Thank you to everyone who is reading, especially Tala Danaro, Alexandra Sarafolean, Lisa 1972, Gusenitsa, and Angels-heart1 for reviewing! I really love hearing from you all, and the feedback has been very valuable! -KM-

Chapter 9

Emma avoided him for the next few days, which he'd rather expected after their closeness on the Jolly Roger and her near-death experience. He knew she would want her space to sort through her own feelings, but was disappointed all the same. He stood at the bow of his ship and gazed out to sea, wondering if a time would ever come where her instinct would be to run to him rather than from him.

She had spent her days hidden away with Regina, searching for a magical solution to the monkey problem, and her evenings with David and Snow. She hadn't sent him any signal that his presence would be welcome, so he gave her the space she seemed to crave, even though her absence left a noticeable ache in his heart. His bed seemed so much colder without her in it, even though he'd only shared it with her twice. Without her warmth beside him, he tossed and turned at night, sleep just out of his reach.

He closed his eyes, his face to the wind, and when he heard her soft whisper he thought for a moment he was imagining it, that his wishful heart had conjured her up in his mind, until her hand touched his shoulder. "Hook?"

He jumped, startled, trying to laugh off his surprise with a shake of his head and a muttered "Still not my name, Princess."

"Not my name either, Pirate." Emma folded her arms across her chest.

"Oh, but it is..." He turned to look at her. She was beautiful there in the sunset, the light painting her in soft hues of red and gold. "You, love, are the child of a prince and a princess, making you also a princess." His hand brushed her shoulder. "You, darling, are Princess Emma of the Enchanted Forest, whether you like it or not." He smirked at Emma's glare. "Now, Princess, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I want a rematch." Emma stated.

"A what?" Hook stared at her.

"A rematch. You. Me. Eight Ball. Rabbit Hole. Remember?"

Hook laughed. "And what makes you think you can best met his time, Swan?"

She shook her head. "I don't really care who wins." She admitted. "I just need to take my mind off everything for a while, and shooting pool and drinking whisky is usually a good way to do it."

"I'll stick to rum if you don't mind, but I accept your challenge." He offered her his arm. "To the Rabbit Hole, then, my lady?"

They found the little bar to be fairly empty, as it was early on a weeknight. A few regulars paid them no mind as they got their drinks and pool cues. Hook offered Emma the triangle but caught her arm as she walked to the far side of the table. "If this is a rematch, love, we should agree on the stakes."

Emma shrugged. "What did you have in mind?"

He thought for a moment. "What do you want?"

She leaned up against the table. "When this is all over, take me sailing?"

His brow furrowed in confusion. "You've been sailing, Princess."

"Not really. I've been on a ship to get somewhere. To Neverland, to the cliffs. I've never been on a ship just to be on a ship. Haven't really had a chance to enjoy it for what it is." She said wistfully.

"If you win, I will take you anywhere you'd like to go." He'd take her sailing anyway, of course, whether she won or not, but if that's what she chose to ask for, he'd go with it.

She nodded. "So what do you want?"

He considered her question. "If I win, you allow me to take you on a proper date. I've been told that is the custom here?" She nodded. "And shooting pool in a bar is hardly a proper way to court a princess, after all."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine. You win, you can take me to dinner. I'll even put on a dress. Fair?"

He offered his hand and she shook it, sealing the bet, and motioned for her to rack. She did so, handing him the cue ball on her way to the juke box. As he lined up his break, resting the cue in the spot where his hook met his brace, he heard her drop in a few quarters and watched her finish her drink as she moved back to the table, setting the glass down hard on the bar and accepting the second one the bartender had waiting for her.

As Hook sank his fourth solid and finished his first rum, Emma was halfway through her third whisky. She walked behind him on the way back to the juke box, her hand brushing along his thigh as she passed in a way he would have assumed was accidental had he not been watching her. She dropped another coin in the juke box and strolled back to the opposite side of the table, bending over low to line up her shot, giving him a full view of the lacy edge of her bra as she did so. She raised an eyebrow as she saw him looking but made no move to stop him from doing so, promptly sank her second stripe as he stared down her shirt, not quite sure he should be looking there yet unable to look away.

He finished his drink and waved off the bartender, figuring at the rate Emma was drinking perhaps one of them should remain sober. She missed her next shot, the alcohol beginning to alter her coordination, and he sank three more solids on his next turn before missing a shot. She grabbed another drink, lined up her shot and missed, leaving him to sink his last solid before shooting for the eight-ball as she downed half her whisky in one swallow. "Five balls still on the table." He observed. "One might think you actually want to go on a date with me, Princess." He looked back to the table and sank the eight in one shot, startled to find her directly behind him as he straightened up.

He turned toward her and was surprised to feel her run her hand down his chest. His breathing quickened as she purred "Maybe I do."

Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to review and give feedback. Your comments help make me a better writer! Please review if you are so inclined. Reading your comments totally makes my day!

-KM-