Author's note: Whew finals are finally over! Now time for break, which means 3 wks of doing nothing.

Chapter 16: Backed into a Corner

What am I going to do? Hook thought as he idly toyed with Emma's tangled hair. What am I going to do?

He'd really, truly fallen for her. Watching her sleep in his arms, her face serene, a stark contrast from earlier, she was the most beautiful person, in his opinion.

After she'd poured her heart out, they'd sat in a comfortable silence in a room that she called a hotel room, until she'd fallen asleep, allowing his thoughts to roam.

There was no way he could kill her. Not after all this. The mere thought sent jolts of fear and panic coursing through him. But he couldn't tell Emma the truth. She would just immediately accuse him of using her and she'd been more broken than ever. No, she needed him. Now, more than ever.

God, it was so unfair. The one person he had to stay emotionally away from, he fell in love with. Fate had a twisted sense of humor. He supposed that this was how she felt every day of her life. Like the world was plotting against you.

As Emma slept, blissfully unaware, Hook vowed that he would do whatever it took to protect her.

Even if that meant standing up to Cora.

Emma had gone back to hotel in which Henry and the Crocodile were staying shortly after she'd woken up, but not before buying him a small device she called a cell phone. It had taken him the better part of an hour to figure out how to use it, much to Emma's amusement. He didn't mind, for it brought a much needed smile to her face.

They'd decided that he should go back to Storybrooke; Emma figured that they'd be heading back soon anyway, since Henry had school. Hook had been hesitant to leave her behind (especially with the Crocodile, though he didn't say so), but she'd promised to call periodically. So now he was on his way back, sailing on the Jolly Roger, already looking forward to seeing her.

Out on the open water, Hook stood at the helm and let the morning breeze ruffle his hair as the ship sliced through the water. Mentally, he tried to rehearse what he would say to Cora. There would be no doubt about the fact that she would be less than happy. And that was putting it lightly.

As if on cue, he heard the familiar soft footsteps behind him. "Hello Captain." She purred.

Immediately, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he curled his fists instinctively. "Cora."

"It's been a while." She started.

He mentally sighed. "Has it? Haven't noticed."

"Have you found out anything for me?" Cora approached him casually, though of course that made her seem all the more threatening.

"Can't say that I have." He answered, trying to keep his face placid.

"You've gotten sloppy, Captain." She commented lightly. "It would be a shame if you ruined this for yourself."

"What's the point?" He found himself blurting. "If you're gonna kill her anyway. Might as well kidnap her and get it over with."

"Why, that would never work." Cora shot back. "Her annoyingly caring family would come looking for her and that would ruin everything I have set up.

"And what exactly would that be?"

"You'll see." She answered.

"The thing is, I don't know if I can." Hook responded. "I've spent so many centuries waiting to kill Rumplestilskin, and now that I finally can, you're asking me to wait?"

"I've told you. When the time comes, I'll be more than happy to assist you with that. You need my help, and in return all I ask is a small favor."

"Which is something that you can do yourself." He pointed out.

Cora narrowed her eyes at him, seemingly seeing through his casual façade. "Why are you being like this? You and I, we've been in this together for so long. Don't you trust that I will help you see to it that your enemy dies?"

Hook shrugged. "Maybe I'm just sick of waiting."

"No." She shook her head, slowly approaching him. "I don't think that's quite it."

Much to Hook's relief, she changed the subject. "I recently found out something very interesting."

"Did you now?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I did. That boy. Henry? He's Regina's son. And interestingly enough, Emma's as well."

"Really? I didn't know that."

"Oh, but I think you did." Her expression was eerily calm, but Hook could see the barely contained fury smoldering in her eyes. In one fluid motion, her hand reached out and sank through his chest, grabbing his heart. "What aren't you telling me?"

"N-nothing." He choked.

Suddenly, her eyes widened and she looked down at her hand. "You love her." She realized.

"No." He protested, but there was no use.

"Yes." She snarled. "Don't lie to me. I can feel it. Your heart. It feels different than before. I'm the Queen of Hearts. I know everything there is to know about hearts. And yours, my dear Captain, is telling me that you're in love."

He was fucked. Completely and utterly fucked.

"Well, this certainly makes things interesting." She clucked her tongue. "No wonder you've become so unwilling to do anything. I've gotta say, Hook. I'm disappointed in you. You've become soft."

"Why?" He found himself asking. "Why do you have to do this? She's done nothing to you."

Cora shrugged. "Maybe not, but she's Regina's enemy, which makes her mine as well."

"Kill me then." Hook spat suddenly. "Kill me instead of her."

"No." Cora looked visibly affronted. "And lose my partner? Of course not. That would be a waste of life, and I am not that horribly barbaric."

"Really?" He challenged hoarsely. "Because I could beg to differ."

She rolled her eyes. "Think of me what you want. But you will continue to do what I say. You will tell me everything you find out about her and when I say so, you will kill her."

"No." With the last bits of strength and dignity he possessed, he attempted to make his voice as strong as possible. "I refuse. You'll have to take my heart to get me to do so."

Her expression grew bone chillingly menacing. "Then I'll make your dear Swan's death much more painful than it has to be." She simpered.

He was trapped. Backed into a corner.

"Exactly." She smiled as if she'd read his thoughts. She let go, releasing his heart, and Hook fell back against the railing. Relief flooded through him as the pain was alleviated, but that was nothing compared to the dread slowly filling him.

Just then, the loud pounding in his ears made him realize something. "Why didn't you take my heart?" He pressed his hand against his chest, feeling the steady heartbeat through his trembling fingers.

Cora clucked her tongue. "Because then you'd be unable to love. You would stop feeling anything for Emma, and that simply will not do. You see, Captain, I want you to love her. I want you to feel the bone crushing pain when you kill her. That will make it all the more painful. Let this be a reminder that you mustn't forget who you're dealing with. You should be grateful I'm sparing your life." She stood over him, casting a dark shadow. "And as punishment for failing to tell me about Henry, you will bring him to me."

No.

"Defy or fail me again, and I will see to it that Emma dies in the most painful, slowest way conceivable." And then she was gone.

Author's note: Who's excited for the winter finale Sunday?! I know I am!