Episodes 3x17-3x19

"Breach"

Hook was starting to hate Zelena more than he had ever disliked Cora or Regina.

Just when he was starting to feel like he had a place beside Emma and her family, the Wicked Witch played on his regret, took advantage of his love—in fact, tricked him into finally admitting out loud that it was love that he felt for Emma—and cursed him. The fact that she cursed his lips was particularly diabolical: a gesture that should have been a demonstration of love would instead be the catalyst of his beloved's destruction.

Hook had suffered many forms of torment and humiliation in his life, but he had never been used in such a way as Zelena now meant to—especially not against people he cared so much about. All he had done these last several weeks was try to help Emma, and now he himself might be the cause of her undoing.

He did not consider kissing her, even for a second. But they were becoming so close on their own, there might come a moment when she decided to kiss him. And if neither of them made a move, Zelena might contrive something to force them together.

Not seeing any other options, Hook tried to keep his distance from Emma as much as possible. But that was difficult since she and her family, and even Regina, wanted to include him in their efforts, almost taking his presence for granted. He appreciated that they trusted him and considered him an ally, and he would have liked to spend time with them outside of dealing with a crisis. But as much as he wanted that, he knew it was safer not to become any more familiar with them than he already was.

That first night, when the others went to Granny's for dinner, watching them from across the street did strange things to Hook's heart. Despite the stress and grief of the last few weeks, the secrets that hung between her and her son, and the danger that still lurked about, Emma looked happy, talking and eating and laughing with her family.

It seemed obvious to everyone except her that she would be happy if she stayed in Storybrooke. Hook longed to be a part of that convivial scene, and to see Emma that way all the time. But Zelena wanted to use him to end that happiness, and she was willing to threaten Emma's loved ones to get him to cooperate.

How could he help them when his very presence would put them in danger?

He thought about simply leaving, but that might prompt Zelena to attack Emma's family anyway. Hook was willing to risk his own life, but he would not risk her family, especially Henry. He was the person Emma loved the most, and Hook himself had grown fond of the boy while spending time with him. Neither of them could replace Baelfire to the other, but they got along quite well and helped each other forget their respective troubles.

Learning the purpose of Zelena's plan—to travel back in time and prevent Snow White's birth—made it even more imperative that Emma not lose her magic. If Snow White had never been born, then neither would Emma. And Hook refused to let that happen—or not happen, as it were.

He did not know what he would do, but he would not be the instrument of Emma's destruction, or that of her family.

Hook supposed he should have expected some sort of consequence for his inaction. It finally arrived in the form of Rumplestiltskin, who cornered him as he was coming out of his room at Granny's.

Hook had not seen him since the day he sacrificed himself to defeat Pan. The Dark One's expression was neutral, neither sorry nor angry. His eyes and cheeks were hollow, as though he had not eaten or slept well for some time.

The sight of his old nemesis was enough to make Hook wary. Knowing that Zelena controlled him was even worse.

"To what do I owe this honor?" Hook asked sarcastically.

Gold's voice was flat, his demeanor unamused and unenthusiastic. "Zelena wants a word with you."

"Ah. And she sent you to bring me to her? Grand."

"This will be much easier if you comply."

"Compliance isn't really in my nature."

"Very well." Gold waved his hand, and the next thing Hook knew, he was lying in a dark, camped space, his mouth gagged, his wrists tied behind his back. He recognized the sound and feeling of a car's motor, and the smell of the gasoline it ran on. It was just like when Tamara had abducted him and brought him from New York to Storybrooke in the back of her vehicle.

Hook spent the ride wondering why Gold or Zelena could not simply magic him to wherever she was. Did she just enjoy the theatrics, or the psychological torments?

Zelena talking to him about kissing Emma in front of Rumplestiltskin was even more grating. The crocodile had killed Hook's first love, and Hook did not like him knowing about his new love. But Zelena had killed Neal, and was now threatening Henry, so Gold had as much reason as any of them to hate the witch.

Gold drove him back into Storybrooke after the brief interview. When he opened the trunk, he picked up Zelena's rose first, looking at it with a hard, angered expression. She had probably gotten it from the flower shop where Smee used to work, which was run by Belle's father.

Gold waved his free hand, and Hook's bonds vanished. As the pirate climbed out of the vehicle, the Dark One said simply, "She's already taken Bae. Don't let her take anyone else."

Hook did not need to be told that, but he nodded in understanding. Despite their history, they were alike in the fact that Zelena was trying to use both of them, and they had a common interest in Henry. But Hook was the only one of them with freedom. He had to make the most of it.

Hook could admit that he was not much help when the flying monkeys and then Zelena herself came after Henry, but he had done his best in an impossible situation. And things worked out, between Regina breaking the Dark Curse with True Love's Kiss and Emma's light magic repelling Zelena.

Hook could understand Emma being angry with him, but her sudden assertion of mistrust hurt, as did David and Mary Margaret's accusation that he had lied about how he received the distress message.

"Who else would have an antidote?" Hook demanded rhetorically. "Who else would know where to find the Savior?"

"Do you still have the note?" Emma asked.

"Aye." He reached into one of his coat's many pockets, and handed her the fragment of fabric.

Emma studied the scrap for a long moment, her brow furrowed at first; then her expression softened strangely. "It's messy, but I know that handwriting." She looked up at them, her eyes moist. "It was Neal."

The four of them exchanged glances, stunned. "Wasn't he trapped in Rumplestiltskin's body?" David said.

"That could explain the memory potion," Mary Margaret said slowly. "Zelena might have wanted Rumple to have his memories when he came here."

"And Neal broke through … long enough to send it to me instead," Emma finished.

Hook bowed his head, letting out a huff of surprise. "I had no idea," he murmured.

"Really?" Emma peered at him suspiciously. "You didn't hide this so you could have the credit for saving us?"

"What? No! Emma, you know me; you know I wouldn't do that."

"How can I know for sure? You did hide the truth about Zelena's curse. If you care so much about keeping Henry safe, why didn't you just tell us from the start? You had every opportunity. We even had a meeting today that you could have been a part of."

Hook just about lost his temper at that. "You want to know why I wasn't at your bloody meeting? I was abducted by the bloody Dark One."

That took Emma aback. David and Mary Margaret were even more stricken; they had known Rumplestiltskin longer than she had, and better understood the kind of harm he was capable of inflicting.

"He dragged me to Zelena so she could deliver her threats in person," Hook informed them. "She only let me live because she wanted to use me. I did everything I could to resist while getting Henry safely away. It might not have been the best-formed plan, but everything I did was for your family's best interests."

Emma looked at him with an expression that reminded Hook of when she left him in the giant's castle. "I hope you're telling the truth now," she said finally. Then she walked away, following Henry and Regina out of the boathouse.

Hook looked to David and Mary Margaret, appealing to them for support, but Mary Margaret followed Emma without another glance at him, and David only shot him a slightly apologetic look as he followed his wife.

So much for belonging with the heroes.

Author's Note: In the show it is never confirmed that they find out Neal's role in getting the message to Hook, but I think they should have! It means that he had an even greater role in helping them defeat Zelena, and that he had a role in reuniting Emma with Hook and, in turn, with her family and her community.