"Focus!" Regina growls at Emma as she drops her arms and rubs her temples.
"I am!" Emma throws back.
Regina sighs angrily. "Fine. We are taking a break.
From where Killian sat, attempting to carve a piece of wood with is hook, he had watched Emma and the Queen try to transport all day. On her way to the creek behind him, Regina picked up a large cup. The man stood up, ready to approach Emma, when the older woman's movement caught his eye. Regina pulled a small vile out of her coat pocket and emptied it into the cup she had just filled with water. She then turns back to Emma.
"Princess." She deadpans and holds out the cup for Emma to sip from.
"Emma, wait!" Killian tries to stop her, but the cup is already empty.
"What Killian?" Emma gasps for air and turns to him. Her brow was damp from the hot sun, and it was clear she was physically and mentally exhausted, but she refused to give up. Everything about her was beautiful, and the Pirate found himself wishing he could caress her cheek.
He catches himself thinking such insane thoughts, and shakes his head. "Dear, can I talk to you for a moment?"
She sighs and comes to his side. "What is is?"
"I think the Queen put something in your water."
Emma takes in a deep breath, and forces herself to slowly let it out. "I'm done with this Hook. The Queen is not out to hurt me." She pushes her finger into his chest. "I refuse to leave my quest unfinished because you are itching to take me home so you can get back to gallivanting over the whole realm." Her words pack a heavy punch, but Killian is amazed by how strong she has become in short period of time.
"That is not what I wish to do Your Highness." He nods his head towards her, and speaks softly. "I only wish for your safety. I'm sorry I overreacted."
Emma casts her eyes up to the clouds. "I get it Killian." She says quietly, and reaches out to touch his arm as she meets his eyes. A shock runs through his bones. "Thank you for watching out for me. But I'm fine, really." She smiles slightly. "If the Queen did poison me, wouldn't I be dead by now?"
"I guess you're right." Killian ponders the thought.
"Of course I'm right." She rolls her eyes and smirks in mock confidence. The Princess then stands on her toes, hand still wrapped around Killian's forearm, and lightly kisses his cheek. "Now go, I have to practice." She walks away while Killian is momentarily stunned as her lips burn their way through his skin to melt into his heart.
He quickly snaps back to reality when he realizes that the Queen is missing.
Inside her home, he finds Regina leaning over a pot on the fire. She is about to drop something into it when he catches her hand. "What is that lass?"
"Dinner." The Queen's infamous glare's pierces Killian's soul as she snatches her wrist from his grasp.
"What did you put in Emma's drink?"
While still looking down at the pot, the Queen grins. "Oh nothing."
"Regina." He hisses.
"If I told you that the potion I slipped in her drink was going to slowly take her powers away, and give them to me, what would that do?" She turns to him, hand on her hip, and eyebrow raised. "She wouldn't believe you anyhow would she? She hasn't believed you since you met me. Emma is mine." She closes the space between them, and Killian is angered by the fact that she was right. "She is going to trust me no matter what, because I can give her what she wants most. At least in her mind." She adds wickedly.
Killian's eyes widen as a horrible thought enters his mind. "You're going to kill her after you have her power aren't you?"
Regina cackles. "Of course silly pirate." She lightly pats Killian's cheek as if he were a child. "That is the only way to unsure her power stays mine, and that there is no one to stop me when I go get back my kingdom."
"Don't kill her, you don't have to do that." Killian scrambles for a way to justify the Queen keeping Emma alive.
"Oh..." She coos and starts walking around him. "Isn't this adorable. You have feelings for her don't you?"
Killian shakes his head. "Of course not. I've only ever loved one woman..."
"Mila has been gone a long time Hook."
"'Aye she has, but that does not mean I do, or could ever feel that way about another." Even as he says this Killian starts to wonder. There was no denying the Princess beauty, but did he really care for her on a deeper level?
"Of course; that is why you worry so about your well-being. I'll tell you what." She smiles and stops in front of him. "I'll give you one last chance to convince her. If she believes you, you two may leave unharmed and with her powers intact. If not, you will leave, and I will take her powers before she even realizes what I am doing."
He squints his eyes at her. "Why would I make that deal?"
"Because, is in fact she doesn't believe you, like I know she won't, I promise not to kill her. I will, however, curse her and make it impossible to leave this island, but I won't kill her." Regina smiles as if her kindness should convince Killian of her plan.
The man gulps down the lump in his throat as he contemplates the situation. He could still get Emma out of here. He didn't have to make a deal with this witch.
"Ah." Regina holds up her finger smiling every so slightly. "Before you try to come up with some clever way to outsmart me, know that the potion works quickly." She holds out her hand, and a fireball appears. "I could kill you right now."
"Fine." Killian sighs. "I'll take the deal."