Emma awoke, curled in a ball on the side of the ship's deck. A blanket lay across her body. She pushed her curls out of her face, and searched the boat for Killian. She saw him standing over something on the top deck; throwing the blanket aside, she started up towards him. The sun was hot overhead, but the breeze helped to quickly cool her body.
"Good morning Sleepy Beauty." Hook acknowledges her without moving.
"Sorry, wrong Princess Captain." Emma stands beside him, and takes a look at his map. "Are we close?"
"Well love, I do need to make a stop first. But once we are finished there, the Queen's cabin should only be a days trip away." He turns to her with a smile while he rolls up the map, but Emma raises a skeptical eyebrow.
"What do you mean we need to make a stop?" Emma reaches for the map, but he holds it out of her reach.
"Just a quick stop deary. For supplies." He grins once more and starts down the stairs.
"We have plenty of supplies Killian; I loaded the ship before we left."
The pirates stopped dead in his tracks, and looked around. "Wow, you really did think of everything." She jumps down the stairs to meet him face to face.
"Now will you tell me where we are going, or do I need to steal that map of yours?" Emma places her hands on her hips, and watches the amusement on the man's face.
"I have an old friend I would like to see. Is that alright Your Majesty?" The snarkiness in his tone alludes to his lie, but Emma ignores it, not quite sure she wants to know the truth.
She didn't have much time to contemplate it anyhow, as she noticed a sudden darkness rolling in. The Princess looked up at the sky to see dark storm clouds quickly covering the sky. "Hook?" She tugs on the man's jacket.
"Yes madam?" He turns, and instantly looks up at the sky. His face registers panic. "You didn't happen to plan for a sea storm did you?"
Emma is stunned at the speed of the storm, and the size of the waves suddenly crashing against the side of the ship. She just shakes her head as the rain starts to soak them both.
"Come on dear, we need to get you below deck." Killian reaches for her hand.
"No, I'm going to stay up here and help you."
"There is nothing we can do Emma." He speaks her name as a plea as the boat is tossed by the raging sea.
"There has to be something Killian." The Princess looks at the man searching for answers. When she didn't receive what she desired, she ran around the ships deck looking for something, anything to help protect them.
Just then, the ship is hit with a wave that tosses water onto the deck, and tips the boat. Emma loses her balance, and slips towards the lower side of the ship.
"Emma!" Killian yells and runs towards her. He catches her hand as the ship is hit from the other side and the duo slides together to the other side. Emma clasps her arms around the man, and presses her head into his chest as they remain subject to the storm's urges. "Over here." Hook whispers in her ear as he holds her tightly against him. He motions to his quarters of the ship. As the storm rages, they make the slow trek to the room, hand in hand. Emma falls to the floor once they are out of the rain as Killain slams the door shut. He falls against it and the two stare at each other for a moment.
"What happened?" Emma asked exasperated.
Killian looked towards the window. The room was destroyed, everything was still being tossed about. "I wonder if your parents informed Poseidon of our escape."
Emma turns to the Pirate, her brown eyes wide. "You think my parents asked Poseidon to shipwreck us?"
"No love." He nods towards the windows, and she follows his gaze. "The waves aren't bad enough to flip the ship, but just enough to frighten us. We are going to be fine." He grins mischeviously as the ships leans to the side again, and he holds his hands against the small entry way. Emma, however, struggles to keep her seat against the wall. "Come sit beside me love, that way you won't get tossed around so much."
Hook moves to the side, and reveals the Emma-shaped space beside him. She looks skeptically for a moment until she starts sliding away from him once more. She reaches out her hand, and he pulls her close. She pushes her wet locks out of her hair as she settles in next to him. His arm rests around her shoulders, holding her in place.
"Thank you Killian." Emma whispers after a few moments of silence. "Not just for saving me just now, but bringing me in the first place."
"You're welcome dear." He says softly as he looks down at her. "Now, can I ask something?"
"Of course." She looks down at her hands, and it leads to her gazing at he hook where his left hand should be.
"Okay, stop staring at the hook love, you already know how that got there." He chuckles, but Emma senses the pain in his voice. She looks up into his eyes, and is embarrassed at their closeness, but the doorway didn't allow for much space. "Why exactly do you want to see the Evil Queen?"
Emma sighs and leans her head against the door. "I'm going to take over the kingdom someday Killian."
The pirate nods. "I figured as much my dear." He smiles.
"Well, I just find it hard to believe that I was born with these powers by accident. It had to be for a reason, right?" Her eyes show the uncertainty her heart felt. "I just want to learn how to handle them better, and develop them more before I "settle down." She quotes the phrase, and makes a disgusted face. "I want to help people when I'm Queen. I don't just want to send other people to do it." She twists her hands together once more. Killian pulls his hand out from behind her back, and places it over hers.
"I think that is very noble." Emma meets his eyes once more, and she feels a slight tingle down to her toes. "You are one of the bravest women I've ever met."
Emma laughs nervously and shakes her head. "I'm not brave. I've never done anything Killian. I've been in that castle my whole life. I know my parents love me, but I feel like I've been missing something in my life, something they couldn't give me."
"And you believe magic is what your missing?" He raises an eyebrow in speculation.
"I believe magic is the key. The key to helping others. You know of the Queen of Arendelle, Elsa? She uses her powers to make the kingdom more prosperous and protected form adversaries. I want to be able to protect my kingdom like that."
Hook just smiles at her.
Emma swallows her butterflies, and turns away from the tension. She glances outside, and suddenly jumps up. "Look Killian! The storm is lifting."
The man stands and opens the door for the girl to run out into the sunshine.
While she checks on the supplies, he pulls out the map and his compass. "Even with the storm, we aren't that far off course Princess. We are close to where I need to make my stop." He exclaims at Emma.
"Hook look!" Emma points off the side of the ship, at a castle on the side of a cliff.
"Amazing! The storm got us here faster than I thought." Hook smiles and starts rolling up the sails.
"Where is here Killian?" The Princess raises her eyebrow and looks up at the castle.
Killian just looks at her mysteriously.
He directs the boat into the dock.
"Killian..." Emma's voice raises as fear settles over her.
"Stay here love, I'll bring you back a souvenir." He grins and exits the Jolly Roger.
"Killian no!" Emma exclaims, and follows after him. "Get back here before he does worse than cut off your hand!" Anxiety leaks out in her cries.
"I'd like to see him try!" Killian cackles back.