Author's note: Who else is dying without new Once episodes? Hopefully this ch makes things a little better.
For those of you asking about why Ava doesn't recognize Emma, just go with the excuse that she was too little and isn't that great with recognizing faces. But do notice that she is clearly drawn to Emma, so she does feel a connection with her even though she doesn't know who she is. I know it's a thin excuse but I completely overlooked this plot hole when I was planning the story out.
And Emma will get her memory back. All in due time, but I have to build up to the big, dramatic moment. So just hang out and enjoy where the story's going but i PROMISE she will get her memory back. Soon.
Chapter 19
Hook could barely believe how well this was going. In a mere week he'd made significant inroads with Emma. It was hard enough the first time (how many times did they have to get hurt and nearly die before realizing their feelings for each other) but now? Much easier than expected.
She'd bonded fairly quickly with Ava, something he hadn't foreseen. He hadn't known how much she liked kids but she seemed to have taken a liking to the little girl. Emma's mere presence was working wonders with Ava, who seemed much happier than she'd been in ages.
Except now there was the problem of him. He hadn't dared to turn on his full charm yet, afraid that it would scare her off. She'd told him quite a bit about her past and from what he knew his dashing personality wouldn't be enough to win her over (again). No, he had to get to know her. All over again. Get her to see their connection.
Emma and Ava had gotten to know each other and now it was his turn.
"So how's everything going?" Mary Margaret asked as Hook trudged through the door to their apartment, arms full of Ava's things.
"Good." He grunted as he set the quite heavy bags down. Just how many clothes had they bought? "Better than I'd expected. Ava's been talking nonstop about Emma."
As if on cue, Ava came bounding into the apartment. "Hi Gwandma! Hi Gwandpa!"
"Ava!" David immediately swooped her up and swung her into the air. "We missed you."
"Missed ya too." She replied, giggling as she was set down onto the ground.
"How was Boston?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Fun. I go shopping and have ice cweam and gwilled cheese."
"Yeah? That does sound fun." Her grandmother replied. "Wish I could've come with. What else did you do?"
"I have new friend."
"You do?" David asked although of course he already knew the answer.
Ava nodded, her messy hair swinging in the air. "Yeah. Emma."
"What's Emma like?" Mary Margaret sat the little girl at the kitchen table and immediately placed a plate full of cookies before her. Though she was far, age-wise, from being a grandmother, around Henry and Ava she acted like the typical grandma, immediately feeding her grandchildren every time they visited.
"She's nice." Ava said excitedly as she reached for a cookie. "Bought me ice cream." It was obvious that like Emma, food was always at the forefront of her mind.
Mary Margaret sat across the table from Ava. "So you like this Emma, don't you?"
"Yeah." Ava said through a mouthful of cookie. "Made gwilled cheese for me and Daddy."
Mary Margaret laughed. "Grilled cheese, huh? Well then no wonder you like her."
"So if everything's going so well why are you back?" David asked as he helped Hook carry in the rest of their stuff. "Not that I'm not happy to see Ava, but…"
"Just Ava?" Hook joked. "And here I thought we were becoming friends, mate. I'm offended."
"What can I say?" David fired back. "Little Ava's just irresistible. She's got nothing on you."
"Hey, she gets my looks from me." Hook argued. "And charm too, of course."
"Nope they're from me." David insisted. "Because she's a Charming."
"Can't argue with that." Hook laughed as he shut the door. "Everything's going well, yes, but I don't think it's a good idea to continue living in that hotel. Ava needs a real home. I figured I'd drop her off here for some time while I find an apartment or something."
"So you're really moving? I thought it was just temporary."
"At first that was my intention but now that Ava has taken such a liking to Emma...I can see that just being with Emma has been good for her. And for Emma as well. They need to spend more time together."
David nodded. "Agreed. What about you? Has she…" He trailed off, looking at Hook expectantly.
He shook his head. "Nope. But everything in time."
"Just be careful. It's my daughter we're talking about here. If anything happens…" David said seriously.
Hook nodded. "I know, mate. You've given me this warning about thirty times over."
"And yet not nearly enough."
"So what's the plan?" Mary Margaret asked. "How long are you going to be gone for?"
Hook shrugged. "As long as it takes to procure an apartment. And for Emma to succumb to my charm."
She rolled her eyes. "Alright. Well of course we'll look after Ava until then. Good luck with Emma."
"Aye. I'll need it. She was a tough nut to crack the first time and it has not proven to be any easier." Hook agreed.
Tough nut to crack, indeed. Without Ava as a buffer, he had no idea what to do. What he wanted was to take her out for a night on his ship, but since she didn't know the truth about who he was the Jolly Roger would be too much.
Hook walked down the street, a cup of coffee in hand. This was one of the inventions of the Land Without Magic that he couldn't imagine living without anymore. He'd become quite accustomed to the bitter taste and the rush of energy that followed.
He supposed that he could call David again and ask for ideas, but something inside refused to do so. It was a matter of pride, he figured. He'd always had an easy time with women and it would be humiliating to ask for help once more.
Except what was he to do? Picnic? Nah, been there done that. Out for dinner? Boring. A movie? Hook still hadn't fully grasped the concept of the magic moving box and its pictures and the last thing he needed was Emma catching on that he wasn't from this land. Apparently everybody here was familiar with the TV.
Just then, he spotted something peculiar out of the corner of his eye. A youngish looking couple coasted by hand in hand, laughing hysterically. How were they traveling so fast? The woman wobbled but miraculously managed to stay on her feet as they zoomed by.
Upon closer inspection they appeared to be wearing some sort of weird contraption with wheels strapped to their feet. Perhaps it was those devices that was allowing them to move at such a rapid speed. Hook blinked at this barbaric way of traveling. This land was so weird.
But then he saw more and more people doing it, wearing the same contraptions, laughing all the way. It seemed quite normal. Something fun, too.
Hook smiled triumphantly to himself; looks like he'd found the perfect activity.
"Rollerblades?" Emma laughed as she opened the door only to be greeted by a pair of the wheeled shoes. "You want to go rollerblading?"
Killian shrugged adorably. "Why not? It's a perfectly lovely day outside, not fit for being cooped up. Might as well give it a try."
She pursed her lips. "Didn't I say that I had plans?"
"Actually, darling, you said no such thing. You said and I quote, 'we'll see'. And as far as I can see, you have no plans and therefore no reasonable objection for not spending the day using these bloody contraptions with me."
"You're really persistent, aren't you?"
"Aye, that I am. So what do you say, love?" He held up the rollerblades. "Want to give it a try?"
~For the Love of Swan~
"I haven't been rollerblading in ages." Emma fastened the rollerblades onto her feet. "Since I was a kid, at least."
"Well, I guarantee you'll be better than me." Hook replied as he subtly watched her out of the corner of his eyes, trying to mimic her actions. How the bloody hell did you fasten these things, anyway?
"We'll see." Emma replied, standing up. She wobbled for a second, reaching out to grip the park bench to steady herself. "Wow. I've forgotten what they feel like."
He managed to secure his and stood up, immediately regretting it as his feet flew out from under him and he landed smack on his ass.
"You weren't kidding, were you?" Emma looked down at him, an amused expression on her face.
"Nope." He said, struggling to stand up again. She reached out to grip his arm and managed to get him seated on the bench again.
"But you know what they say." He grinned. "You try something new everyday."
"Aren't you adventurous." Emma quipped.
"Aye. That I am." Hook responded. "I do love a good challenge." As soon as the sentence left his lips he was struck by a deep sense of deja vu, immediately taken back to that day climbing the beanstalk.
It seemed as though his words had an effect on Emma as well; a thoughtful look crossed her face as she became visibly troubled.
"What's the matter?" He asked, crossing his fingers surreptitiously. Maybe she'd remembered something. Or was that too much to hope for.
"Nothing." She said softly. "Just thought of the strangest thing."
"Do tell."
She snickered to herself. "I just had a vision of myself climbing a beanstalk. How weird is that?"
Hook felt as though he'd been struck, the wind knocked out of his lungs. She was remembering. "Odd." He forced a laugh while trying to stop a large, silly grin from spreading.
"Yeah. Anyway," Emma began. "Let's see just how terrible you are on these." With a mischievous grin she coasted off.
"Swan!" Hook called as he flailed violently, cursing under his breath.
"Can't keep up?" Emma teased, casting a look over her shoulder.
"What does it look like?"
She skated gracefully back to him. "Poor sucker." She said, gripping his arm. "Here. I'll help you."
"I thought you said you hadn't used these bloody things in years." He said as he inched along the path.
"I haven't. Guess I'm just that good."
"Aye." He agreed. "And rather self centered too, I see."
In response, she let go of his arm, causing him to lose the little bit of balance he'd had and he instantly began wobbling around like an idiot.
"Oops." She grinned. "My bad." She stood over him, arms crossed, looking down in amusement.
"Oh, I see. You having a laugh at my expense."
"I guess I am." She laughed loudly. "Do you even know how ridiculous you look right now? Ready to admit that you need a self centered person's help?"
"Never." He reached out and shoved her shoulders. Emma's eyes widened as she fought to keep her balance, but ultimately failed, falling backwards into the grass, her mouth a wide O of surprise.
"You suck! Real mature." She cried as she hit the ground.
"Why thank you." He grinned saucily, but his moment of triumph was short lived; with a wry grin she reached out and grabbed his legs, causing his feet to slip out from under him. Suddenly her face was rushing up to meet his as he fell, finding himself lying crooked over her side, face to the ground. They both tried to extricate themselves, but instead got hopelessly and quite awkwardly entangled.
"You're really clumsy, aren't you?" Emma said. Her heart started to pound. His cheek was inches from hers, a strand of grass tangled around a lock of hair, and she had the strongest urge to reach out and tug it free.
He turned to face her. "I take offense at that!" He protested. "In fact, before these bloody contraptions I have never fallen before. I am quite graceful."
"Somehow I don't believe it."
"Well you should. Perhaps I did this on purpose."
"And why's that?"
"So I could do this." He leaned in to kiss her softly, gently, sweetly. At first she was stiff and hesitant, but slowly started to respond. A note of triumph filled his chest as she kissed back. It felt so familiar and comforting, yet new and exciting all the same. All thoughts flew out of his mind. It was just Emma and the warm breeze and the crisp scent of the grass around them.
"Ahem." An amused voice said in the background.
Hook and Emma immediately sprang apart. She tried to scramble up but slipped on her skates and fell right back down. Standing not too far away were two teenagers who appeared to be on a date just like they were.
"Maybe you should get a room." The girl suggested. "Not that I'm all for, you know," She shot a look at her mortified looking boyfriend. "But there are kids here."
"I agree." Hook interjected. "About the room part." He clarified. "What do you say, love?"
The girl rolled her eyes. "Have fun with this one." She said to Emma as she grabbed her boyfriend's hand and skated away.
"God." Emma pressed the backs of her hands against her eyes. "Being told off by a teenager. That's embarrassing." She hoisted herself up and reached a hand down to help him.
"But well worth it." He raised a suggestive eyebrow.
She smiled uncharacteristically shyly. "And a one time thing." She added firmly.
Hook chuckled. That was what you said last time. "I'm sure it was. Hey. I think I think we've had enough of these today." He commented. "What do you say to some ice cream?
"Oh yeah, definitely."
They started skating away back towards the bench; Emma noticed that her hand was still gripping his. And she had no intention of letting go.
Author note: I told you you'd like it :)