I was into this fic starting with the author's note! Because I feel exactly the same way every time I watch 4.01. Hook is having an unattractively pushy moment. (I mean, I try to remember that even if he's become a much better man and a hero over time - and certainly my very favorite character on the show - Hook's still human, and human beings get irritable and uncooperative and whine sometimes. But I certainly prefer him when he's *not* resorting to pushiness as his strategy of the moment). And as for Emma, Hook is certainly her friend by now, and seeing as it's been clear for a very long time that Hook's heart is very much on the line, she may not owe a friend gestures of romantic intimacy, but she certainly owes it to him not to toy with his affections!

I thought you handled the characters admirably, acknowledging Killian's anger (petulance, even) but also his intelligence - that he's (usually) very much a grown-up and often very good at crystallizing what's between them in careful words. Not to mention your acknowledging the way Emma *does* take him (and his constancy) for granted sometimes, without demonizing her for the sake of angst. It makes perfect sense that Emma has tested Hook's affections for a long time now, both on account of his initial track record and on account of who she is as a person, but sometimes her defense mechanisms can be... belittling, and that's... not for the best.

Fwiw, my two very favorite parts of the story were:

1. Killian saying he bloody well may have actually won her heart, but apparently he has yet to win her head - I thought that was simply terrific dialogue (and it's kind of sweet how his incredulity - and maybe gratitude? - in that moment is a gentle, implicit acknowledgment that he knows how cocky it was of him to say it in the first place, haha! My favorite scoundrel of all the scoundrels...)

2. The way you show Killian deliberately resorting to jolliness in order to maintain his composure at the end. I thought that was very nicely done. It wasn't fake, but it was a conscious choice on his part, and I thought that was extremely interesting and well-observed. I've seen writers who foreground Killian's sauciness/innuendos, and writers who foreground his anger/aggressiveness, and writers who foreground his kindness/empathy and intelligence (admittedly my personal poison; obligatory-but-voluntary swoon), and writers who foreground his melancholy, but it hasn't seemed super common to me to find someone who has a good grip on all of the above and shows how the various facets of his personality interact with one another. (Of course, I am being very presumptuous, since I am, of course, measuring them all against my own personal notions of his character, which are... just my own personal notions. Heh). I have no doubt that Killian is often sincerely and spontaneously jolly, but I liked seeing how you mingled his jolliness habits with the complexity of... you know, the rest of him in that moment.

Aaaaand now I'm going to read the other stuff you've written.

I would have liked to see Killian do that. Snap Emma out of the whole thing.

Man, this story is awesome. I've been waiting for one that has Killian standing up for himself without being petulant or belligerent or threatening to give up on her. And I like the point that you had him make, that Regina is responsible and it isn't fair to him to use that excuse.
Great job.

Totally hooked

*INSERT CRYING/DYING EMOJI EVERYWHERE* This was amazingly written, don't have so much doubt on yourself, you portrayed Killian's POV wonderfully. I really enjoyed reading this but THE ENDING CAN NOT STAY LIKE THAT FOR LONG BEFORE I BREAK SO PLEASE UPDATE SOON

"Swan, I promised you that I would win your heart," Killian insisted softly. "I bloody may well have actually done it... But apparently I still need to win your head,"

Best. Line. Ever.

Oh please tell me this is not a one shot... And of it is PLEASE do at least one more chapter! Lol

THANK YOU!
During the episode, I couldn't decide who I was more annoyed with, Pushy-Killian or Avoiding-Emma. I thought it was just me, that I was being difficult because I was expecting better from both of them after the season 3 finale. But you conveyed my frustration perfectly AND gave me a way to deal with it, so thanks for that. And for writing it from Kilian's POV, which made a lot of sense. And for giving him back some dignity, because it seems to me that he desperately needs it. The line between fighting for and pathetically begging is thin and he's getting a bit too close to it for my liking.
Is it too much to hope for that this is how it's going to happen on the show? :)

I loved this. It was perfectly in character. Great job :)

I call BS that you can't do Hook justice. I agree, he was a little pushy in the episode but I don't think it was completely out of character for a man who thinks he has finally, finally, finally won this woman's heart only to find her avoiding him because she feels guilty. You nailed a lot of really good points, especially how none of the other characters let life get in the way and I hope Killian actually says this to Emma in an episode. She already trusts him and turns to him for advice, so hearing it from him is what I think will get her to realize it. Or that's all just a really long way of saying I really liked this. :)

I think you certainly did Hook justice in your story! Definitely write more for Once Upon A Time and especially Captain Swan moments. You have a gift for writing. :)

Lovely! It's great to see a story where Killian's takes something for himself while still being devoted to Emma. Well done!

so good!

You got me with this one! It was perfect. :'(