A/N: So, it's only like two weeks until OUaT comes back and I can't wait! It's going to be absolutely wonderful with Hook and Emma finally together. Anyway, here's the next chapter.

Enjoy =).

The island was small and very much deserted. That was what Hook had determined after being stranded there for almost a day now.

Like he had mentioned to Emma previously, the waters around their island were a popular route for pirate ships - they had already seen at least four. However, just like he had told her, none of the boats even slowed, much less stopped, to pick them up and bring them back to Alenfey.

Emma was getting progressively weaker. She wouldn't admit it, but he could tell that she was conserving her energy and trying not to waver as her dizzy spells happened more and more frequently.

"It's getting dark, lass," he finally sighed, abandoning his position on the beach in favour of joining Emma at the edge of the trees. "We should pick a place to spend the night."

"What if there's a ship? We can't leave."

"They won't see us in the dark, and even if they did, it's too dangerous to try and sail close to an island without proper light. There's no point."

Emma bit her lip and looked away, but not before he saw the fear clouding her eyes. He knew that she was scared of the Evil Queen and what she would do to her family if they came on a rescue mission. The pain in her eyes made him want to comfort her, to be there for her as someone she trusted. However, he didn't know if she did trust him. Liked him? Certainly. But trusted him? The question plagued Hook and he found himself fixating on it. For some reason, knowing that she trusted him was extremely important to him, and that didn't really make sense.

"Can we at least camp on the beach? I like it better here."

Hook sighed in defeat. He would have preferred to sleep amidst the trees - it felt safer to hide, just in case something was out there. But if Emma was happier here…

He sat down next to her, his body angled to face her.

"Do you trust me?" The words came out, unbidden, before Hook could think. The second they left his lips, he cursed himself for the vulnerable question. His whole body tensed up as he waited for the answer.

Emma peered pensively off into the distance, her brow furrowed in thought. "I don't know," she finally muttered, refusing to meet his gaze.

Hook's heart dropped down to his soggy boots.

"I mean, I'm not afraid of you." This time her eyes met his, full of questions. "But I...I don't know. There's so much you don't tell me."

"Like that I'm secretly the product of true love, a princess, and a victim of one of Rumpelstiltskin's evil deals?" Hook grinned crookedly at her, trying to defuse the serious mood between them and distract himself from her response.

She smiled and a little chuckle escaped her lips. "Fair enough," she admitted with a tilt of her head towards him. "Maybe I wasn't exactly honest with you either, but it's all out in the open now. No more lies."

"I know," he found himself saying with a fond smile on his lips. "I trust you." He didn't know why he trusted her; it honestly didn't make much sense. Maybe it was because of the feelings he was beginning to develop towards her...but no. He couldn't think of those. That couldn't happen. However, his resolve on that matter was starting to weaken.

"Her name was Milah." Hook forced the words out of his mouth before he could change his mind, interrupting the silence between them. The only way to win her trust was to stop hiding things from her, just like she had told him. It was much easier said than done. Even saying Milah's name gave him a heartache.

Emma's hand slipped into his, and she stayed silent, allowing him to continue on his own terms. He appreciated it.

"We...we were in love." He swallowed heavily, fighting done swells of anger as he thought of what he was going to say next. "But she used to be married to Rumpelstiltskin, before he became the Dark One. Needless to say, he wasn't happy that she left him for me."

He paused, unable to speak through the lump in his throat.

Emma squeezed his hand reassuringly and moved so that she was leaning against him. The contact was what Hook needed to continue.

"He murdered her. Right in front of me. And then," he gestured at her with his hook hand, "he cut off my hand."

Emma stared at him, speechless. He could see the sorrow in her eyes, but no pity. She already knew him well enough to know that he didn't need pity. Not hers or anybody else's.

"And that's the whole truth."

"Thank you," she whispered, resting her head on his shoulder briefly before raising it again. "I appreciate your honesty."

Pushing away the unpleasant memories, Hook turned slightly and gave her a charming grin, changing the atmosphere. "One last thing, lass - I had a name before I was Hook," he teased lightly.

"Yeah? And…?" He could tell that she was intrigued.

"And I'm going to need some encouragement to tell you," he sighed, then winked at her cheekily. "It's not something I tell just anyone."

Pursing her lips, Emma asked, "And what exactly does this entail?" There was a gleam in her eyes that told him that she wasn't as innocent as she was playing.

"Close your eyes," he instructed, gazing at her lips meaningfully.

"And if I don't?"

"I think you will."

He leaned towards her slowly, impatient to kiss her, but unwilling to rush. Finally, when he was inches from her lips and could feel her warm breath on his face, her eyes fluttered closed.

His lips met hers in their first real kiss, tender and light. Then, Hook's hand reached up and tangled in the hair at the back of her head, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss, but only slightly. He didn't want to scare her with the passion rippling through him.

After a wonderful moment, he pulled away, seeing the pleasure he had experienced echoed in her eyes.

"I believe you owe me something," she whispered unsteadily.

"Killian. Killian Jones," he replied softly, his hand trailing from her hair down her cheek and across her lips.

She smiled at him and it was like everything else ceased to exist and there was only her.

"A pleasure to finally meet you."

Hook barely heard her words. He was too busy deciding that, no matter what, he would find a way to save her from Rumpelstiltskin's deal. He couldn't lose her. Not when there was so much potential for love between them.

They fell asleep next to each other on the beach, her head resting on his shoulder while she slept.

Killian fingered the charms on the chain around his neck thoughtfully. He had to get them off the island before Emma's illness became worse.

He was prepared to do whatever it took, even if it meant giving himself to Rumpelstiltskin to free her.

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