I just added a little section to the last chapter to smooth over the time gap. Sorry for tripping you guys up on that one!

If it weren't for the rain, a forest fire would have surely ensued. Hook found himself dodging fireball after fireball coming from all sides. His fight was made easier since many of the attacking boys were not so agile. He dropped to the ground as a wave of fire spread over the clearing from the hand of Regina. Recalling how Emma fought in the Enchanted Forest, Hook acknowledged a mother's wrath to be severe. However Regina's was a new form a wrath: unchecked and merciless. She was a villain, which many aboard the ship were so keen on reminding her of. There wasn't a moral code that held her back from setting the entire forest ablaze. Younger boys cried out as they fell to their knees and dropped their weapons, clutching their burn wounds and broken limbs. With a joined wall of fire cast by Rumplestiltskin and Regina, Pan and most of the guards were thrown into the scorched trees.

Hook stumbled back over to where the bars of Emma's cell had begun to sink in the mud. The end of his hook was still visible halfway in the muck, which he was thankful for. He certainly did not have the luxury of time to search for it now. He heard the sounds of rattling swords and squeaking bows aiming to fire behind him. Regina and Rumplestiltskin had already escaped. Pan's newest prisoner, Belle, was also gone. She was no doubt now safe in the hands of her Crocodile. The cell door fell from its hinges as the bars continued to burn. Unable to spare another moment, Hook grabbed a handful of dust and ungracefully threw it in his face.

He suddenly remembered how he hated the effects of traveling via fairy dust. Pixie dust wasn't so bad but fairy dust always made him nauseous.

A new alarming pain jolted through his back. With his other arm, he reached around and felt the feathery end of the arrow that was now lodged under his shoulder-blade. "Seven hells," he muttered as he dropped his sword and hook to the ground. If he were any place else on the island, this arrow could have been the death of him. Hook looked up to the large, nearby boulder which served as the secret entrance to one of his many hideouts on the island.

"Swan," he called out hesitantly, "show yourself." Of course she wouldn't have stayed put. He didn't give her any direction; he just threw dust in her face. "Swan!" He shouted out louder and still nothing. So help me, if anything happened to that woman...

"Hook?" She stepped out from where she was hiding in the trees. He winced and held his shoulder as another great piercing throb pulsated deep into his chest.

"Oh my god!" Her eyes widened the second she caught sight of the arrow.

"No stop. The passageway is hidden just beyond that rock. Deal with it in there where it's safe."

Emma tentatively leaned over and picked up his sword and hook from the ground. After moving the rock aside, they walked through the dark tunnel that led them further and further into the ground.

They emerged from the dark passageway into a hidden nature-made preserve. Nestled at the bottom of a mountain ridge, the area was covered in lush tropical foliage. Tall blades of healthy green grass spanned the ground. Impressively sized vines weaved up the mountain walls on all sides. Large trees towered over the refuge, casting a bright green glow from the sunlight that leaked through the leaves. Water fell down from the mountain above and splashed against an array of rocks into a clear, modest spring. Emma's breath was taken away by the beauty before her.

"Have you any clue where we are?"

Emma motioned at the inviting clear pool of water. "I'll go with my gut and guess it has something to do with mermaids."

He nodded as he kicked off his boots. "At one point in time, yes. Some of the ladies did spend many of their days in these waters; however they couldn't stay in them for long. This area of the forest has a rather rich history. This sanctuary once belonged to the fairies that inhabited this realm. You see the markings along the base of the broken pillar there?" He pointed at a fragment of the ruins. "No mermaid is capable of carving into stone like that. These waters are laced with remnants of the fairies' enchantment. It is capable of healing any wound, no matter the severity."

"So you're going for a swim then."

"We, darling," he youthfully grinned, "you're in need of recovery perhaps even more than I." Hook sauntered over to the edge of the natural pool. "There are few places like this left on the island. Your parents have been taken to ones similar to this."

Emma pushed down her anxiety, "they'll be okay then." It felt more like a question than a statement. She couldn't wipe the image of her dying tortured father from her head. Hook frowned, "No need to fret, Swan. You're parents are in good hands. You will see them again tomorrow in far better shape."

"What happened? How in the hell did you get that magic powder stuff?"

"It didn't occur to me to return to these secluded havens. When you and your parents were taken, matters went out of control. There would be no surviving another attack with just the three of us. The Crocodile demanded that we explore every resource that the island offered. When he finally came across another sanctuary on the other side of the island, he found a way to extract a concentrated dose of powder from the waters." The outline of Hook's jaw tensed. "And I'm sure Pan will be making his preparations tonight. I wouldn't doubt the likelihood of him scouring the island in search for us. The events of today no doubt aroused his fury." He looked up at the coverage that the trees provided for them, "which is why we must stay here for tonight."

She shifted the weight on her feet uncomfortably, "are you sure the others will be safe?"

"Take a seat, Swan." Hook calmly lounged by the water and pulled out a knife out from his sheath. "As long as they stay where they are no harm will come to them. Now if you would be so kind as to give me a hand," he stretched the knife back to her. "I need you to cut it out."

She hesitantly stared at the curved sharp knife before accepting it. "You want me to cut out an arrow from your back."

"You have steady hands." His growing impatience translated into a sharp gaze. "I haven't got all day. I'd like the damned thing out of my back."

"Your funeral," she muttered as she knelt behind him. She approached it at a few different angles before reluctantly plunging the knife into his skin. Hook silently gritted his teeth. "First he stabs you with a knife and now you've been shot with an arrow."

"You best get used to being my nurse, Swan," he grumbled as she pulled the knife back out. "You have quite a talent for it. This won't be the last encounter I have with Pan. The boy takes great pleasure inflicting near fatal wounds almost as much as he enjoys taking objects that don't belong to him. He stole my hook right out from my chamber, captured three of my crew mates, and … the foul little git still has my jacket." Hook grumbled bitterly as he glared at his detached hook in front of him.

She slowly reinserted the knife into his skin, causing him to gasp painfully. "Of all things to worry about, you think about your jacket?"

He bitterly smirked, "Darling you forget who you're talking to. That's just how my relationship with Peter Pan works. He always seems to have something of mine captive." Emma dug the knife deeper into his back, "Bloody hell, woman!"

"Okay, okay sorry... that should do it." She took a deep breath and positioned herself to get a better angle around the arrow. "Now just stay still. On the count of three this arrow is coming out. One, two, three..." Exerting all of her strength, Emma ripped out the arrow with ease. He twitched his head back as he resisted shouting out profanities.

"Alright," Emma's voice softened, "what next?"

"Well you can start by helping me out of this shirt."

She rolled her eyes and grabbed the bottom hem. Carefully, she pulled it up over his bloodied back and head. Her eyes followed the tattoos up his arms to the top of his bare chest. He grinned as he caught her in midstare. "Really darling, if you wanted a proper look all you had to do was ask."

Emma scoffed though couldn't keep her pale cheeks from blushing. Filling the silence between them, she pointed at a smaller tattoo near his shoulder. "I didn't notice that one before. Is it an octopus or a squid?"

"Neither," he leaned his head to the side as he studied her confusion. "It's not a creature you would have come across in your Storybrook."

Emma raised an eyebrow as she began kicking off her shoes. "When did you get it?"

He hadn't thought about that tattoo in ages. "In all honesty, I don't remember. It's the first one I got. I suppose I was just too young to remember," he shrugged. "It's the only keepsake I have of my life before I was on a ship."

Emma gawked at the inked barbaric-looking creature over the top of his bicep as she wiggled out of her worn pants. "I didn't know you could get one that young. What does it mean?"

He loosened his trousers so that they barely hung at his waist, leaving them on for courtesy. He offered his hand out to her, "you don't need to be royal to have a strong lineage, Swan." She didn't quite understand but could tell he didn't want to divulge any further into the subject of his past. Following his steady steps into the water, Emma was careful not to slip on any of the large smooth rocks she walked over. The water was warmer than she anticipated. Hook gave her a reassuring smile, "Shall I count to three, then?"

Emma rolled her eyes and plunged underwater without him. It was crystal clear. She could see the little bubbles that sank to the floor and rose back up from the trickling waterfall. The green rays of light were distorted into an overwhelmingly beautiful glow. The ground was littered with small handmade tools and antique kick-knacks. On the other side of the pool, Emma could make out a narrow underwater tunnel that she guessed led out to the sea. She came back up to breathe. For some reason the air now tasted sweeter. She floated tranquilly on her back, closed her eyes and listened to the songs of the birds perched high in the canopies. This place wasn't touched by Neverland's savageness and brutality; it felt safe. Hook came up for air and whipped his wet hair around like a dog.

"Is something supposed to happen?" Just as Emma spoke, she felt it. The warm sensation overcame her entire body. It felt as if she had overdosed on novacane. Her senses began to dull. The painful throbbing that had been lingering in her head for the past few days seemed to melt away into the water.

Hook couldn't help himself from admiring the way the light hit her body. Her face, cups of her bra, knees and feet protruded out from the surface as the rest of her remained under water. Her long blonde hair, which had become tangled and knotted since their arrival in Neverland. now shined radiantly and flowed out freely along the sides of her shoulders. A dazzling beam of light struck her where she limply floated, accenting every beautiful feature he had yet to see.

He secretly swallowed back his hunger. "You're very impatient, Swan. You know that?" The effect of the water was beginning to take hold over his mentality. Reminiscing back to his earlier years in Neverland, many of his crew mates were lost to the seduction of the mermaids in these waters. He knew to never enter the oasis when the seducing beasts were close by. He never figured that it was the actual oasis casting its lust over his men.

"Coming from the guy who just demanded I yank an arrow out of his back." Her voice was soft and pleasing to his ear. It sounded almost inviting. Something deep within him rumbled like a beast awakening after a long slumber; this kind of yearning hadn't been felt in over three hundred years.

The environment had lulled Emma into utter serenity. She couldn't however resist her urge to bicker with him again. Her eyes were still shut as she felt the small moving ripples along the surface. She listened to the sound of his strokes as he approached her. She smiled blindly as he came back up for air close beside her. "Enjoying the view?"

"Do you doubt my intentions, Princess?" His eyes narrowed, playfully challenging her new-found calmness. He always knew how to talk to her in such a way to rattle her up. He found amusement in pushing her buttons, though this was a different kind of exchange. He was less snide and more playful.

Their relationship was changing, that much she knew. Their separation, the uncertainty of his survival, all of these things assured her of one thing: that she needed him. As he came closer and closer, she felt her walls crumble away just as her pain did. All of her reservations seemed to blur into nothingness as the warm, euphoric sensation continued to take hold in her. The enchantment felt like pure ecstasy. Giving into her growing yearning, Emma wrapped her arms around his neck. One of his arms curved around her lower waist and held her close. Her fingers gently traced his back in search of his wound. What is wrong with you? Get a hold of yourself. She scolded herself in her thoughts, but even her sense of reason was fading. As each second passed by, it seemed more right. Her finger traced the bumps of his spine a little ways down his back before moving up to his shoulders. Emma could feel the muscles of his back relax under her caressing touch. The tips of her fingers rubbed circles around the area where he was shot, but she felt nothing but smooth wet skin. "It's no longer there, love."

"What did you do?"

"Well it's actually quite simple." His finger brushed along the side of her cheek. His voice softened into a gruff whisper, "All you must do is think a happy thought."

Her legs slowly wrapped around his waist as he held on to her tighter. His stormy blue eyes narrowed like a predator preparing to strike. "Happy thoughts," she muttered as her breathing subtly picked up.

"Aye love," his lips brushed against her collarbone and traveled up her neck, "happy thoughts." His mouth explored her neck until finally he reached her lips. As he held her, he felt the strength return to her body. Her legs tightened around his hips; her fingers firmly gripped his wet hair. Hook suddenly whipped them both around and pinned her against a tall rock protruding out from the shore. Their mouths collided against each other as his tongue immediately stretched as far as it could into hers. Her back arched against the rock as her hips rode up against him. The urges within the both of them heightened. She dug her nails into his back with crazed desire for more. It was a hunger that could not be satiated. The further she ventured into his mouth, the crazier it made her.

"I should warn you," he breathed into her mouth between each kiss. "If we linger in this water for too long," his mouth ventured back down to the side of her neck, "it will start to have an effect on us."

Emma smiled as she relished in the practiced movements of his tongue against her skin, "so that's what you call this." She dropped one of her arms from the back of his head and dragged her finger down his back, leaving a trail of chills along his lower waist. Hook recognized the enchantment at it took hold within him. He felt his body begin to react as Emma's hand slid below his waist. His body molded against hers and rocked her back firmly. Before he could think, his fingers had slithered under the thin fabric of her underwear and grasped one of the cheeks of her ass. She whimpered as his fingers masterfully massaged her g-spot. God he wanted her. He needed her. He craved her; all of her. He felt the drive and desire scorch through his fingertips up to his lips. Her fingers hooked around the ties of his trousers, and they were almost off. He didn't want her to stop. He caught a glimpse of her clouded eyes and suddenly realized just how caught up she was in the effects. It was enough for him to falter. "No," she whispered into his mouth, "don't stop."

"Wait," he mumbled, "we can't do this. Not like this." Hook could feel the physical yearning in his body fight back. Emma finally pulled back and looked into his eyes. She recognized the same murkiness in his irises as he did in hers.

"The water," Emma caught her breath. Hook bit his lip frustratingly and nodded. "I'd be damned if I took you in such a state."

"I never thought that out of the two of us, you'd be the one exercising restraint." She lips parted as she breathed. Hook looked down at her inviting mouth and felt the urge to attack. Emma smiled, "I can tell you're going to regret this later." Her eyes were spirited and humored despite the subtle gray shroud.

"I'm already beginning to regret it," he muttered with a half-smile. "I've been to these waters many times before. This is your first time feeling its effects. You'll thank me for this later," he looked back down to her inviting wet lips, "I bloody well hope so at least."

"And here I thought that gentleman card of yours was just a bluff."

He chuckled as he noticed her bruises and swelling begin to heal along her forehead. She brushed back his wet hair and smiled at him, not sure why he was looking at her in that strange way. "What?"

His eyes went somber, "I've spent the last five days believing you were dead."

Emma's fingers weaved deeper into his shaggy hair as she gave him another torturous brushing kiss. It was gentle, though her soft lips left a lingering sensation of yearning in his gut as she pulled away. "Pan hung your hook on my cell and made me stare at it. I know the feeling."

They leaned their foreheads together and caught their breath. "It's almost over," he muttered. Emma's legs were still wound around his waist; his arms held her close. They breathed against each other's faces and wordlessly savored the reality that they were both very much alive and safe in the other's arms.

Emma's gaze softened as she began studying each and every feature on Hook's face; every line, lash and shade of blue in his iris. A small smile twitched up her cheek. She dropped her head against his shoulder as her back began to shake. "Swan," Hook mumbled in astonishment. She shook her head as her arm around his neck tensed up. "Emma." The concern was now evident in his voice. After another minute went by, she pulled away and he realized that she was actually laughing. "What are you on about?"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't…" She continued to laugh as tears fell from her eyes, "I shouldn't be laughing right now. It's just that I've spent the last five days believing that everyone I care about was dead or on their way out." She finally held her gaze. "But none of it was true. Henry is alive. My parents are alive and hopefully in a place at least half as beautiful as this... and you're right here," her thumb traced his lips as she beamed uncontrollably. "My son is alive and I might get to see him again."

Hook grinned as he pulled her back to his lips. "You will, Emma. I swear it." He felt the drive return to his mouth as he continued to suppress the growing desire in his groin. Her fingers dug into his back as she nipped his lower lip. He growled into her mouth as he pressed her firmly against the rock. "I cannot… however… swear to remain a gentleman if we linger in this water for much longer."

He swiftly lifted her out of the water and sat her on the rock above. He pulled himself out with ease. The cool forest breeze chilled his wet body and woke him up from the fogged dream. Their sight and hearing immediately sharpened. Fully snapped out of her haze, Emma hurried over to where her clothes lied in the grass. From where he stood, Killian noticed the blush that overwhelmed her cheeks. She picked up the dirty pile of clothes and studied them for a moment. He figured she was infuriated with him for not warning her about the waters in advance. Perhaps she was embarrassed. Emma frowned at the shirt in her hand and looked back at Hook, who was still sitting on the rock watching her curiously.

She slowly walked back over to him, dropping her clothes back onto the soft grass. His brow arched in confusion as she came closer. Emma had an odd look to her, an expression which seemed all too calm. Her eyes sparkled various shades of green; not a hint of the enchantment remained. She knelt onto her knees to get even with him. Droplets of water dripped onto his legs as she leaned in closer and kissed him. She wedged her body between his legs. Her lips moved at a tauntingly slow pace. Even out of the water, Killian felt his body lament as she pulled away from him. "What was that for, love?"

She playfully smiled, pushed him down on his back and slowly crawled on top of him. Her legs weaved around his and her arms slid under his head. "For being a gentleman," her lips brushed his neck again, "and because I'd rather do this on land anyways."