Author's note: Thanks y'all for all the lovely reviews! This ch is much like the ep Manhattan, except with a twist of course.

Chapter 13: Had to Stop

Emma glanced out the window at the foliage passing rapidly by outside. She drummed her fingers along the side of the window and tapped her feet repeatedly, unable to sit still. His face was burned into her mind. The hurt expression on his face as she'd slammed the door to his apartment.

Now that she'd calmed down a bit, she didn't know why she'd reacted like that. It wasn't like they'd slept together or anything; once she'd come to her senses that had been fairly obvious. But that didn't change the fact that he'd taken advantage of her.

This sent a wave of anger through her again. How dare him! After everything she'd done for him: taking him shopping, finding him an apartment, and above all: keeping his sorry ass out of jail. Son of a bitch. If she was being completely honest, she'd actually enjoyed spending time with the charismatic pirate. There was something infectiously funny about him. But that was probably just part of his game, putting up an act and pretending that he was actually interested, just to get women into bed.

Above all, she was mad at herself. After everything that had happened with (she still had trouble saying his name, even in her head) him, she'd vowed to never let anyone get close again, that it was better to always keep people (especially men) at an arm's length, for she knew that she'd always get hurt.

But not anymore. Now, she knew his true colors. The next time she saw him, she was throwing him in jail. He'd managed to fool her into thinking that he was actually different, that he was a good friend.

Friend. Captain Hook was no friend. He was a dirty pirate. Nothing more.

Emma didn't know what hurt more: the fact that she'd just been a pawn in one of his women conquest games, or that she'd fallen for him.

After an exhausting flight in which a group of screaming kids had made everyone grumpy, Emma, Gold, and Henry stumbled out of a cab, in front of a ramshackle apartment building.

"Let me guess." Emma quipped as she straightened her jacket. "He's not expecting you." Looking over at Gold, who suddenly seemed very apprehensive, she strode forward. "Well, who doesn't love a surprise?"

They entered the building and approached the buzzer. "There. That one." She pointed out, pressing the buzzer. Just then, they heard a loud crash from overhead. "He's running." Emma realized.

"That favor you owe me." Gold said. "Get him to talk to me. I can't run." He gestured to his cane.

Emma nodded and with that, took after the hooded figure. He was a fast runner, but no match for her; after all, she had lots of practice running after people. This was no different. As she sprinted down the crowded sidewalk, nearly shoving people aside, she was hit with a flash of déjà vu so strong she nearly fell over. This was just like running after Hook several weeks ago.

No. Stop. Enough. She resolved to not think about that anymore. If there was one good thing about this trip, it was that it got her out of Storybrooke and away from him for a while. Even if she was with Storybrooke's creepiest resident.

Spying an open alley, she darted through it and launched herself straight at the hooded man. Both tumbled to the ground, groaning.

She pushed herself up on her side. And then got the worst shock of her life.

"Neal?"

They'd decided that it would be for the best if they split ways. Neither of them wanted to see anymore of the other. Normally, Emma was one to honor her agreements, but in this case it was impossible.

She headed back to his apartment building, a deep numbness spreading inside, a feeling she hadn't experienced for 11 years. Fighting to keep her face neutral, she pushed the door open.

"Sorry. He got away." She lied smoothly, unable to meet Gold's eye.

In response, Gold began to punch all of the apartment buzzers, until the gate opened. She stared in horror as he limped towards his apartment, Henry trotting along cheerfully.

"There are things called laws." She said as he started fiddling with the lock. What if they got inside? What if he showed up?

"Then I'll see him in court." Gold responded. With a final jiggle, the door popped open and they headed inside, Emma following, dread building up.

She took in the contents of the apartment, a fresh wave of nostalgia hitting her so hard she had to blink back tears. The overwhelming smell of the place caused memories to surface, memories that she hadn't thought about in years. Memories that she'd tried hard to suppress. Taking deep breaths, she struggled to keep her emotions down, to keep a neutral face on. "He's not here. Can we just go?" She hoped her voice didn't waver.

Neither of them answered as they continued to poke around the place. She sighed inwardly and continued to pretend that she was doing the same. Just then, something caught her eye. Something that looked horribly familiar. Striding across the room, she picked it up with both hands and stared at it with wide eyes. No.The dream catcher. He'd kept it?

"What is it?" Gold asked, limping over.

"What?" She looked up, startled. "N-nothing." She placed it back down quickly. Too quickly, for Gold's eyes immediately narrowed.

"You know something." He realized. "Tell me!"

And then Emma realized she was trapped. Maybe it wouldn't be the end of the world if she told him? As long as Henry didn't find out, of course. "Henry, go to the bathroom." She called. He protested, but she merely repeated herself, eyes conveying that she was dead serious.

"Nothing." She reiterated.

"Tell me!" He snarled, stepping closer. For the first time, Emma could see the ugliness written all over his face, and she truly understood why everyone feared him. "We had a deal!"

The door burst open and he stepped inside. "Hey!" He called, and both turned to stare at him.

Gold stepped backwards in shock. "Bae..."

They were talking, but Emma wasn't listening. All she could see was him. In the flesh. Up close. Practically inches away. From both her and Henry.

And then Henry came out of the bathroom. "Mom?"

Emma's stomach sank all the way down to hell as she took in the situation. There would be no escaping this. Her whole world had come crashing down.

The last time he'd seen them, they were getting out of a yellow vehicle. Weirdly enough, there were so many of the identical yellow vehicles around this place, which made them hard to track down. But of course he'd done it. Once he'd spotted them, he'd darted around the corner and peeked out, as he'd done before so many times.

He'd watched as Emma ran after a hooded figure. What was all that about? Was he some sort of thief? He thought about stopping the figure himself, but that would risk exposing himself and blowing his cover. Who knew what Rumplestilskin would do to him if he saw him? So he bought a coffee from a store nearby and sat outside, sipping it and waiting. For once, he was glad that Emma had forced him to buy new clothes, for nobody looked twice at him, even with the hook glinting from his arm.

Soon, she returned alone, her shoulders hunched down in defeat. Hook could see the change in her demeanor; she seemed to be on the verge of tears. He'd wanted nothing more than to dart out and ask what was wrong, but that would be a bad idea on so many levels.

So he sat, a pile of empty coffee cups around him, and waited. What am I even waiting for? He'd asked himself several times. It would be so easy to just pick up and leave, but he'd reminded himself that Emma was in grave danger.

But why I do care? And what could do about it? It wasn't like she was nice. Hell, she wasn't even his friend. He'd tried to be nice but that had resulted in her yelling at him and then stomping out. It was so unfair. He hadn't even done anything wrong. Sure, they'd kissed, but she'd initiated it and besides they had been drunk. That didn't count! Weirdly enough though, he found her cute when she was yelling, the way she'd balled up her fists and stomped her feet.

Hook sighed. There was no denying it. He was falling hard for her. He'd known deep inside that the only person she was in danger of was Cora and well…himself. He'd just used the crocodile as an excuse to follow her.

God, he was in so much trouble. Normally he could pull things off with women ten times prettier than Emma without a hitch. After all, that was how he'd survived all those years as a pirate. Why her? Why now, just as he was so close to his revenge? Out of everyone and all the situations he'd been in, why Emma Swan?

Before he got in any deeper, he had to stop. Stop spending time with her. He would tell Cora that this was impossible. He'd rather die than be forced to kill her.

Just then, he spotted a small figure exiting the apartment building. Emma. He watched as she collapsed against the outside wall, tears beginning to spill down her face.

Before he knew what he was doing, he was on his feet, striding rapidly towards her. All that mattered in the moment was that she was hurting badly, and he had to do something about it. It didn't matter that she hated him, or that he was supposed to kill her.

Author's note: Well, well, well. What do you think will happen next?