Chapter 5: Drink of the Gods

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on there." Emma said as she rushed towards Hook, who was walking rapidly down the docks. "You can't just go out there!"

"And why not?" Hook stopped and turned around.

"Because people will see you!"

"Don't worry, I won't bite." He promised.

"Funny." Emma quipped. "But, no. I'm serious. Think about it. Storybrooke is no ordinary town. It's a town full of fairytale characters. Where everybody knows each other. What do you think's gonna happen when you just show up?"

"Good point." He nodded.

Emma was momentarily taken aback. She hadn't expected that he'd agree.

"So what do you suggest we do?"

"I know." Emma said. "How about you lead me to wherever the hell you're hiding and tell me exactly what you're up to before I arrest you and leave you to rot in jail."

"Mmm, sorry love. Not happening." He shrugged. "Besides, you can't throw me in jail."

"Why not?" Emma asked. "I'm sheriff."

"Maybe, but if you put me in your jail, people will see. I'll put up a fight, and a pretty good one. And that's not what you want, now is it Swan?"

Emma blinked angrily. "And how do you know I won't just take my chances and dump your sorry ass in the middle of the road?

"I highly doubt that." Hook said. "Like you said, you're the sheriff. You'll be the one who will have to deal with everyone if they find out about me. Maybe I'll even tell them you brought me here. Who knows? And I have a feeling they won't be very understanding." He pointed out.

"Are you threatening me?"

"Not sure. Either way, are you willing to take that chance?"

Emma glared silently.

"I didn't think so. Looks like you're stuck with me." He grinned. "Don't worry, love. I don't bite." He repeated.

Emma sighed heavily. "So you're saying that I have to help you with God knows what evil plan you have in mind, otherwise you'll ruin my life?"

Hook nodded. "Yes, love. That's exactly what I'm saying." He started walking towards the road again. "Now how about that coffee?"

"What's this?" Hook reached over to the dashboard, only to have his hand slapped away.

"Don't touch that." Emma snapped.

"What?" He asked. "What's this?" His hand snaked towards the gear shift.

"Don't touch that either." Emma muttered.

He ignored her. "How about this?"

"Don't touch that." She repeated.

Suddenly, bass boomed, filling the car with loud music. Emma yelped in surprise, the car swerving violently."HOOK!" She shouted. "Are you trying to get us killed?!"

"Sorry." He muttered.

"You should be." Emma responded automatically, sneaking a look at him out of the corner of her eye. Seeing his wounded puppy expression, she softened. "Look, I'll tell you everything there is to know about cars. Just not while I'm driving, okay?"

"Deal." Hook agreed. "I don't know how you travel in this thing." He said, looking out the window. "It's going so fast."

"Must be pretty different from a boat, huh?"

"Much." Hook agreed. "My ship is gentle. She doesn't feel the need to travel at this high speed."

Suddenly, Emma noticed how tightly he was gripping the seat, and how his eyes kept darting from side to side, continually looking out the window and at the scenery speeding by outside. "Oh my God. Are you scared?" She raised an eyebrow.

"No." Hook said immediately. "I'm a pirate. I'm not scared of anything."

"You're scared!" She said.

"I'm not." He insisted.

"You know, it's ok to admit you're scared."

"Well, I'm not." Hook said stubbornly.

"Then why don't you let go of the seat?" She teased. "Relax, Hook. We're not gonna die."

"Easy for you to say." He muttered.

"Made it safely!" Emma said triumphantly as she expertly pulled the car into the lot. "Told you."

"I'll be happy once this death trap stops moving."

"Death trap?" Emma pressed her hand to her chest. "I find that quite offensive."

"Say what you want." Hook said as he pulled the door open. "I'm never riding in this thing again."

"Suit yourself." Emma responded. "You can just walk."

"Where are we?" Hook said as he looked around the empty parking lot. There was a small, ramshackle structure before them.

"Pixie Bean Café." Emma said as she slammed the door. "One of the emptiest places you'll find in Storybrooke. Probably because it's in the middle of nowhere. I come here whenever I need some quiet. Coffee's not as good as Granny's, but oh well. Can't risk taking you there."

Hook followed Emma inside the small building, and just as Emma had described, there was no one, save for a sleepy looking barista and a man typing furiously on his laptop by the window. There were three narrow tables and mismatched chairs shoved up against the wall, but other than that there was no furniture.

"How…quaint." Hook said as he surveyed the place.

"I know." Emma agreed. "Not the best, but it'll do."

As they approached the counter, the man with his laptop stared at them curiously, doing a double take when he noticed the hook on Hook's left arm.

"Keep moving." Emma hissed as she pushed him towards the counter. "And keep that thing hidden!"

"What, this?" Hook said as he held up his left arm. The hook caught the sunlight outside, glinting in the otherwise dark café.

"Yes!" Emma whispered as she shoved it back down and pushed him behind her. She shot the laptop man a tight lipped smile. "Early Halloween costume fitting."

"What?" Hook asked, but Emma shot him a look that would send most men into hiding. She stepped up to the counter and ordered two coffees. Luckily, they came relatively quickly, and in no time Emma shoved Hook out the door.

"God, that was embarrassing." Emma sank against the car. She turned to Hook. "You could've ruined everything!"

"Me?" Hook pointed to himself.

"Yes." Emma said through gritted teeth. "Did you see the way he looked at you?"

"Oh, relax." Hook said as he took a swig of the coffee. "He was just jealous. Not everyone can pull off a hook as well as I can." He said, striking a pose that Emma found admittedly sexy.

Then, upon realizing what she'd just thought, her cheeks flamed. "Sure. I'm sure he was." She turned away, hoping he didn't see her burning face. "So what do you think?" She asked, gesturing at the cup of coffee in his hand. "Good?"

He took another sip, savoring it slowly. "Yes, quite." Hook said thoughtfully. "Slightly bitter, yet very tasty."

"I told you." She grinned. "Drink of the gods."

"Yes, I do believe it is." Hook agreed.

Just then, the door chimed as the man with the laptop strode outside. Much to Emma's horror, he approached them.

"Excuse me?" He said. "Sorry to bother you, but do you know where I can get an outfit like that?" He gestured to Hook.

"What?" Emma gaped.

"You know, the outfit. The jacket and the hook. It's a great pirate outfit. Been looking for one this real for ages."

"Uh…well…." Emma stuttered.

Seeing that Emma was at a temporary loss of words, Hook jumped in. "Sorry mate. It's one of a kind. Just like me."

"Oh. Well that's too bad." The man looked at him strangely. "Thanks." He walked off towards his car, a stunned Emma and Hook staring after him.

Their eyes met and suddenly both burst into loud laughter, their bodies wracked giggles.

"Oh my God. It's one of a kind?" Emma wheezed. "That was….brilliant."

Hook grinned. "I am, aren't I?"

"And you had to add the 'just like me'?" She shook her head with disbelief. "Way to not draw attention to yourself."

"What can I say?" He said. "I was just telling the truth."

"I guess you were." Emma surprised herself by saying. "You're one of a kind, alright."

Their eyes met again. Hook slowly took another sip of coffee, his eyes never leaving hers. For a moment, his eyes landed on her lips, and Emma had the strangest feeling that he was about to kiss her. And even stranger, for a moment, she actually wanted him to.

"Um…" Emma turned away, clearing her throat. "It's probably not a good idea if we just stand here." She reached into her pocket for her keys and unlocked the door. "Come on."

"You know, we can't keep doing this. Hiding out in the forest." Emma said as she drained the last of her coffee. "We gotta get you some new clothes."

They were in the forest, a place that Emma thought was mostly secluded. True, there were many hikers, but now that it was getting colder, she figured that it was safe enough to bring Hook.

"Why?" Hook looked down at his all leather garb. "I'll have you know, plenty of women found me attractive in this."

She rolled her eyes. "Not the point here."

"Oh, so you're admitting that you find me attractive." Hook licked his lips slowly. "I knew it was only a matter of time, Swan. I knew you found me irresistible"

"In your dreams." Emma said dryly. "No, you need to blend in. You like someone straight out of a bad movie."

"A what?"

"Never mind." She brushed the question away. "I mean, did you see the way those kids looked at you earlier? Not to mention that man at the coffee place. Tell you what. Tomorrow's my day off. I'll take you shopping then."

"'What's shopping?" He wrinkled his nose at the very word.

"You'll see." Emma said. She mentally giggled at what she imagined would be Hook's reaction tomorrow.

Every part of her knew that this was probably a bad idea, that she should just arrest him before she was in over her head. She had probable cause anyway, due to their…history. Never mind that that history was in another land.

Shopping? Really, Emma. SHOPPING? A voice inside screamed. Are you insane? He's a pirate! Spending more time with him is a bad idea!

But there was this small niggling part that was stopping her from doing so, telling her that maybe he wasn't as bad as he seemed.

It'd probably be a better idea to watch him and see what he's up to first. Emma told herself. That way I won't make a mistake again.

Besides, how was she supposed to keep an eye on him if she didn't spend time with him?

Author's note: Emma and Hook shopping. That should be interesting!