A/N: Ok, for those of you who may be worried that this story has taken a major turn into the world of Narnia, don't be. This is just a brief pit stop along the way for Hook and Emma's journey and will only be for a couple chapters. Believe me when I say this; it's important to the development of the plot. Thanks to all who favorite/follow and to those few who still review after the chapters- I appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time or its characters, but I've got plenty in store for them. I also don't own any characters or places from C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series.

This chapter's rating: T for violence and borderline-M for language.

Narnia? They were in freakin' Narnia?!

How the hell did they end up here, of all places? Jones had seemed as confused as she was when they landed in that strange forest, but seemed sure about the portal pool they jumped into.

What a time to make a mistake, pirate.

Emma took a deep breath, attempting to let everything from the past two hours to sink into her brain. She barely noticed the aching pain from where she had sprained her right ankle or the thumping of hooves on dirt, their captors dragging her and Jones along in chains.

This wasn't happening.

There weren't two witches with an all-encompassing power at their disposal, bent on making Emma's friends and family suffer. She wasn't just taken prisoner by group of hostile centaurs claiming to be part of a magical land other than the one her son had been sent to.

Emma didn't know whether Henry was safe or if he had found the people he trusted and cared for. As much as she didn't want to admit, the time for hoping that all of this wasn't real, was over. And now she didn't even have Henry with her to get through it all.

She wasn't powerful enough to defend against these new forces. All of this had blindsided her so quickly; like being punched in the stomach from an attacker you didn't see coming. Or like being set up for a crime you didn't commit and abandoned by the one person in this world you cared anything for.

Emma felt like she was seventeen again, alone and helpless.

Without thinking, she started to yell, her voice shrill over the babbling river. "I need to find my son! You don't understand; you can't just take us like this. We haven't done anything wrong. Please-"

The centaur closest to her tugged the restraints, forcing Emma to fall against his brawny form, the force knocking the wind from her lungs. His musk of sweat and earth filled her nose as she struggled to regain her balance.

"We need to keep moving." The general's command was deep and authoritative as he hovered nearby, his tone leaving little room for sympathy.

Emma felt herself start to hyperventilate, doubling over and trying to maintain some sense of awareness. She heard Jones' chains clanging together and saw him kneel next to her in seconds.

"Come now lass, you need to try and stay calm. We're going to get out of here and find Henry."

It was like he had read her mind and knew exactly the words needed to bring Emma back to reality. His good hand traced lazy circles on her back and she felt her breathing start to regulate.

She pulled her head up to meet his eyes, seeing his look of determination. "You have my word, Emma."

Her eyes prickling with hot tears, she nodded slowly and made her way to stand up. Emma winced in pain, having to put weight on her right ankle, and Jones noticed.

"Are you injured?" He suddenly looked up to the centaur holding Emma's chains and let out a growl. "If you've hurt her you wanker, I swear I'll-"

"I just fell when we landed in the woods," Emma cut him off. She noticed the muscles rippling over the centaur's body and realized that Jones would be lucky to finish his sentence, let alone finish this fight. "I'm fine, really."

The furrow of his brow told Emma that he still wasn't pleased with the centaur, but Jones seemed placated for now. Glancing over at her ankle, his expression softened. "Can you walk, luv?"

Emma could see that the centaurs were getting annoyed by the holdup, the general heading back toward the front of the line. She nodded her head and put on a brave face to keep the peace.

She felt a sharp yank on the chains around her wrist, and they were pulled forward again by their captors. Jones turned around toward Emma as they marched and gave her a quick wink.

Emma couldn't help but let the realization sink in that no matter how dire their situation, this man could always make her smile.

They must have walked for at least two hours, and Emma figured that it must be well past noon now. The sun had slowly hid itself behind a mass of dark clouds, rain threatening to fall, but never coming.

Emma observed little in terms of plant and animal life, besides an occasional crow overhead or a small hare dashing between scattered shrubs. Trees could be seen along their route, but many were bare and seemed to droop as if they no longer had the strength to stay upright.

She noticed the air wasn't warm like that of the woods where the portal pools were, bringing with it a cold that seemed to run right through her bones. Strong winds stung Emma's face at times when there wasn't tree cover and she choked on the dust being kicked up from stomping hooves.

Despite the depth and width of the river they were following, the ground along the embankment only showed a few patches of stray grass poking through. This was certainly not a fertile area of the kingdom and Emma wondered how far they must be from the king's lodgings.

Her ankle was getting worse, the pain now stretching past the calf and up to her knee. Emma did her best not to hobble, since she wasn't sure whether these creatures would leave her behind or even kill her if she delayed their progress.

They moved closer to the river, the jagged terrain making it more difficult for her to keep her balance. Emma hoped desperately that they were going to break for water, as her throat felt parched and she wasn't sure whether her ankle could hold out much longer without a rest.

Suddenly her foot caught a group of rocks and she stumbled, falling into a nearby centaur's hind quarters with a heavy thump. Emma tumbled to the ground and she felt her ankle scream in protest as the centaur reared up in surprise.

Emma grabbed at her ankle, not caring who noticed. She could hear Jones yelling to her, his voice muffled by the various whinnies the rest of the centaurs.

The one she had run into was furious, redness showing through his dark complexion. Although covered almost completely in light brown fur, his angular face had the same features of a man, Emma guessed was no older than thirty.

"Idiot human," he snarled menacingly at her, pointing his lance at her sitting form, but Emma didn't cower away in the least.

She was tired of being pushed around by these hairy brutes without even an explanation as to where they were going or why they had been taken prisoner in the first place.

"Go ahead," she stared blankly back at him, her breath increasing as he stared right back. Emma did her best to maintain the bluff despite the anxiety pumping through her veins. "Go ahead and try to plunge that thing into me and see what happens."

For a moment Emma really believed that he would and she got to her feet quickly, her bound hands moving defensively in front of her as he pulled back the lance to attack.

"Stand down, Dorian." Emma knew the voice belonged to General Castrix, as she maintained eye contact with her would-be attacker.

His deep grey eyes dug fiercely into hers, waiting for Emma to blink or look away in fear, but she stood her ground. With a heavy snort, the soldier known as Dorian threw his lance back into the saddle holster and stomped away, his tail swishing behind him.

The general was moving everyone back into formation. "Enough of this foolishness. We are losing daylight and can't afford to be out here after dark."

Suddenly Jones was yelling again.

"You bloody barbarians!" A soldier pulled on Jones' chains, but he resisted, earning him a sharp kick from one of their captors. He cried out in pain, falling slightly, and Emma moved toward him without thinking. The general held out his sword to halt her.

Emma scowled up at him but noticed the general was gazing at Jones with an odd expression that resembled a mix of amusement and intrigue.

"The least the lot of you could do is allow her a ride for the remainder of this journey," Jones spat out, his breath ragged.

Every single one of the centaurs reacted, some of them drawing their weapons in haste and encircling Jones. The general no longer seemed amused, fury flashing across his features as he made his way over to the group.

"Allow her a ride? A ride? Centaurs are not the slave creatures of humans, nor the mindless beasts you believe us to be. We are descendants of the only group entrusted with the survival of this land."

Jones seemed to understand immediately that he had said the wrong thing, clearly insulting the general and his soldiers. Still, he opened his mouth to make a retort before Emma cut him off.

"I don't need any assistance and can walk on my own. We didn't mean any disrespect." As much as a part of her really appreciated his gallantry, Emma didn't want Jones being throttled by a herd of centaurs on her account.

The general looked in her direction and Emma considered whether she had just made their situation worse. After a few moments, he raised his hand and the soldiers put away their weapons, Jones still glowering at them from the middle of the circle.

"Release him from bondage."

Emma did a double-take at Castrix, utterly shocked at the turn of events. His soldiers seemed equally confused, gaping at the general as if they hadn't heard him correctly.

"Release him," he repeated again, and the centaur closest to Jones unlocked his chains.

Quirking an eyebrow at the leader, Jones rubbed his left wrist and peered up at him. "Are you having a go at me, mate?"

Waiting a moment before speaking, the general swung his sword over his shoulder and back into its scabbard. "Not at all. We are about to cross this river and need to ensure that it is safe before we pass."

Emma's mind reeled at the various kinds of danger lurking within the river's depth and her heart began to quicken its pace once she realized that they were using Jones as bait.

The general grinned at him, apparently finding humor in the situation. "That's where you come in, mate."

Emma was surprised that Jones didn't appear to be frightened in the least, gazing out over the water and surveying the situation. After a few moments, he glanced back at the general. "So I just mosey on over to the other side, then?"

Nodding his head in the affirmative, Castrix motioned to one of his soldiers, who led Jones to the edge of the river. The rest of the party followed, Emma still in chains and limping pathetically behind.

She watched the water tumble over the jagged rocks that were poking through and tried to catch a glimpse of any danger. She could see a few of the soldiers laughing at his expense, which made her quite uneasy.

Jones didn't waste any time, taking off his jacket and throwing it toward a nearby centaur. "You don't mind, do you ole chap?"

The soldier's smiled dropped and he glared in response, using his lance to force him closer to the water's edge. Approaching the river carefully, Jones bit his lip and seemed to consider the best approach to enter.

Emma had never seen him without his jacket, the billowing sleeves on his black shirt fluttering in the wind. His vest was a deep color of red, which surprised her since she's only ever seen him in black, and clung to his form rather nicely.

She shook herself from the brief reverie and noticed him glance over his shoulder, flashing her a lazy smirk. "These are the moments when a bloke could really use his trusty vessel."

Emma rolled her eyes and gave him a look that she hoped he would understand meant: "be careful." He then gave her a genuine smile and Emma realized that he did.

Of course he did.

Taking one last look into the river, Jones leaped in with a splash, the water coming all the way to the middle of his chest. He took a second to straighten himself and began wading across at an impressive pace. Emma couldn't help but notice how he really appeared to be in his element.

Jones struggled to maintain his balance at certain points, the strong current running over his form, but continued on without stopping. In a matter of minutes, he reached the other side, smiling proudly with his arms outstretched. "All clear lads."

The other centaurs shared looks with one another that seemed to indicate they were satisfied. The general motioned again and the centaurs stepped into the water one by one.

"Hold on," Jones yelled from the other side. "You must assist the lady."

Emma shook her head as to indicate for him not to cause trouble as she stepped off of the embankment. The water wasn't terribly cold, but couldn't be considered warm by any means, the chill easing the throbbing heat from her ankle.

"She will cross the same as the rest." Castrix was already half way to the other side, his voice booming over the rippling tide.

Emma heard Jones swear loudly, moving to make his way over to help her. She held her hand out to stop him, but the general beat her to it. "Stay where you are, stranger."

She was sure that Jones wasn't going to back down this time, making his way into the water again without hesitation. Emma saw Castrix draw his sword and knew this wasn't going to end well.

"Argh!" There was an excruciating shout and Emma swerved her head toward the source. The centaur who had threatened her known as Dorian, struggled to stay above the water, something having brought him to his knees.

One of his fellow soldiers made their way over to him, attempting to pry the trapped centaur free with a lance. The one holding Emma's chains pulled her over to join them, her boots slipping on the moss-covered rocks of the riverbed.

Castrix yelled over from the embankment, trying to understand what was happening as Emma watched them struggle. One of the soldiers was trying to lift something off of Dorian's leg and shouted back that the weight was far too great for them to overcome.

Jones attempted to get Emma's attention, but something else had caught her eye from up the river.

Whatever it was, must be at least thirty feet long and moved toward them at a rapid pace. Emma shook her head to be certain of what she was seeing, catching a glimpse of scales as her stomach clenched.

Her eyes met Jones' and he took off toward her at a sprint. "Emma, get out of there!"

One of the centaurs must have noticed the creature too and gave a terrified howl, taking off toward the shore. Emma watched his retreat in shock, turning back to the two remaining.

Dorian had a look of betrayal on his face, the other one of fear and hesitation. She could see that the creature was only about fifty yards away from them and gaining fast.

The other centaur pulled on Emma's chains and glanced back at Dorian. "I'm sorry, my friend."

He started to drag Emma away, but she wouldn't budge. As frightened as Emma felt, something held her in place and she glanced at Dorian before hearing her own words. "Get ready to run."

Having no idea whether it would work or what she was doing, Emma dove under the surface, surprised to see how clearly she could see ahead of her. Dorian's right front hoof was wedged between two rocks, one of them large enough to be considered a small boulder.

Concentrating as best she could, Emma reached her hands out over the one of the rocks that was pinning him to the riverbed.

She saw a flash before her eyes, an image of her and Regina standing over a shimmering stone, much smaller than the one now. It was then that she remembered what Jones had told her in the car about them rescuing Storybrooke from some kind of trigger, combining their powers to save everyone.

Emma was brought back to the present and she felt the familiar warmth spreading through her body. The stone shattered into pieces and she could hear the centaur's muffled roar from under the water.

Before Emma could react, a hand was yanking her to the surface, and she didn't need to confirm who it was. Spluttering frantically, she, Jones, and the two centaurs raced to safety.

Falling onto the riverbank, Emma caught a brief peek at the creature's green, scaly form gliding above the surface and back under again. Water bubbled vigorously for a few seconds were Dorian had been trapped, before the monster slithered away with an echoing bellow.

Panting heavily, Jones crawled over to Emma and cupped her cheek with his hand. His long, black shirt clung to his drenched form, beads of water glistening over the exposed hair on his chest. For a moment, she forgot their surroundings and circumstance, staring deep into his blue eyes.

He broke into a large grin and shook his head, letting out a bark of delight. "What a bloody fool you acted like out there, Swan." He suddenly embraced Emma tightly, taking her by surprise and shooting heat throughout her body. "A bloody brilliant, beautiful fool, indeed."

She couldn't really disagree with the statement, having taken such a risk to save someone who probably wouldn't have done the same for her. Still, she felt a wave of relief flood over her for surviving such an ordeal and returned his hug enthusiastically.

A brawny hand covered in fur reached down, grasping her arm and pulling Emma to her feet. Jones stood up, remaining close by, as they both looked up at the general.

"Why did you risk your life to save him after how he treated you before?" Castrix asked her as he handed Jones back his jacket, his voice calm. Emma recognized the tone of awe that was hidden there.

She shrugged her shoulders, water dripping over her eyelashes. "Everyone deserves a second chance," Emma sighed, not entirely knowing how to answer his question. "I guess I understand what it's like to be left behind."

The general narrowed his eyes, pursing his lips as he considered her for a moment. She noticed Jones' look of sadness at her words as the other soldiers tended to Dorian's leg nearby.

Castrix quirked an eyebrow. "You are quite an unusual human, Lady Emma."

Emma guessed that they must have met their share of despicable humans before her. Still, she saw no reason not to treat them as any other creature, despite them taking her captive without just cause.

Squeezing the water out of her hair, the chains still bound around her wrists clinking together, she murmured toward the ground. "Just 'Emma' is fine."

She heard a soft rumbling from the centaur, realizing that he was chuckling at her words. "Let us continue on then, Emma. King Andrew's castle is just over that ridge."

A small part of Emma had hoped that they were going to let them go after their little run in with what Jones had explained was a sea serpent. They were native to many lands, but according to him, the group was lucky that the monster wasn't as large as many that he's seen before.

"Lucky" wouldn't have been her choice of words.

Still, the centaurs seemed to ease up on her and Jones both after that. Dorian, who was assisted by his fellow soldiers the remainder of their journey, had even given Emma a small smile as they passed by.

Upon reaching their destination, Emma noticed the castle itself was quite small to what she had expected, situated within a group of high, jagged rocks looking over a deep valley.

A moat surrounded the fortress, fed by the river they had followed that was running nearby. As she and the rest of their group approached, Emma noticed Castrix raise his sword and a large drawbridge was lowered so that they could cross.

Emma was surprised to see a small unit of what appeared to be goats galloping upright toward them, carrying spears and clubs. The largest one approached Castrix and bowed his head in salute, the general addressing him as "Sergeant."

This creature, like the centaurs, was half man and half animal. His hindquarters were covered in ringlets of blonde fur, his long tail twitching back and forth. Two small horns peaked out over a tuft of golden hair and his drooping, brown eyes made him look as if he was sad, which contrasted to his cheery gallop.

"General. I see we have prisoners." His voice squeaked slightly and Emma fought the urge to giggle, being reminded of the girl that had approached her and Josef in the restaurant.

That seemed so long ago to her now.

The goat man continued, glancing sideways at Emma as if he had noticed her mirth. "Shall I prepare the execution platform, then?"

A small gasp escaped her lips and Emma felt Jones tense next to her.

"No, that will not be necessary Sergeant Fineus," Castrix replied as he waved his hand and the rest of the centaurs moved forward into the castle. "I will see that they get to where they belong. Please alert the King that we've arrived."

The Sergeant shook his head, staying behind as the other three goat man soldiers followed the centaurs.

"I'm afraid he isn't here, sir. King Andrew went on another expedition today, this time to the North."

Castrix frowned, rubbing his large fingers through the thick, curly beard on his face before turning to Emma and Jones.

"Well, it seems you will have to wait in order to seek audience with his Majesty."

Jones finally broke his silence. "Oi mate, hold on. You dragged the princess and me here, damn near getting us killed along the way. Can you not at least tell us why we are being held prisoner?"

Emma had narrowed her eyes when Jones had called her "princess," as she didn't much care to be referred as such, but decided not to interrupt his request since she wanted to hear his response.

"Hold your tongue, peasant!" The soldier known as Fineus had drawn his spear, thrusting it near Jones' throat.

Castrix waved the Sergeant off and Fineus left, leaving the three of them alone.

"I must apologize for him, as fauns tend to have very short tempers." He smiled at them easily, Emma feeling somewhat comfortable in his presence for the first time since they've arrived.

The general began moving past the outer walls as she and Jones followed, still in chains. Emma's ankle had swollen so large that she could feel it strain against her boot as she limped behind.

A few of the residents were staring at them anxiously as they passed. She noticed many of them were training with weapons, none of them appearing to be civilians, and there wasn't a human to be seen.

Castrix sighed and began speaking as the three of them made their way through the courtyard. "We cannot take any chances with strangers to our land, especially humans. Narnia was destroyed over two hundred years ago, most of its inhabitants and landmarks along with it."

Emma heard Jones' short intake of breath and realized this information was as new to him as it was to her. They entered through the main gate of the castle, its doors creaking loudly as two fauns bowed to the general, allowing them to pass.

Castrix continued, speaking over his shoulder as he grabbed a nearby torch on the wall, his other hand still holding on to their chains. "This is all that remains of what was once a prosperous and peaceful kingdom. Today was the first we've seen any sign of the sun for months."

Emma and Jones exchanged glances, but allowed the centaur leader to continue as they walked down a long, narrow corridor.

"That is why we were certain someone had passed through the pool. The land makes itself appear beautiful to travelers in the Wood, luring them into this barren land of darkness."

He leaned over, placing his torch into the sconce on the wall and unlocked their chains, Emma now feeling the cool air on her reddened wrists. The smell of mold filled her nostrils and through the dimly-lit area, she could see Jones reattaching his gloved hand and shaking his head at the general.

"You say you must take precaution with strangers, 'especially humans.' What did you mean by that, may I ask?" Jones was looking directly at the general, but Emma took a moment to notice a dark prison cell behind Castrix and assumed that's where they were headed next.

"Humans no longer exist in our world. Once they were the saviors of this realm, bringing peace for some time. But after a few centuries, they became greedy and fought over the various kingdoms. This was why Narnia was destroyed and left with nothing but the evil that had overcome it."

The general's face grew dark at his words, his expression becoming as angry and vengeful as before when she and Jones had arrived. He turned and unlocked the prison cell door with a large, brass key, the hinges groaning as the door swung open.

"I must insist that you stay here until our king returns. We will bring your rations soon, as I'm sure it has been some time since you've eaten."

Almost on cue, Emma's stomach growled and she was reminded that it had been six or seven hours since breakfast. She and Jones trudged into the cell, puddles of leaking water splashing under her boots. The heavy door shut with a loud clang and Castrix turned the key again, locking them inside.

He gave them one last look, of which Emma noticed bordered on sympathy and turned to go.

"Wait," Emma moved to the cell door, her face peeking through the gaps between the bars. "If all that's left in this land is dark and wicked, then why are you still here?"

The general's face softened then, but Emma could see his hesitation to answer.

"We were entrusted with the survival of Narnia; to find whatever it is that can lead us out of this desolation."

Without another word, Castrix swung around and made his way down the corridor, his hooves clanking along the stone floor. Emma let out a deep breath she had been holding.

So much for making allies and getting out of here.

With all of the information provided, her mind was reeling. The Narnia she had read about as a child was nothing like what Castrix had described. She and Jones were being held prisoner simply because they were human, and the land's inhabitants were desperate to escape the evil surrounding them.

The small bit of hope that had sparked inside her after they escaped the serpent was gone, replaced with a feeling in her heart as empty as her grumbling stomach.

As if reading her mind, Jones came to stand behind her, his body pressing into her back and his breath hot on her bare neck. Emma closed her eyes and let her senses take him in.

"All will be righted, Darling."

She did her best to remain calm, allowing herself to assess their situation for the first time since falling through the pool: a pool that Jones had taken them through in the first place.

Her eyes snapped open and she shrugged him off, making her way to the other side of the cell. A small, wooden pail lay in the corner and she tried not to think what it was put there for.

Jones sensed her distance and moved toward her slowly.

"Emma?"

She leaned against the cold, hard stone wall, her hand pressed against its clammy surface. Small beams of what light was left outside crept through the one window at the far end. Emma ignored the pain in her ankle and swung around at Jones, suddenly enraged.

"This is your fault! We never would have ended up in here if you hadn't dragged me into that damn pool."

Emma stumbled slightly, no longer able to stand and she lowered herself onto the only bed in the cell, the straw rustling from under her.

Jones' eyes were downcast, but he didn't respond, seeming to understand her frustration. She took a deep sigh, already feeling guilty at her outburst, and looked down at her ankle.

"How is the ankle? Shall I have them fetch a physician?"

She waved her hand to indicate she was fine, pulling the boot over the injury carefully. Emma lifted her leg onto the bed, in hopes that elevation would ease the swelling.

Glancing around the small cell, Emma shook her head and sighed. "Looks like we'll be staying in this place for at least one night, though I doubt we'll be getting much sleep considering the low standards."

"Well, if you snore as loud as you yell, luv, I'd have to agree with that sentiment."

Pursing her lips, Emma focused on keeping her composure, staring ahead at flickering flame of the torch on the wall so not to see the smirk she was sure was plastered on his face.

"Maybe if I try to use my magic, we could find a way to escape."

Emma could hardly believe the words had come out of her mouth, but realized she was at least starting to accept the power she possessed.

Jones slid against the wall beside the bed, his legs outstretched in front of him.

"Yes, perhaps we could blast our way out of here, but I doubt we would get very far with that ankle of yours."

He turned toward her, their bodies parallel, and moved to touch the injury.

"Why don't you allow me to call for someone-"

"I'm fine, Jones." She shifted her leg away from his reach and heard his soft sigh from below.

"After everything we've been through together, Emma, one would think you could call me by my given name." There was a brief pause, as Emma hadn't expected him to say that.

"Or did you forget that as well?" His voice sounded almost resentful, but his expression looked forlorn.

Killian. Of course she hadn't forgotten it, despite the fact that the chaos over the past few days would have certainly given her cause to.

"No," she replied softly, "I haven't forgotten."

She had never really given any thought to what calling him by his first name would mean to either of them, and unsure of how to respond, Emma remained silent.

He shifted his head slightly in Emma's direction as if to urge her to continue, and Jones waited for her. He seemed to always be waiting for her.

He must have picked up on her uneasiness.

"Well, I reckon 'Jones' is better than 'Hook.' Makes me sound like less of a villain."

He pushed himself up onto his knees and leaned in closer, his lips grazing against her ear as he purred. "Or perhaps 'Captain,' if you would prefer."

Despite their current predicament, Emma couldn't help the flush that crept onto her face, their proximity fogging her mind of any clear thought. He heard his chuckle at her reaction and Emma put a small bit of distance between them, finding her voice again.

"Regina called you 'Hook' back in Storybrooke," Emma recalled. "What name did I use before, you know, before Henry and I lost our memories?" She winced at Henry's name, bringing her back to reality for a brief moment.

Jones face grew serious again, pulling his lower lip into his mouth and breaking eye contact with her.

"It was always 'Hook,' as you didn't have much time to see me as anything else, I suppose."

This was the first time he has spoken openly about their "relationship," though Emma would be hesitant to use that term. She turned to watch his profile, probing him to say more.

"What do you mean?"

His pause made Emma believe Jones wasn't going to answer, but he took a deep breath and responded in a quiet voice. "As you know, we didn't exactly converge on the best of terms. You and I had wronged each other, for certain, but I had done so many things I wasn't proud of before you came into my life."

Emma heard the distant sounds of wailing from somewhere else in the prison tower, the melancholy adding to the somber feel of their conversation, as she allowed him to continue.

"Before we went to Neverland, you had offered me a chance to join you and your family, to be part of something greater than myself. Despite everything that had happened, you put your faith in me to assist you and ultimately, do the right thing."

It was at that moment, Emma knew her suspicions had been correct; there had been much more between them than friendship.

She held her breath, realizing how difficult this must be for him to admit and he pulled his head toward her, their eyes meeting.

"No one has done that for me in a very long time, Emma."

Jones' eyes flickered to her lips, as he slightly parted his own, and in that moment, she was certain that he was going to kiss her.

"Ahem."

She and Jones jerked their head over to the cell door, where Dorian was holding a tray with what Emma supposed was their promised rations. The centaur had an odd expression on his face that she couldn't place and Emma saw that the injury to his leg had been wrapped.

"Excuse the interruption, but I've brought you something to eat." Jones let out a huff, getting to his feet and made his way over to meet him. Dorian slid the tray through the slot and she noticed him moving his torch to shine in her direction. "How are you feeling?"

Before she could respond, Jones chimed in. "Now you're suddenly concerned about her well being, eh?"

Emma tilted her head at Jones in annoyance, but it went unnoticed as his back still faced her.

"She would be much better if we had something to dress the ankle with."

Dorian gave Emma a small smile and pulled out a wooden box that fit in his palm. He handed it to Jones from between the bars, still looking at her directly.

"This will heal your wound, milady."

Emma returned his smile with gratitude as Jones brought the tray over to her, mumbling under his breath. She looked up into his face and raised her eyebrows to indicate he should be quiet.

"I'll bid you good evening, then." Dorian bowed slightly and went to leave before Jones' eyes went wide and he turned stop the soldier.

"Hold up there, mate."

Emma opened her mouth to tell him to leave it alone, but Jones had already made his way over to Dorian. Pulling out an item from his boot that Emma couldn't see in the dim light, he lowered his voice. "Tell your general that I have something he may desperately need."

Dorian glanced down at the item in his hand, before Jones shoved it back into his pocket.

"I'll let Castrix know." Nodding quickly to Jones, Dorian turned and headed back down the corridor.

She frowned in confusion as Jones made his way over to her and opened the box containing her medical supplies. He felt Emma's stare and looked up to her, his trademark smirk returning.

"Don't fret, luv. I believe I've just found our way out of here."

A/N: Always a plan, that one haha. Even if you've caught up late, please leave a review, ok?