I had a pretty great Halloween so it only makes sense that I would make a fic with my two favorite characters...right?

Emma has been avoiding Hook since their return from Neverland, a feat she has managed quite amazingly until Henry reveals that he wants to dress as our beloved Captain for Storybrooke's Hallow's Eve Festival and enrolls Hook to help him. Now she's being forced to face her feelings as Hook begins to break her walls down but will he break through? Total Captain Swan fic

Hope you like it!

Chapter 1 of Hallow's Eve: Henry's Costume & Walls

"So kid, do you have it figured out?"

Henry looked up from his hot cocoa with a whipped cream moustache which prodded a warm smile from Emma. She had to fight the urge to brush back a bit of the hair that flopped onto his forehead, finding it hard to believe that he was here sitting in front of her in Granny's Diner once again as if they hadn't just survived their traumatizing ordeal in Neverland.

"Yeah," was the short answer as he sucked at his hot cocoa through the straw, his eyes lighting on the breakfast platters that Ruby brought to their table. Emma watched his face as their friend placed the food in front of them and tried to tamper down the ache in her chest as he instantly grabbed his fork and got to chowing. He hadn't been underfed on the island but he hadn't been fed as great as he was used to either and they were still working on putting weight back on him.

"Really? Well, that's great," she acknowledged when Ruby left as she mixed her hash browns around on her plate with her fried eggs over easy. "So who are you going as?"

Henry swallowed and opened his mouth to answer when the bells to the diner door jingled and she watched his eyes light up. He pointed his finger at the newcomer with a smile spread wide over his face.

"Him!"

She looked over her shoulder and felt her heart stop in her chest at the sight of Hook in the doorway. His blue gaze collided with hers for a moment before she turned and leaned her head against her hands with her elbows resting on the table.

"Really Henry? Are you sure?"
"Of course! Hook is awesome."

A long breath escaped her lips and she closed her eyes. She should have seen this going down. Ever since they had left that cursed island Henry had incessantly asked about stories of Hook, wondering at the sword fights and battles they had gone through to save him. In a way the pirate captain had become an idol of his over the last few weeks so the fact that he would want to dress up as him for the town's Hallow's Eve Festival shouldn't have been too surprising. She should have expected it a matter of fact.

"Are you sure you don't want to go as Peter Pan?" she teased and he looked at her as if she had just grown three heads before giving her an amused smirk.
"I'm going as Hook," he said a bit more firmly before waving his hand to capture the pirate's attention.
"Henry, don't," she hissed but he wasn't listening.

A few seconds later Hook's form was shadowing their table and she forced herself to look up and give him a small smile which he returned with a smirk before turning his attention to Henry.

"What is it lad?"
"I just want your advice is all."

Hook's eyes widened and he glanced at Emma who only stared at Henry with a look that spoke of long suffering and tolerance if he'd ever seen one. It was amusing to say the least and he decided to continue the conversation, fully focusing on the lad who'd become something of a shadow to him the last several days.

"And what is it you seek my advice about?"

He slid into the booth beside Henry, effectively ignoring the warning look that lit across Emma's face like a firecracker.

"I'm dressing up as you for the Festival this weekend and I was wondering exactly what I need to wear. Like do you always wear your coat or can I get away not having one? And a sword…I'll need a real sword huh instead of that wood one Gramps gave me."

Hook felt a bit flattered that of all the characters he knew, the boy chose him to imitate and it was hard to bite the fond smile back.

"I would be happy to help. However, it depends on your mother, of course."

Emma focused her attention on them when she finally comprehended Hook's words only to find that Henry was already fixing his puppy dog eyes on her and Hook was smiling at her with a bit of challenge reflecting in his eyes. Of course the ultimate decision would be on her. Crush the kids dreams or hand him over to the pirate to aid him in what she was sure Henry was already calling Operation: Hook Decoy or something of the like.

The staring contest felt like it went down for longer than it had when she finally let out a long sigh and fiddled with her hot cocoa mug.

"Fine, it's alright," she okayed much to Henry's relief and Hook's amusement. "But there are conditions."

Henry moaned but stopped when she gave him her mom look. He had already gotten away with too much the last several weeks since they had come back home and this seemed like as good an opportunity as any to slowly settle him back into reality.

"You have to promise me that you're going to finish your homework ever night, Henry. If it's not finished then you don't get to meet up with Hook after school the following day. Understand?"

He nodded eagerly and she smiled before continuing. "And you'll be home for dinner each night at 7. Sharp. No excuses."

His smile faltered a bit at that news and she wondered what it was he had in mind that would allow him to be out with Hook past 7. It wasn't like him and Hook could throw back shots of rum and shoot the shit together.

"And you," she turned her focus to Hook who had watched her in mom mode with a grin twitching at his lips. "You will be a good influence on Henry. No talking of wenches or the like and please keep the alcohol at a minimal."
"You've got a deal, love."

She rolled her eyes before glancing at the clock behind their heads. Eight o'clock and Henry had to get going.

"Hey kid, we better get you to school or you're going to be late."

Henry grabbed the remaining piece of toast of his plate and shoved it in his mouth, slinging his backpack over his shoulder as Hook moved out of the booth to let him out. Henry rounded the table to give Emma a quick hug before saluting the pirate.

"See you at the dock after school?"
"Sounds good, mate."

Henry threw a winning smile at both of them before turning and bolting out the door. Hook sat back down at the table across from Emma who took another bite of her breakfast while shooting him a wide eyed stare. Ruby sauntered over to the table and quickly down his order, throwing a smile and a wink at Emma as she walked away and Hook laughed at the expression on Emma's face which only caused her to narrow her eyes at him.

"What do you want, Hook?"
"Nothing except your company. We haven't spoken much since we've come back. It's kind of entertaining really watching the many ways you've gone about avoiding me the last several weeks."

She glanced away from his all too knowing gaze, embarrassed that she'd been caught. Since they'd pulled into the docks she had avoided him as if her life had depended on it, an act Neal had been indiscreetly excited about until she made it clear to him that she wasn't interested in seeing him any other day past dropping Henry off at his place. That hadn't been a fun discussion.

"I've been busy," she threw at him which he only quirked a brow at but still she pressed on. "I'm the Sheriff of this town. It's a time consuming job that I've been balancing with family time and Henry so sorry but I haven't really had a lot of time to swing by the docks to down a rum with you."
"I see, love, but it still doesn't explain you crossing to the other side of the street when you see me coming up on the hard trail."

She raised a brow at him and he let out a sigh. "The place you walk on by the street," he explained and it was her turn to raise a brow.
"The sidewalk?"
"Ah, yes. Sidewalk."
"Well, I apologize," she muttered and felt just the teeniest bit of sincerity deep down in her heart. "I'll be more aware next time."

He only nodded and she let her thoughts wander when Ruby came by the table with his plate, affording her a moment to think. Yes, she'd been avoiding him; she could own that but it wasn't just because she was a bitch or because she was busy. If she was being honest with herself it was because he scared her. They had grown close on the island, had had their vulnerable moments and he had come up beside her in a way that she had always wanted someone to do for her. He had fought for her and with her and the fact that he was staying in Storybrooke and sitting across the table from her was proof that he was still fighting.

"Anything else I can bring you?" Ruby's voice cut into her thoughts.
"Just the check," Emma answered after Hook mumbled his thank you, but no.

They both watched her retreating back as she headed for the bar and Emma looked at Hook warily. He took a bite of the waffles, spearing a strawberry on the end of his fork before shoving it in his mouth.

"So what are you up to today?" he asked and she stopped looking at his lips as he licked a bit of whipped cream from the corner of his mouth and tried to focus on his eyes.
"None of your business," she bit out in frustration that was aimed more at herself than him.
"You know, I know what you're doing, what all of this," he waved his hand at her in a circular motion with his fork in hand, "is."
"Oh yeah? Well, if you know so much about me what do you think it is I'm doing? Because last I looked I was working and being a mother."

He took in the pissed off look that colored her face and the hard glint in her eyes and felt himself rise up to the challenge. He had already come this far, he may as well go all the way.

"You've had your heart broken and you are so used to people leaving and never coming back that you have this wall up. And when you feel that someone is threatening the protection your wall provides, you avoid them and then when you can't avoid them, you snap at them to get them to back off," he said slowly and deliberately, his eyes never leaving her face. He saw something shift in her eyes and yet that hard glint gleamed. "Well, love," he continued, "Just so you know I'm in it for the long haul. You couldn't get rid of me if you sent the whole cavalry on my bloody ass."
"Hook, you are so off base, it's not even funny," she hissed and he gave her a wry grin that only aggravated her even further. "What do you know of it? What in the world makes you such a pro on issues of the heart?"
"Because I had walls," he let out on a long breath before leaning toward her. "And then you came striding in and I didn't want them anymore. I didn't want you to not know me so now the only walls between whatever this is between us, are yours."

His honesty took her by surprise and she could only gape at him with a slack mouth, the fight fading from her eyes.

It wasn't until Ruby came with her check that she showed any sign of comprehension and even then her movements were stiff as she shifted through her wallet and laid a twenty dollar bill on the table. He watched her slide out of the booth and pull her leather jacket over her sweater, flipping her hair out from under the collar before finally fixing him with a look.

"Henry comes home no later than seven," she was able to get out before turning on her heel and bolting out the door, nearly trampling one of the dwarves in the process.

"Is she okay?" Ruby asked and Hook looked from the closing glass door to the brunette who looked at him with a bit of concern in her eye.
"No," he answered. "Not yet."