A/N: Once Upon a Time is coming back! Ahh I really can't wait!

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Things are going to start moving a little more quickly from now on since we have their relationship pretty much established and growing by this point.

Emma couldn't believe her eyes. Not too far off shore, there was yet another pirate ship passing their island that had originally appeared like it had no intention of stopping. However, now it seemed like the ship had noticed them and was slowly starting to turn to make the journey towards shore.

"Look there, lass," Killian gestured out at the ship, a wide smile stretching across her face. "We have a shot at a rescue."

Emma beamed back at him and flung her arms around his neck in an uncharacteristically excited way. "I told you," she teased.

He leaned in and pecked her on the lips. "Happiest I've ever been to be wrong."

Suddenly, something occurred to Emma and the smile fell from her face.

"Something wrong?" the concern in his voice touched her.
"Nothing." She knew that he was going to press her for more information, but she didn't know if she could tell him. He would be upset, would maybe even try to stop her, but she couldn't let that happen.

He sighed and pulled her closer. In her ear, he muttered, "I thought we were done with secrets."

That statement was full of deep sadness. Emma knew that her new relationship with Killian was dependent on honesty, on being open with each other about the craziness that Rumpelstiltskin and the Evil Queen had wrecked upon their lives, but it was still difficult for her.

"I just have to go get something before we go," she murmured against his chest, unwilling to be released from his embrace. "It's important."

"It's that flower, isn't it?"

Nodding against him, she sourly wondered when he had become so good at figuring out what she didn't say.

"Emma, you can't." His arms tightened around her as if in an attempt to shield her from the harmful effects of the deal.

"I have to." She was grateful that he couldn't see her face - she didn't want him to know how terrified she was. "I'll probably die if I don't fulfill the deal."

"Death is better than slavery." Killian's voice was quiet and tortured. "But I won't let either happen to you, Emma. I promise you that we will find a way. Somehow."

"And until we do, I need to have that flower. Think of it as a backup plan." Emma pulled away and tried to lighten the mood. "If I have it with me, we still have options." Deep down, she knew that they were out of options and that she really had no choice, but she didn't want to taint her relationship with Killian for the last couple days they would get to spend together.

"I can't lose you," the pirate admitted softly, his fingers entwining with hers.

"You won't have to," she reassured him, but her words were empty. She pulled her hand out of his. "You stay here; make sure that the ship doesn't abandon us. I'll go get that flower."

"And if you have an episode?" he asked, referring to her more and more frequent fainting spells.

"If I don't come back, come get me," she tossed the words behind her shoulder at him with more confidence than she felt as she made her way up the beach and towards the forest.

…

The beach felt empty without her.

Killian stood there, his coat flapping in the light breeze, and wondered if there was any chance that things could work out the way he intended. His plan required a lot of luck: the pirate ship had to agree to take them to Alenfey, Emma's parents had to not murder him when they realized that he had kissed their daughter, and Rumpelstiltskin had to accept him in the place of Emma for his deal.

His shoulder sagged slightly. The chance of all three of those things working out as he intended was unlikely, to say the least.

But for Emma, it was worth it to him to at least try.

…

The black flower taunted her, the saw-edged petals mocking her fear, telling her that she had no valid reason to be terrified of the plant. She knew that that wasn't true.

Her fingers trembling, she reached out and plucked a single blossom from the plant and tucked it carefully into the waistband of her dress until she could find a better place to put it. She couldn't chance losing it; that would spell certain death for her if she failed to fill her part of the bargain. The fainting spells would only come more often the longer she put it off, and she knew that one day, she just wouldn't wake up. At least this way, there could be a chance to escape from Rumpelstiltskin's clutches. Killian and her family would never stop looking for a way to free her.

Her task done, she set back off towards the beach where she had left the pirate, hoping that the ship had indeed approached the island.

…

"...has the bracelet on her, just like I promised." Killian finished the conversation as Emma approached him. She could see that he was talking with a heavy set pirate with long, matted hair and a battered hat.

"I want proof."

"Proof's not a problem," Killian agreed, putting his arm possessively around Emma's shoulders once she reached him. "Questions are."

The pirate considered this statement for a second with a contemplative grimace, then nodded. "No questions."

Killian nodded back, then said softly to Emma, "Put your bracelet on."

"Why?" she immediately asked. From the snippet of conversation she had heard, she had assumed that they would be giving the bracelet to the pirate as proof of payment.

"If a certain evil woman sees you leaving, things could get bad," Killian answered, his voice low enough that it would be difficult for the pirate to make out any words in their conversation. Still, Killian had phrased it so that it was vague enough to be confusing. It was better that way - no pirate ship would take them if they knew that the Evil Queen was on their tail.

"But payment-" Emma started to ask.

"-is already taken care of. For now," he answered, a sad look in his eyes. "We'll give them the bracelet once we're in Alenfey and they've fulfilled their part. Never pay a pirate in full up front."

Emma opened her mouth to ask how he had paid them so far, but then she noticed that the chain around his neck was missing - the chain that had held the charms given to him by his brother. She knew how much it had meant to him, and she felt guilty that he had given it up to save her.

"I'll buy them back," she whispered softly as she pulled the bracelet out and raised it into the light for the other pirate's inspection.

"How-" he started, but then shook his head. "Nevermind. Some things are more important than simple trinkets."

His gaze captivated her and it was with a huge effort that she finally managed to tear her eyes away and put the bracelet on her wrist.

The other pirate's stunned look proved to her that the enchantment still held.

"Proof," Hook said calmly, his arm still around her shoulders though he couldn't see her. "Do we have a deal?"

The pirate grinned, showing his half-rotten teeth. "Aye."

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