Having been sheltered her whole life, a pirate ship was a wonderful new experience for Emma. Watching the activity all around her, she realized she had a lot of training in various things but no real-world application for any of it. She just hoped she was able to use everything she learned on her adventure.

She smirked to herself that her swordsmanship had already proved useful and that she had been able to take Captain Hook's own sword. That had made her feel like she had accomplished something, well, until she realized he wasn't scared of her at all. It didn't surprise her that a pirate captain was good at calling someone's bluff.

A large cracking noise drew her attention up toward the top of the main mast. Her first instinct was to use her magic to help fix the problem. Something she was only able to determine since the entire crew looked upset over whatever had happened. She could barely make out a broken rope way up top near the crow's nest. The problem, whatever it was, she didn't know how to fix it.

Emma realized she must have looked very concerned when one of the crew came over and said to her, "Don't worry, Jack can fix that. The guy climbs like a monkey." She nodded in response and gave the man a small smile. She wondered if he was putting on a brave face for her.

It turned out the man was right, Jack, one of the pirates she recognized that had been with Killian when he came upon her near the forest, started climbing the main mast with ease. She asked, "Will he be safe?"

"He's like a monkey that Jack. Don't worry, he'll be safe," the man replied. "It's a funny thing, a woman worried about one of us lowly pirates."

She turned to give him her full attention. "What's your name?"

"Murphy," he replied.

Emma smiled at him. "Murphy, a human of any kind deserves respect."

"But we're criminals. Many want to hang us."

She burst out laughing. Her parents and all her friends were considered outlaws and had a death sentence already passed against them to expedite their execution if they were ever caught. And she was well aware of the fact that if Queen Regina knew she existed that she would be near the top of her most wanted list. She didn't think pirates, even exceptionally adept ones, ranked on Regina's list at all.

Wiping an amused tear from her eye, she said, "I think you will find I don't mind outlaws. I prefer them, actually."

Murphy gave her an odd look and nodded as if he didn't believe her. He moved on then. "Well, Jack loves to climb, and he'll be just fine. You can just watch and see."

Sure enough, he was right. Jack was up the main mast, tied off the broken rope, and was back down faster than she could imagine. Emma was still left unsettled after the whole event, though, but it wasn't until she knew he was safe were the issue came. He glared at her, and she got the distinct feeling he didn't like that she was onboard the ship. His whispered, "Women are bad luck," as he passed her by only confirmed her suspicion.

Shrugging it off, she moved on. After all, she was only staying aboard until the next port, and then she'd never see the pirates again. Emma didn't understand why it felt like the ship was amused by that thought.

Killian almost cursed as Emma came to the top side of the ship. He watched as she walked along the deck wearing a very different outfit than she had been when he met her. Gone was the virginal blue dress she was wearing. Now she was a vision in black leather pants and a blue corset that had a black ribbon lacing it up. All his mind could concentrate on was where she had been hiding those massive breasts of hers under that other dress.

He watched her reaction to the mast halyard breaking. On any other ship, it would have been a bigger problem. But he had two advantages. One, Jack didn't flinch at climbing anything, and two, he had a magical ship.

That let him keep his focus on Emma talking to Murphy as the problem was quickly repaired. Whatever they were talking about wasn't as important to him as the curiosity he had over why she seemed at ease talking to a pirate. Even the tavern wenches were nervous around them most of the time.

Killian was confused now. He thought he had a complete picture of her from their first meeting. A sheltered, lovely, virginal girl. Now she was dressed in an outfit that made her look wildly sexy and talking to a pirate like he was an old friend.

He noticed their conversation come to an end and Emma looking toward him. He saw her notice he was looking at her, and she began walking his way.

When she got close enough, she asked, "You look concerned. Am I not allowed to be above deck?"

He shook his head. "I was wondering why a sheltered girl would be talking to a pirate."

She blinked at him a moment and pursed her lips in a hard line. "Am I not allowed?"

"I was more wondering why you weren't afraid of him."

Emma looked over her shoulder at the crew and then turned back to look at him. "I'm so glad you figured me out so quickly. It's a relief, really. To be judged immediately and pigeonholed into that little box you put me in. It's nice to be understood so well with so little effort."

He glared at her. "No need to be snide."

"Am I wrong, Captain Hook? I might be snide, but I'm right."

Crossing his arms, he said, "Every boring woman tries to make me believe she's more alluring and complicated than she really is. It's a way to get my attention. It always fails."

"If it was a game I was playing, I would hope it would fail. I'm not looking to garner your attention, but if I was, it would probably lead to my ruin. You're the type to ruin a woman just for the fun of it."

"And what makes you say that!?" He snapped, offended.

"If you can make a quick judgment about me, I can return the favor." She started walking and slowly circling him as she then spoke. "You're a man with a crappy past that pushed him into being a pirate because he felt he had no other option. And since you were then the 'bad guy,' you acted like one. Making mean and hurtful decisions along the way and discarding woman after woman as you fucked your way to in an attempt to bolster your fragile ego."

Killian caught her as she stepped in front of him. He was pissed at how accurate she was on some of her observations. He pressed her up against the ship's wheel. "And what makes you think I won't add you to my list of women?" He plucked at the ribbon on her corset, holding it together. "The men on this ship won't interfere."

She locked eyes with him. Unconcerned, she asked, "You're not going to force me."

He was pissed she called his bluff and demonstrated she really could read him. Instead, he said, "No, because I won't have to, Emma. You'll come begging for me soon enough."

She laughed at him. "I thought we were to make it to the next port tomorrow morning."

"Yes, we are."

"You're quickly running out of time, Captain."

He gave her a heated look, "You're welcome to come to my bed tonight, princess."

He was surprised when she flinched and quickly pulled away from him. As she ran off, he heard, "Fat chance."