Wow, this took a bit longer to get out…sorry about that! I had a hard time figuring out where to go next! Hope the wait was worth it! Don't know when I'll update next, hopefully I'll sneak another one in this week. I have family coming in town for the 4th next week so I'll be too busy to write while they are in town. Enjoy this one for now! Thanks for all the reviews and support! Love you guys!

~Mags

Chapter 11

They rounded the corridor that lead to the stairs, but Emma stopped in her tracks when she saw Snow walking down the stairs. "Mom," she said as she met her at the bottom of the stairs. "When did you get back?"

"Just," she told her as she laid an assuring hand on her shoulder. "We've given your father and Gold the rundown, but basically we couldn't find much that would help us finding Henry."

"You're bleeding," Hook said speaking up to the first time as he walked around Emma attentively examined her arm. "Run into some trouble?"

"A bit," she said as she turned her arm to look at it herself. "A few of the Lost Ones snuck up on us…turns out we weren't the only ones looking for Henry."

"What do you mean?" Emma asked. "They don't have him?"

"It seems that way…they never made it to their camp according to your friend Ariel." She looked over at Hook. "Who's here by the way…flirting shamelessly with my husband."

Hook grinned. "Don't worry," he laughed softly. "She's harmless…she just enjoys a pretty face."

"I'm not worried," she said and let out a laugh of her own. "And surely don't blame her…my husband is quite the hottie."

Emma snorted out a chuckle.

"Anyway…with my arrows and Regina's magic, we eventually ran them off…we headed back here as fast as we could."

Emma gave her a quick hug and frowned when she felt her tremble. "Are you okay?"

"Fine, fine," she said as she stepped back and smiled. "I'm just glad you're okay."

"I'm fine…but you're not…Hook, will you take her back to your cabin and put some rum on her cut…it's deeper than it looks."

He placed a hand on his heart and gave a slight bow. "It would be my honor to tend to her majesty."

Snow wrinkled her nose in annoyance and looked over at Emma who just shrugged. "He can't help himself…just humor him. I'm going to go on up and find out what Ariel found out."

After Emma left, Snow looked back over at Hook who then grinned and held out his arm. "This way, Snow angel."

She let out a small huff as she rolled her eyes, but did as he asked and slipped her arm through his, letting him lead her back around the corner and to his cabin. "So…how did you fair with the bow and arrow, angel? Did you pierce any hearts?"

"Not this time…but I certainly made a few of them have to limp back to camp."

He laughed as he held the door to his cabin open for her. "I'm sure you did…you're an absolute genius with a bow and…whoa."

He quickly held up his hand and hook when Snow had suddenly turned and wrapped her arms around his waist. He stood there outside his cabin stunned to the bone and slightly amused as she gripped him tight and buried her face in his chest. Then amusement turned to sheer horror when he heard a sniffle. "Are you crying? Bloody hell, please don't be crying…I can't handle women's tears…it's my weakness."

"David told me what happened…that she almost took my daughter…that bitch, Ursula…but you saved her."

"Well, I…suppose, but…"

"You saved her," she repeated and choked out another sob.

The sound practically ripped at his heart. "Come now, angel." He awkwardly patted her head. "Stop crying…you're truly killing me."

"I wanted to break down when I saw her, but I wanted to be strong for her." She finally pulled away as she wiped at her tears. "And if I broke down in front of David he'd coax and feel obligated to take care of me and I just couldn't bear it." She looked up at him and smiled softly. "So you were my only choice."

"Well, don't make a habit out of it, I beg you." He shifted uncomfortably as continued to look at her warily…as if she was going to explode at any moment. "I don't mind a woman clinging to me…but a blubbering woman? I'd rather stick ten thousand hot needles in my eye."

"That's nice to know about you, Hook," she said and then smiled. "I feel better now…and I don't see anymore breakdowns for awhile now. You're better at coaxing women's tears than you think."

"It was horrible," he blurted causing her to laugh again. "But I'm glad your better…let's go take care of that cut, your majesty."

She stepped aside and snapped her finger. "Lead the way my royal subject."

Hook gave her a sneer as he walked by. "Very cute."

She gave a little shrug as she followed him. "I thought so."

XXXX

Emma took two stairs at a time and when she made it to the deck she saw Ariel sitting on the edge of the ship leaning flirtatiously towards her father but then she turned and met her eyes. "Well, hey there, Blondie!"

"Ariel…glad to see you found us."

"Uh-huh…it was really difficult finding the insanely large pirate ship in Pirate's Cove."

Emma and David shared a quick amused look.

Ariel scooted closer to her. "You're dad is hot," she whispered to her and then turned back to David to give him a little wave. "See how cute he is when the tip of his ears turn pink when he's embarrassed?"

"Ariel."

"Yeah?"

"Do you think it's possible to move on from talking about how cute my dad is and you telling me what you've learned from the camp?"

"Sure thing, Blondie…although I already told cutie and….creepy guy over there everything."

"I can hear you, you know," Gold said.

Ariel turned around and gave him a sarcastic smile. "Yay, you're not deaf…you must be so thrilled." She then rolled her eyes and turned back to Emma. "Anyway…the Lost Ones were in the middle of a panic when I arrived at the spring…Henry should have been delivered to them by now and he's nowhere to be seen…something must have happened to them so they sent out a search party with instructions to bring him back alive. I don't think they care really what happens to the other two…Greg and Tamara…but I distinctly heard one of the leaders…Felix I believe…telling the search party to take Henry alive."

Emma looked over at David. "We have to find him before they do."

David nodded. "Agreed…we've talked it over with Snow and Regina…we think it would be best if we all went to shore and split up to cover more ground. Ariel has agreed to stay close to the ship and guard it if she needs to."

Ariel gave them both a quick salute. "Reporting for duty…I'm actually about to dry up like an old prune so I'm going back in…see you around, cutie."

Emma gave David a teasing look after she dove in. "I don't think I've ever seen you this flustered before…even over Mary Margaret."

He gave her a pleading look. "Give me a break, Emma…it was the first time a mermaid was flirting with me…it was all sorts of uncomfortable."

Emma just grinned. "I like her, though."

"Yeah…she seems…nice? I don't think that's the right word to describe her, but…I like her, too…where's Hook and Snow?"

"They'll be back up soon…I asked him to tend to mom's cut on her arm." She looked over at Gold. "I also think her and Regina need some of that magical tea."

"Way ahead of you…And I take it since you're not tearing my eyes out that it worked?"

"Yes, it worked fine…Hook and I weren't too happy with you when the potion first took effect, but we woke up feeling refreshed and like we slept for hours." She then remembered what happened after they woke up…the way his lips felt against hers…his warm hand cupping her face.

"Are you okay?"

She jumped slightly and turned to David. "What? Huh?"

"You sort of spaced out…and you look all flushed."

"I'm fine…sorry…um…where's Regina?"

"Down below fast asleep I'm guessing," David told her. "It took some convincing but we finally got her to agree to take the tea…your mom said she'd take it once she saw you."

Gold stepped forward and handed David a cup of tea that wasn't in his hands two seconds ago and then David handed it to Emma. "Why don't you go give this to her now and save her the trip? Then you and Hook can take one of the boats to shore and the rest of us will follow when Snow and Regina wake up."

"There's no need."

They turned towards the voice to see Snow walking towards them with Hook close behind. "I'll take the tea now."

"Best to wait till your close to a bed," Hook advised her. "It hits you pretty fast."

"How's the cut?" David asked as he went over to her and ran his fingers over her bare arm.

"It's fine…stings a little."

"The tea will help with that," Gold said.

"He's right," Hook said as he lifted a hand to his head. "Had a pretty nasty gash here and now it's practically gone."

"Although the tea was never for you," Gold pointed out.

Hook glanced over at him. "Yes, but it just looked too delicious to turn down."

Emma stepped between them and faced Hook. "We need to get to shore…the Lost Ones haven't found Henry yet…I intend on finding him first."

"Then we will," he said as he gave her a nod and then turned to David. "Emma and I will keep to the west of the island in hopes of cutting them off…you and Gold venture out towards the heart of the island and, Snow? You and queenie stick to the outskirts…close to shore …Henry's a tough lad so there's a chance he might have gotten away and if he's smart he'll head to shore." He took a moment to glance around at everyone. "Any questions?"

"Anything we should keep our eye out for?" Gold asked.

"Aye…anything or anyone that moves." He glanced over at Emma. "Let's load up on some more weapons and get going."