd be useless. Go back."
"I know how to fight." Emma snaps proudly as she continues to follow him.
"Do you, love? Never would have guessed with the scene at the village."
"I-I-I…" Emma stutters trying to explain what happened to her.
"Be a good princess and turn around." Hook is in her face. They have almost reached the deck, "And go back to the room." He turns and walks onto the deck without glancing back.
"The hell I won't." Emma whispers heatedly and follows after him. The moon is high, lighting up the entire deck with the glowing ivory light.
"Men!" Hook shouts as he takes his place on the higher level of the deck, near the helm, "Who is going to tell what in bloody hell that was."
Smee steps forward, "Captain…" he hesitates which only causes Hook to get angry.
"Smee!" Hook shouts, "Time is not something we have an abundance of. Out with it."
"M-m-m-mer-mermaid." Smee quivers out, "It's Ariel."
Hook's anger contorts to glee, "Ariel, sweetheart! Is that you?" He hops onto the main deck and looks over the edge.
"Hello, Killian," a soft, playful feminine voice calls up from the sea.
"Ariel, love, how are you?" Hook asks as he leans over the edge. "Men! Get a tub!" Hook snaps as he pulls the sea fairies out from the salty water.
"Where is that tub?" Hook shouts again as he pulls Ariel over the edge of the ship.
"Here, Cap'n." Two men carry the human sized tub up to their leader as three other muscular men carry salt water in buckets. Hook lays Ariel into the tub, grinning madly.
"I'm well, Killian. How have you been faring?" Ariel asks as she relaxes in the tub.
Emma stares in shock at the gorgeous woman before her. Only once in her life has Emma felt ugly, and this is not been the occasion. Ariel has to be the most beautiful female Emma has ever met. The mermaid has long ruby-brown hair that spirals into loose curls, with moon kissed skin and sweet, red lips with perfect white teeth. In her hair is beaded green seaweed, and gleaming lustrous pearls are tangled beautifully through her hair. Ariel's sapphire eyes seem to flow as if her eyes are the oceans.
Killian laughs as he kneels to be at eye level with Ariel, "Did you find it, love?"
Emma tries to ignore the pang of jealously that rushes through her at the sound of Hook calling the sea creature 'love'.
"The dingle-hopper, yes—I found it. I searched the deepest parts of the ocean for it," Ariel says, grinning, her scaled emerald tail flipping out of the tub. "I stole it, just for you, Killian."
"Ah, thank you, love." Killian smirks.
Ariel reaches into a bag that Emma did not see before. "The Ocean's Heart," she says, "It can trap any soul forever. You just need the last few pieces of magic to get it to imprison that evil man." Hook grins maliciously at the blue-glowing crystal ball-like jewel.
"Thank you, my lady," Hook winks at her as he takes the orb from Ariel's hands.
"Don't forget our deal, Killian." Ariel says harshly.
"Never, pet." Hook smiles darkly as he signals his men.
"What are you doing, Killian?" Ariel screams as the men drag her out of the wooden tub; "We had a deal!" she shrills.
"Aye, we did." Hook doesn't even turn around to look at the sea princess.
"I'll die! I'll turn into sea foam!" Ariel hollers as the men push her onto the deck, laughing, "I can't stay out of the water!"
Emma watches on in horror as Ariel flops against the wooden deck, "Please!" Ariel cries, withering in pain, "You weren't like this before Milah died!"
Hook pauses for a moment but does not answer her.
Emma storms up from her hiding place and rushes towards Ariel's side. "I'm so sorry…" Emma whispers as she begins to pull the sea-maiden towards the edge of the ship.
"Who are you?" Ariel stares up at Emma.
"I'm Emma," Emma replies as she glares up at Hook.
"Milah would be so proud of you, wouldn't she, Killian?" Ariel says sadly. "Betraying your long-time friends like this. We're helping you avenge her death, and this is how you repay us? My father will sink your ship if you let me die."
"Hook. Don't do this," Emma says strongly as she waits to send Ariel back into the water.
Hook sighs angrily, "I told you to stay in the cabin."
"Well, I didn't. Now tell her what she needs to know." Emma demands.
"Prince Eric is trapped in Atlantis." Hook turns around with a grin. "Sorry, love, I had to make sure you wouldn't have fed me to Ursula." He tosses a necklace towards Ariel, "Atlantis is only partially underwater, and you will need feet to walk the rest of the way. That necklace, love is enchanted. It will give you feet."
"Oh, I hate you sometimes, Killian." Ariel pouts in pain as she snatches the necklace.
"Nay, you don't," Hook winks at Ariel and grins at Emma whose face is burning with anger and shock.
Ariel squirms in pain. "Alana has something for you too, Killian." Arial pushes herself off the ship. Hook swaggers over to the edge of the ship and stands next to Emma as they both look over the edge.
Alana, one of Ariel's many sisters, appears, her shiny, black hair is tied to the rest of her neck with tight black curls that flow over her shoulders and float in the water. A piece of lavender coral is attached to her as if to declare her blue blood. Small shells hang loosely in a draped necklace, and, although, she is extraordinarily beautiful, her looks seem to dull while being next to Ariel. Her violet eyes shine up towards Hook like lightening in a storm. "Hello, Killian." Her voice is soft and timid.
Hook grins and waves his fingers towards the mermaid. "'Ello, 'Lana."
"I've brought you something to help you to return to Neverland," Alana says as she shows him a sea-flower. "This will open the portal. Let the plant dry in the sun, and then grind it up."
"Aye, I understand." Hook nods, "What is your price?"
"I do not ask of one…" Alana whispers shyly while looking sideways towards her sister. Slowly, Alana lets loose the plant which floats up towards the pirate. "I hope you succeed in what you want, Killian," Alana whispers before diving back into the sea.
Ariel smiles at Killian. "Thank you again, Killian. Goodbye. And goodbye to you, Emma." She waves sweetly, "And good luck to you, Emma. You will need it!" Ariel giggles as she dives after her sister.
"Good luck for what?" Emma questions, looking at Hook, "And your real name is Killian? And you are planning to do WHAT with the orb? And why are we going to Neverland?"
Hook glances at her and grins. "You never asked my name, love," he says with sass. "And as for Neverland, for pixie dust."
"Why do we need pixie dust?" Emma asks as she points to the orb. "We have what you need, don't we?"
"Nay, this is just an object without the right magical properties to activate it. We need some pixie dust to help make it work, love." Hook glances at her. "Now, get your pretty ass back into the cabin before I break our deal, love." He pokes her nose gently with the tip of his hook, "You don't want to get in the way."
Emma glares at him and puts her hand out. "I'll go back to the cabin if you let me hold the orb and take it back to the room."
"Sassy little thing, aren't you?" Hook grins as he hands over the orb. "Now go." He pats her bottom as she passes.
"Hook!" She shouts as she smacks his hand.
"Love, don't break the deal!" He grins as Emma disappears into the inside of the ship.
"Alright, men!" Hook snarls, now that Emma has left, "Man your post! Set the sail! We are heading to Neverland!"
Well! How did you like it? Let me know :D I hope it has been worth the wait!