Part 3: Jealousy

"Well Captain, any guesses as to how much longer this will take?"

Ah her majesty, Killian almost felt the distinct urge to roll his eyes. If there was one thing Regina was good at, it was making herself sound distinctly superior to everyone else in the nearby vicinity. Maybe once when she was queen that may have been the case, but he had a feeling that she'd always been a bit of a snotty bitch.

"Your guess is as good as mine your highness."

It's not as if any of them had travelled the scenic route from Neverland to Storybrooke before. With all the portals that seemed to just appear and swoop people up in their depths, they could have really used one at this point. But of course, that was the way of things. When you needed something the most, it was usually the only time you never got it.

"Isn't this boat supposed to be moving faster? For the fastest vessel in all the seas, you sure seem to be pushing at a snail's pace captain" the mocking note on his title did not allude him.

He gritted his teeth.

Bloody woman. He never much liked her and Neverland had done no wonders on their relationship. Sure she was easy on the eyes, but under that carefully crafted beautiful veneer, there was a vicious serpent of a woman that he had no interest in getting any closer to. He'd learnt his lesson since the last time he had tried to forging a partnership with her and that once was more than enough.

"I am touched by your concern for my ship Regina, but sheis moving along just fine." He moved closer to her, making sure she didn't miss the clear look of annoyance and condescension in his eyes. As he did so he had the oddest feeling as though he was being watched. "However if the Jolly Rodger isn't holding up to your majesty's standards then feel free to jump ship and swim your way back to Storybrooke." He was almost thrilled to see the flash of anger in her eyes, and revelled in it. Not being able to resist, he leaned right in to her face "Until then, if you're to stay on my ship, then you follow my course."

Smirking at her utter look of frustration, he leaned back watching her stomp off in those heeled contraptions that he found women of this age actually believed to be shoes.

Though he couldn't deny the aesthetically pleasing visual effects of a woman wearing these heels as such. Regina certainly advocated their appeal well, but she wasn't the woman he was interested in seeing in such a way.

Now Swan on the other hand. He could only imagine what it would be to see her dressed to the nines. Oh to imagine her in her world's fitting attire, with heels to accentuate those long creamy legs of hers. One day soon his fantasy of having those legs uncovered for him would be sated. And he would take his time in admiring every inch of them; kissing his way up her inner-

"Hook?"

"What?" he growled, annoyed at the interruption. Looking over he saw it was Henry who seemed a little startled by his tone. Feeling slightly guilty he immediately cleared his throat. Regardless of his feelings towards Swan, he did find that he actually enjoyed the Little Swan's company. He found that the boy shared a lot of similar qualities to his birth mother.

Thank god, considering who his other mother was.

"Sorry lad, didn't mean to be so gruff" he ruffled the lad's hair and was rewarded with a bright smile.

It stirred something strange in him. It had been a long long time since a child had looked at him quite like that. Ironically the only other one to have was the father of the boy before him.

"It's okay, I just wanted to check on you. Does your hand still hurt?"

Killian's eyebrows almost shot to his hairline. If he felt it'd been a while since a child had smiled at him, then to have one actually care for his well-being was another thing entirely. Watching the boy, Henry was trying to get a good look at the pirate's hand for himself as though it'd clue him in on how the pirate was feeling.

Well this was all rather unexpected.

The lad probably felt it was his duty to do so. Killian had done his utmost to protect the young lad in the final battle against Pan. He had taken on three lost souls at once while shielding Henry at one point and the bloodthirsty barbarians almost took off his other hand. Needless to say the pirate managed to fight them all off and keep Henry safe, but suffered a break to his one good wrist at the time. Considering the boy was just like his mother, he was no doubt feeling indebted toward the pirate and making it his responsibility to check in on him.

Just paying off a debt Jones.

He sighed at the reminder, inwardly chastising himself for believing that a child as pure of heart as Henry would care for a heartless blackguard such as himself.

Or his mother.

He found himself searching for the blonde saviour, finding her in the same position as before, peering out to sea on the edge of the Rodger. Her mother must've left her at some point. From this angle he couldn't be sure, but there seemed a stiff edge to her posture. Her hold on the ship seemed tense and her profile looked as though stoic.

She almost seemed angry.

Frowning he turned his attention back to Henry, who hadn't finished talking.

"I mean, if it's starting to hurt again I could get mum to come and look at it"

His face almost dropped at that. He had forgotten about that little fact. When his wrist had fractured after the final battle, they'd faced a dilemma. The captain of a ship without any functioning hands was not exactly a comforting thought. Though he vehemently protested that he would still be as much of an asset without any of his limbs (where he distinctly remembered David and Emma sharing the same derisive snort – like father, like daughter) there was a general consensus that his hand needed healing. Of course there was only one outcome to that. There being three magic-wielding companions of the group; Emma was still too new to the art to be able to carry out such an intricate spell and Rumpelstiltskin would rather set himself on fire than help the pirate. His only option had been Regina.

With Snow watching really closely.

The trust in that relationship hadn't really grown any either. Though they hadn't really thrown any punches since their first night here.

Maybe that was progress?

Despite it being a worthy solution to the problem at the time, there was a catch. The magic required to help restore a body part was quite strong stuff, it couldn't be guaranteed in one fell swoop. His hand could be restored back to normal, but every other day the intense pain and deformation of a broken wrist would be back, and he'd have to undergo Regina's little surgical bout of magic again. Of course the bone would be healing properly on its own beneath the gauge of magic, but that by itself could take weeks, and until they reach Storybrooke he'd need the use of his one good hand indefinitely.

He frowned slightly. He had felt the slight tingling in his fingers before Regina had sidled up to him only moments earlier. It was a sure-fire sign that his hand was going to revert in the next day or so most probably. And he had a feeling Regina wouldn't be in the mood to help him out this time round.

"You know what lad, it's doing just fine. But your concern is admirable"

Henry frowned slightly as though he was questioning whether to believe him or not. Killian decided that now would be the best time to distract the boy for a bit, he didn't really want to know if he'd also inherited his mother's gift for detecting lies.

"Say Henry, how's your steering coming along?"

That immediately sparked a reaction, and for the next few hours he showed the boy a few more tricks that he'd learnt over the years, purposely ignoring the warm sensation surrounding him as he bonded with the young boy.

Killian winced as he felt the pain in his hand begin to throb.

He gritted his teeth, trying to dull out the feeling of his hand being bent back at an unnatural angle. The pain was never as horrifying as the first time, the wound was supposed to be healing naturally under the mask of magic.

That didn't stop it being a bloody nuisance every time.

He was literally trying to count down the seconds until he'd have to find her evil highness and grudgingly ask for her help.

Just the thought of it left a sour taste in his mouth.

He hated all this blasted magic business.

For so long he had always related magic to the Dark One. The crocodile. Magic was a deadly weapon. The sole reason for the greedy, the cowardly and the fickle to vie for the power that came with it. Call him old-fashioned but he always believed that a man should fight with skill, sword and honour.

That being said, he had had a fair share of magic on his side in Neverland. Both times.

And it seemed he wouldn't be rid of it any time soon. His hand was hurting like bastard and he saw no other way but to hunt down the she-devil.

Despite knowing that, doing so was another thing.

After all, there was no small amount of pride in a man such as Hook; and fighting against himself at the idea of asking another for help was a natural state of mind.

It seemed before he could make a decision, his door burst open with an unnecessary amount of force.

"What the hell?"

His subsequent rant fell on his tongue as he took in one Emma Swan standing in his doorway looking more than a little annoyed.

"Ah Swan, looking lovely as ever. To what do I owe this impromptu visit?"

"Why is my son manning the helm by himself?"

Well this conversation was already sounding like fun. He pushed down the pain he was feeling; a practice that he had grown quite accustomed to doing over the centuries. Focusing on the sparking blonde before him, he still couldn't help himself.

"He's a smart lad, much like his mother" he winked, "I'd been training him all morning, and he wanted to have a go on his own, directing the ship like a true captain"

He grinned slightly at how elated Henry had been at the idea of captaining his own ship. The boy had more than a little pirate in him. Much like the furiously beautiful mother of his that seemed no less angry at him than when she'd barged in moments ago.

There were a lot of men that shied away from the anger of a woman. As the saying goes, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And though he had no notions of wanting to scorn Emma Swan in any way, he could not deny that fury wearing her face was still quite a sight to see. The storm gathered in her sharp green eyes, the tantalizing heat to her cheeks, and the way her lips almost pouted in between rebukes.

And the oh so clever ways she thought to insult him.

He really did enjoy her wit as much as he loved taking in every other part of her.

So really where most men would see a woman in such a state and do their best to either calm her down or run the other way. Killian Jones, pirate that he is, he enjoyed her anger. Emma Swan was a fiery goddess in her wrath, and really he couldn't be blamed in wanting to further ignite those flames.

"That's no reason to leave a twelve year old on his own with an entire ship at his mercy!"

He stood as she relayed her point, hands on her hip, throwing him a scathing look. Part of him wanted nothing more to soothe her and explain that he would never put her son in any harm's way or in this case, put anyone else at risk in his hands. Most of him though, just wanted to throw against the nearest wall and put that scathing mouth of hers to better use. Namely fused to his own.

He smirked at the thought.

She was not amused.

"My dear, what is is that you do gooders are always going on about? Having a little faith." He walked up to her slowly, lest she gets startled and punches him the face (he really wouldn't put it past any member of her family).

"Do you honestly think that I would put your own child, or any one on this ship in harms way." He looked at her pointedly, having stopped up short right in front of her. "After everything we've just done to save the lad?"

He'd be lying if there wasn't a part of him that wasn't a little hurt that she could still think such things of him.

His words seemed to have struck her, as her entire demeanour softened. Her expression seemed rather guilty though she still seemed guarded, and he had the distinct feeling there was a little more to this outburst of hers than the situation with Henry. He hadn't seen her this angry in a while, and it brought back when he'd spied her on deck earlier. She'd seemed irritated about something then too.

"I know you wouldn't put him in danger." She smiled softly for a moment, "You brought him back to us. Saved his life more than once"

The amount of gratitude he saw in her that moment almost made his breath stop. He couldn't remember the last time someone had looked at him so. He hadn't thought he'd missed it until Emma Swan looked at him all soft and sweet and a complete switch from how she'd approached him minutes ago. It did wonders to soften the centuries old black heart still somehow beating within him. He vowed then to himself that it would not be the last time he'd let the lass look at him like that. He would do anything to make sure Emma Swan could trust him.

It was one of the few honourable oaths he'd made in several lifetimes.

"I don't think I ever really thanked you for that"

She seemed almost upset that she hadn't thought of it sooner. With all the hectic rush of saving Henry and getting the hell off that forsaken island, there had been little time for such platitudes.

"There's no need love. I would do it all again within a heartbeat if I had to"

He looked at her so earnestly, she felt her cheeks warm again. The damn pirate was too smooth for his own good.

"And just so you know, I had informed your father of the situation with young Henry when the prince saw fit to come and check I wasn't imparting teachings to your son that were less than savoury" he smirked at the hardly subtle manner in which the man had inserted himself into the steering lesson on deck, "he was still with your son after I left to come down and map the next part of our course"

She reddened properly this time, feeling slightly shamed at coming down so hard on him. Of course Hook wouldn't have left Henry like that.

Of course she knew that.

And her father had only been standing a few feet away with her mother, taking in a few moments together after all the things they'd been through up until now.

Really she wasn't angry about any of that.

She was angry though, and it annoyed her to think of the reason for that anger. Really every thing had been going smoothly the whole morning, after her talk with Mary Margaret. She'd spent some time with Henry, and soaked some time alone at the end of the ship, grateful for the peaceful time they'd finally been granted.

For someone who had spent most of her life alone, those moments by herself were now few and far in between, something which she was growing accustomed to – in a good way. But it was still nice to bask in silence for a little time, staring out at the vast expanse of water around her, with a light breeze tangling through the sun's rays over her face.

There really was something to being out on the open water, and she found she could understand the affinity Hook had towards it.

Of course her moment of serenity came to an abrupt end when she turned to find both Hook and Regina at the wheel of the ship. She wasn't close enough to hear what they were talking about but they were close. Really close. She knew the pirate was averse to general propriety when it came to personal space, but why would he insist on being in such proximity with Regina?

She watched as he leaned his head forward, seemingly intent on Regina as he said his next words. The mayor didn't look overly happy, but she didn't seem put off by the invasion of her space. If anything their looks seemed more intense, clearly a heated discussion, whatever it was.

This is ridiculous.

Why she was obsessing about this she didn't know. So what if Hook and Regina were all up in each other's business? It certainly wasn't her business. Why would it be?

Seeing that they weren't backing off any time soon, she turned back around to take in the view instead. Trying to ignore the weird twisted feeling in her gut, she focused on observing the sights. Besides, why wouldn't Hook and Regina talk? They had a history and had been acquainted long before she had ever met him. They had even been working together when Hook first came to Storybrooke.

Really, it wasn't a surprise that they would have such heated discussions, so damn near one another. They were probably used to being in each other's company.

Urgh, the very thought of that made her feel ill.

God this is annoying.

She. Did. Not. Care.

She didn't.

He could bloody well do what he wanted with whoever he wanted. Maybe he and the Evil Queen had already engaged themselves in some kind of arrangement before. He was a flirtatious rogue, and she had needs. And Emma couldn't exactly deny that the queen was attractive. If she wasn't the evil queen she bet most of the men of Storybrooke would be lining up to be better acquainted with her.

She was too busy in her thoughts to notice her fists clenching along the wood.

It makes no difference to me.

None whatsoever.

She wasn't annoyed that he was flirting or something with Regina. She was just annoyed because he spent last night with her in his bed. He'd held her all night, and flirted with her this morning, been staring at her all throughout the day, only to go and throw his attentions to the only other available female on board the second her back was turned.

So much for being a gentleman.

Man of honour my ass.

Whatever.

She didn't care.

And standing now in front of him, she reiterated that statement.

"So love, what's really got you in a such a foul mood hmm?"

He raised an eyebrow at her and she rolled her eyes, knowing despite her tries not to let him, he could still read her.

"Nothing, I'm fine"

"You're an awful liar Swan. Something has incurred your wrath indeed," he gave her a pensive look, as his hook came up, softly gliding from her collarbone, up her neck, to her cheek where he held it against her skin as he whispered in her ear. "Although I do so enjoy the colour it brings out in you"

And just like that the temperature in the room sky-rocketed.

He continued to deftly stroke her face with his metal attachment, in a way that strangely made her feel even more flushed. It could also do with the fact that he was barely a hairsbreadth away from her, and intent on staring avidly at her lips.

Her hands came up of their own volition and for a moment she was unsure whether to move him away or bring him closer.

He could read the indecision in her expression, his lips quirking up slightly.

Bringing them up to his chest, she was glad her mind was sound enough to still be able to keep this man at length from her. As soon as her hands pushed at him, his hook dropped and his hand immediately picked one of hers, bringing it up to his mouth for a kiss.

Smooth bastard.

He wasn't as close, but he still had a hold on her.

And he knew it.

She watched as he brought her hand back down, almost missing the slight downturn to his lips as his hand let go of hers. She definitely didn't miss the flexing of his fingers as he tried to hide them from her line of sight.

Why would he...?

Unless...

"Hook when was the last time you had Regina take care of your hand?"

His brief pause was answer enough.

"Oh my god, how bad is it?"

He sighed, "Nothing an old blackguard like me can't handle Swan"

"Really?" she instantly grabbed his hand before he could back off and squeezed it hard.

"Bloody hell Swan. Are you trying to cripple me completely?"

Letting go she watched the grimace on his face as he tried to coax his hand back into quite painful submission. Seeing that he couldn't exactly rub it with his hook, she felt bad. Moving forward, she took hold of it again ignoring the flinch on his part as he expected her to manhandle him again. Instead she cocooned it with her own hands as she rubbed them softly over his, trying to massage away the pain.

He went strangely silent as she carried on with her ministrations. He sure as hell didn't expect Swan to start stroking his hand (and god if that didn't give him other ideas), but he couldn't deny that softer feminine hands on his felt downright amazing. His hand was still painful, but hers were providing a lovely distraction from the pain.

"Is that what you were discussing with Regina earlier?"

"Hmm?" his thoughts were completely on her fingers and what they were doing. Such lovely soft distracting fingers...

"When you and Regina were talking at the wheel. Did she refuse to heal your hand?"

She'd seen that? He hadn't been aware that Swan had been watching his little tete-a-tete with the queen. Though he was busy trying not to punch the woman and her outrageous commentary of his beloved ship so there was that.

"No the Queen had other things on her mind that she wished to share at the time" he muttered sarcastically. He couldn't help it, he did not take any slight against his ship lying down. His Jolly was a marvel, and anyone that wished to say otherwise could happily say so as they walked his plank.

Visions of making Regina walk the plank suddenly invaded his mind making him smile. A man can dream.

Emma on the other hand was not so amused. So he and Regina had been talking about something else. Where they were close and it was heated, and now he was freaking smiling like he'd just gotten laid.

Oh god! Had he...?

"Ow! Swan, what on earth?"

One minute she was happily caressing his hand, all sweet and soft, the next she'd squeezed the life out of it like it had personally offended her.

"You know what, why don't you go find Regina and get her to help you out. I wouldn't want to get in the way of your time with her"

God, she did not care!

That's what she kept telling herself as she stomped to the door of his cabin, ready to swing it open and march out with her head held high.

Only, as soon as she went to open it, she felt a hard body collide with her from behind as a hand reached over her and slammed it shut. Feeling his breath at her ear again, both of their bodies thrumming with energy, she could feel the change in the atmosphere around them.

"What. The. Bloody hell. Was. That?"

She closed her eyes as she felt his lips right next to her. Neither of them made a move, both not willing to give up their position. She was still angry and he was now confused as hell. She could feel every hard line of his body against her, his arm over her head only serving to bring them closer.

"Do you want to get the hell off me?"

"Now why would I want to do that Swan? I quite like the predicament I've caught you in" his hooked arm came around her pressing lightly against her stomach, which only pushed her further against him. His nose started to nuzzle into her hair and dear god this man was going to be the death of her.

"Now, what was this about her majesty that has you hell bent on breaking my one good hand?"

She tried to push back against him, but he stood his ground, not giving an inch which just resulted in her further sandwiched in between his arm and his body. And really her traitorous body was too busy enjoying it to try and struggle any more.

She could feel the chuckle vibrate throughout his body, and it felt sinfully good. The smell of leather, spice and rum was filling up the air around her. The sensations his body against hers was invoking at this point were making her ache with want.

Oh god I have to get out of here.

It was hard to convince her mind, when her body had clearly given up.

And Hook was too busy taking advantage of the fact that she was leaning into him rather than pushing away. He had taken to nuzzling from her hair to her neck, dropping a light kiss every now and then, highly unconcerned with her speechless state. And clearly not planning to let her go until he got an answer.

"Hook..."

"Swan, if you want me to stop, you need only ask"

The bastard then punctuated the statement by nibbling on the outer shell of her ear, before soothing the area over with a kiss.

"Dammit Hook"

Taking what little self-control she had left, she shoved at him before turning herself around. Hook on the other hand seemed to bounce right back, the only difference now being that she was facing him as he moved in on her.

She threw out a hand against his chest.

"Stop"

And he did.

They both stared at each other, more breathless than she would have liked.

"As you wish Swan, but you have yet to answer my question" he looked at her imploringly.

"It's nothing"

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow. "Didn't sound like nothing"

The intensity with which he looked at her in that moment made her heart skip a beat. No man had ever looked at her like that before. All-consuming and breathtaking. Like she was his whole reason for being.

It made her want to open herself to the possibility. Of him.

Of them.

To stop running and give in. To be honest with her feelings and succumb to the temptation that he instilled in her.

And before she knew it, words just started tumbling out of before she had a chance to stop them.

"I didn't realise you and Regina were so close"

Shit.

She wanted to shoot herself in the foot. She wasn't supposed to actually say it.

God she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. She needed to get out of here.

Hook of course had other ideas.

She could see the moment it clicked, his eyebrows shooting up – right before his expression glazed over in a smug grin. She could honestly say it was the most smarmiest look she had seen on him yet.

Great. Just perfect.

"My my Swan, you are a vision when you're jealous"

She huffed, "I am not jealous"

"Of course not love"

"I am not your love"

"Mmm hm" He just kept grinning and getting closer and fuck all she could do was stare into his eyes.

"Swan"

She watched the grin fall from his face, as a serious air took over the moment.

"Hook?"

Her heart started beating almost erratically as he moved in, his lips just hovering over hers.

His eyes closed as he brushed his nose against hers.

"It's Killian love" he whispered.

And with that he swooped down and pressed his lips against hers.

And she did nothing to stop him.