The Prince and the Pirate

helpwolvesandsmile asked for a oneshot of Snow forcing Charming and Hook to spend the day together. They accidentally get locked in the cell. Bonding and hilarity ensue.

Charming tried once more to reach the keys that had fallen through the bars and skid across the floor.

"Unless your arm's stretched in the last couple of minutes mate you're still not going to reach it." Hook grumbled from where he slouched on the bench.

"If you hadn't insisted on coming in here to get your flask back we wouldn't be in this mess." Charming hissed. Hook rolled his eyes.

"And if you hadn't tried to be clever by locking us in here until I found out and then dropped the damn keys we would have been out by now skipping along the beach hand in hand. But are we really going to go over this all again?" Hook said, clearly bored of the argument. "Besides, fortunately I did find my flask and this afternoon might turn out to be a pleasant one after all." Hook added, holding up the flask before taking a gulp. "It must have ended up here while..."

"Think carefully if I want to know the end of that sentence." Charming warned.

"Really mate, do you think I'd be so crude? I was here waiting for Emma to finish her shift. Whatever way this afternoon had gone I was going to need this rum. If I'm being honest I think this will be much less awkward."

"I'm not sure I can last very long in such a confined space with you." Charming complained. The rum was beginning to kick in slightly and Hook was feeling bold.

"What, do you think I have bad odor or something? Your daughter doesn't seem to think so." Charming turned his head and growled at the Captain, his grip on the bars tightening slightly. Hook held his hands up. "Just teasing. I'll behave, promise."

"See that you do. I'm still not sure you're good enough for her. You have a lot of proving to do." Hook smiled.

"Let's be honest, no matter what I do, I'll never be good enough in your eyes, will I?" He pointed out. Charming stayed silent, and Hook took that as a yes. "It's alright, I understand. All fathers are the same with their daughters. I don't take it personally." Charming nodded, finding a new respect for the pirate.

"One day you might have a daughter yourself. You'll understand then. All you want to do is keep them safe. You'll know how much love can hurt, and you'll just want to shield her from that." Hook could see the sheer love for Emma in his eyes. No matter what differences they had, they would always share a love for Emma in common.

"I promise that I will never intentionally hurt her. I promise that as long as she chooses to be with me I will always do my best to keep her happy and safe." Charming extended his hand.

"See that you do." Hook moved forward and shook the Prince's hand. An understanding was reached between them- they would always work together for Emma, to keep her happy. Now all they had to do was sit and wait for her to come in for her late shift. She would make sure to take plenty of pictures of course, but she would let them out...but she would never let them forget.