A/N: The idea for this fic came from what I thought was a suspicious bit of dialogue from Killian. It made me think Emma actually made the right decision in leaving him behind at the time. This story diverges from canon after "Tallahassee" and will be a Killian/Emma story…eventually. I do hope they get together in the show as well. ^_^

Edit 11/29 Special thanks to my new beta Rapunzel215!

Chapter 1

Emma jumped back quickly and out of reach the second she heard the manacles' metallic click, she tried to control herself as her racing heart made her head feel light. She honestly couldn't believe that had worked. She had been positive that he would read her intentions like the open book he claimed her to be.

"What are you doing?" He asked, hesitantly rising to his feet; he looked so lost and confused. His voice even had a slight tremble toward the end of his statement. It didn't surprise her in the least; he'd been convinced she was wrapped around his little finger, after all. Still trying to catch her breath after the adrenaline rush from not only fighting off a giant but also pulling a fast one on Captain Hook, she started to explain why. However, he cut her off, pleading with her before she could even really start.

"Emma look at me, have I told you a lie? I brought you here; I risked my own safety to help you. The compass is in your hand, why do this to me now?"

Emma tilted her head and eyed him; oh, but he was good. Had he lied to her? Well actually she was fairly certain that he'd done just that. Climbing up a beanstalk gave a girl plenty of time to think things through, no matter how talkative and invasively inquisitive her climbing partner had been. In that time she'd been doing nothing but punching holes in his little stories.

"Because," she folded her arms, her confidence back now that she'd calmed down a bit, and his wounded look dropped fractionally in reaction. "I need the head start on whatever plan you and Cora have cooked up. Or did you honestly expect me to buy that she ever had the intention of climbing that beanstalk? You're forgetting that I've actually met the woman, Hook, and that's not her style. Not even close. She's the type to get lackeys to do it for her - oh, wait..."

She could see him gritting his teeth and his eyes actually narrowed this time, he knew he'd been caught. She smirked, "See that's the thing about lies: you've gotta keep it simple or it'll blow up in your face. I did warn you I could spot them a mile away."

"Being schooled on lying by a princess, I must say this is a new low," he sneered, but something like a gut instinct, told her that he was angrier at himself then he was at her.

"I'm not a princess," Emma responded, rolling her eyes. If only he knew that his jab about her being a good pirate really wasn't that far off base. She'd been the modern equivalent of one for most of her teenage years. Which gave her an edge he clearly hadn't been expecting, probably still didn't. He'd underestimated her, again, and now he was going to pay for it. "Never have been, and honestly don't want to be one."

For a split second the boiling anger in his eyes was replaced by acute interest in her comment, before she could almost see him shake himself mentally and the anger was back. "So what is to become of me? Are you just going to leave me here to die? That beast to eat me, to crush my bones?!"

"He is not a beast!" Emma snapped, and took a step forward before checking herself; it wouldn't be wise to get within grabbing distance. How dare he insult the poor man…creature …giant that was being so kind to her considering she'd invaded his home, tried to steal his stuff, and threatened his life. "And you are not going to die! I told you I needed a head start no more, no less. I'd never leave you or anyone, here to die. I'm not you and I'm certainly not Cora" They glared at one another for another moment, before she turned and walked away from him. "Goodbye Killian."

Emma ignored the yells of "Swan!" that echoed after her as she made her way out of the vast treasure room. She knew this was going to come back to bite her, Hook didn't strike her as a man to take this kind of thing lying down. No, when he was let go in ten hours he was coming after her, and her little band of travelers. But she really didn't see any other options, he was going to turn on them and she couldn't risk that, not with Henry's safety on the line should Cora beat her home. Once outside, Emma bolted for the beanstalk and began to climb down as quickly as she could. She knew her time was almost up and that Mulan, steadfast as she was, would start cutting soon.

She made it about three-quarters of the way down and could see her group clearly now, when suddenly the beanstalk shuddered and pulsed. A faint scream reached her ears and she glance down again to see what looked like Mary Margaret and Mulan wrestling on the ground next to the plant. Wincing slightly, knowing that this was going to hurt, she took a deep breath as she gave up on climbing. Instead, she allowed herself to drop in small, quick increments. The action pulled on her shoulder blades painfully and the cut on her had virtually screamed in pain, but she persisted.

"Stop!" she yelled finally before allowing herself to fall the last few feet. She hit the ground with a grunt of pain and rolled to the side when her legs gave out.

"Emma!" She heard Mary Margaret yell as she ran over to help her. "Are you ok?!"

"Two earthquakes and a jump from a beanstalk, I think my brains still rattling around a bit," She groused as Mary Margaret helped her to stand on still shaky legs.

"I did what you ordered, nothing more than that." Emma rolled her eyes quickly as she watched Mulan and Mary Margaret size one another up. She could already tell that she was going to get a talking to by at least one if not both of them in the hours to come for this. She was not looking forward to that. "Did you get it?"

"Yup," she said, feeling inordinately proud for a moment as she held the compass before her. She knew what at least two of the three saw when they looked at her. They saw a lost and confused little girl who couldn't possibly take care of herself in this mystical world. Well, this beginner had just beaten a giant and Captain friggin' Hook to the prize everyone wanted. God, was it satisfying.

Then it all came crashing down as Aurora asked the question Emma didn't want to answer. "Where's Hook?"

"He's detained," she said flippantly, trying to pass the monumental fact off as nothing. It seemed to work for a moment as both Aurora and Mulan moved to gather their things. "Let's go, get your stuff. We got ten hours before he follows us."

"What?" Mary Margaret breathed out in shock. She should have known her friend would catch the significance of this turn of events. This Snow White infused version of Mary Margaret was much more observant and capable than the vague school teacher she'd been. "How?"

"I have a … friend looking after him until then," Emma responded, her breath still a little ragged after her death-defying decent. She thought it was a little strange that she was still winded even now; her little bean stalk adventure must have tired her out more than she thought. Then Mary Margaret pulled her a few feet away from the other two before rounding on her like the angry momma bear that she was.

"You told her to cut it down?" She asked and Emma could hear the tremble in her voice and see the tears gathering in her bright blue eyes.

"Yea, I couldn't risk-"

"We go back together!" Mary Margaret said cutting her off. She shook Emma as if the action could impress this fact upon her, or perhaps to shake some sense into her. "That is the only way. Do you understand?"

Emma stared at her for a moment, not sure what to say, before pulling the dark haired woman into a tight hug. It seemed to convince her friend that she saw things her way, and calmed her. But as Emma look out at the trees beyond her shoulder she knew that wasn't the case. If the decision was presented to her again she would choose Mary Margaret over herself without fail. She may not have been mentally ready to completely accept that this woman, who was the same age as her and the best friend she'd had in years, was her mother. But that didn't mean she didn't care about her, that she wouldn't put her first.

Even if that meant never returning to Henry, because in all honesty, even if he lost her he'd have his grandparents and they were fantastic people. He'd be ok without her, it would hurt him, she knew, but at least he'd be loved and safe.

"Everything is ready." Mulan said in her stoic tone. "We should get moving; the sun will set soon enough."

They all agreed and began to file away from the beanstalk with Emma taking up the rear. At the tree line she paused and looked back at the towering plant. "I don't mean to upset you Emma but I think we make quite the team!"

She sighed and shook her head before turning away again and jogging slightly to catch up to the rest of the group. The annoying part was that he was right; they had been a good team. She wasn't really sure what she felt in regards to the pirate but if she was forced to name it at gunpoint she would have probably said disappointed. She'd really wanted to believe in him, especially after seeing the look on his face when he talked about his Milah. But she'd learned the hard way that people like that just couldn't be trusted, no matter how badly you might want to.

0oo0o0ooo

Hook sat staring at the treasure room around him, no longer angry but bored out of his mind. He'd given up trying to pick the cuff's lock several hours ago after it had proven futile; at this point he was positive that it held some form of magic. He'd also given up yelling for the giant to let him go a little while after that. The creature had told him that he'd be let go in ten hours, no more no less, and that if he persisted in being annoying the giant would forget his promise and kill him. So he'd taken the smart approach and shut his mouth. He couldn't very well hunt a crocodile, or his clever little princess, if he was dead now, could he? He smirked at the thought of her; he couldn't wait to get back at her for this.

This was the second time he'd underestimated her and she'd made him pay dearly for it. He swore that it wouldn't happen a third. Well at least he could comfort himself with the knowledge that it wasn't a total victory on her part.

Hook rolled his shoulders and then lifted his wrist with the magical bracer up for closer inspection. Already he could see a slight glow around it and he could feel the magic pulsing through him. He smirked and then chuckled; no she hadn't really won at all yet. He wondered; as he twisted his good arm this way and that, how long it would be before she tried to take it off. He dearly wished he could be there when she did, if only to see the shock on her face. To see the realization, that he'd well and truly tricked her.

He hadn't had this much fun in years.

A/N:Please Read and Review! ^_^