Second Star to the Right

My very first attempt at a Red Hook pairing, but I think it turned out rather well. This is for Captain Wolf Week on tumblr, and I will probably be adding multiple fanfictions to this story in the form of chapters throughout the week. Remember, reviews make authors extremely happy, and I love to get feedback.

It had been a long time since Red had run her wolf. There was no place to do so on the open ocean. As much as she had feared the wolf, she could control it now. Still, she wouldn't transform anywhere near all the people with whom she now lived. She would keep it within herself, and keep it away from the people who had become her new family.

"Red?" a timid voice asked. She turned away from the edge of the boat, where she had been admiring the full moon above. There stood Smee.

"What can I do for you?" she asked with a slight smile. The crew was always careful around this time. While she didn't shift, Red was always very irritable around the full moon. Every month she got better and better at controlling the anger.

"The captain has requested you," the man said. Red hid her smile behind a short nod. Smee scurried off seconds later to return to the crew.

Red turned back to the sky for a moment. The moon filled the sky with light, blocking the darkness that usually encompassed the ship in the night. She turned again, moving swiftly across the boat and towards the captain's quarters. He was rarely anywhere else except for the helm. Red knocked on the door softly, pulling her cloak around her tightly as a cool breeze blew across the deck.

"Enter," the familiar voice rang from within the room. Red pushed the door open and closed it quickly after entering the room. When the captain saw her, his face spread into an easy smile. "Red," he said softly and stood.

Red moved over to him quickly. She was immediately enveloped in his strong arms. She breathed in his scent of leather and wood and sea salt. He was intoxicating. "How are you feeling this evening, love?" he asked, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Something about this woman allowed him to show a new side of him, one that even Milah never saw. Red had the same taste for adventure, and a will to protect what she cared about. But Red had a habit of not allowing herself to give up on her responsibilities, and the need to viciously protect what she wanted. She was his love.

"I'm a little… off, as always," Red said with a slight sadness. "The darkness has a grip on me, Killian. It always has, and it always will. Whether I change or not, it'll be there."

Killian pulled his love into a passionate kiss, all his feelings for her poured into one kiss. Whenever he kissed her, she lost all her breath. No matter how many times they were together, she never got over the power of their connection. When they parted, Killian pressed his forehead to hers. "Red, you are not dark. Your heart is far from dark, love. We have both found the light again."

Red took his words to heart. They had found the light. Killian, while still haunted, had found his true love. Revenge was still on his mind, but what he was willing to lose for that revenge had changed. He would not risk Red just for the darkness that had plagued his heart for so many years. Red had lost her first love and her mother to the darkness she thought was inside. But she did not will either to die, and she had not killed since she had gained control. Killian had seen her for what she was. Lost. They had both been lost in the darkness, hiding behind it like a shield. But with each other, they had found their solace among the dark.

"I love you, lass. Don't ever doubt that."

"I love you, too," Red cooed softly.

Reaching into one of the pockets of his coat, he pulled out something silver. "I did not call you in here just to speak," Killian said with his signature smirk. "I know you usually have an aversion to silver, but—"

"I only if they're silver arrows, Killian," Red corrected with a smile.

He gave a short laugh at her interruption before he continued. "But, I think that maybe you'll make an exception."

He held up the silver chain with a circular pendant hanging from the center. Set in the silver was a blackened sky. Raised silver came out of the blackness depicting a ship as well as the moon and two stars.

The pendant reminded her of what he had told her once, when she had thought about leaving the Jolly Roger.

Red looked sadly out into the black of the night. The stars seemed to be out that evening, and she felt as though the darkness was pressing around her, like it had on her heart for so long. Killian walked up beside her at the head of the ship, leaning beside her on the side. "What's on your mind, love?" he asked softly.

Red sighed. "The darkness. It feels like emptiness. I think I'm starting to miss home," she said sadly. When she looked at him, she saw her sadness mirrored. She knew that he could not stay in one place for too long. Killian belonged to the sea, but he also belonged to her. If she chose to leave the Jolly Roger, she would be welcomed back, but he would not stay with her if she chose the Enchanted Forest. He had to wander. "I miss home so much, but I don't want to have to miss you, too."

Killian turned towards her and touched her face with his good hand. He drew her cheek over so she looked in his eyes. "Lass, everyone misses home. Whether you have chosen it or not, this ship can always be your home. If you want to go back to Snow and your gran, then that's what it is. Just remember; simply look at the second star to the right, and straight on 'till morning. That's where I'll be, love. And I will always come for you if that's what you wish from me."

A tear streaked down her cheek. "And you'll keep me from the darkness?"

"I always will, my love."

"The second star to the right, and straight on 'till morning," Red mused as she touched the pendant lightly with her fingertips.

"I took the liberty of having it enchanted. Should you choose to leave, just call to me and my matching pendant will glow. I'll know you want me to come for you, and come I shall."

"And you'll keep me from the darkness," she said softly.

"Always."