In a far off land, Susanna of Cagliari was a beautiful, spirited and proper young lady who loved nothing more than spending her days in her father's library, imagining herself being a participant of every single one of the adventures her curious mind had ever read of. Right now, though, she could only wish to be in the magical company of her beloved books. Instead, her hands were chained together while her arms embraced a mast, her back tightly pressed against the hard wood, so she was forced to look at the scenery she was brought into. Filthy men were fighting with swords and sticks and somewhere in the distance she could hear the shoot of a cannonball.

'Oh no,' she thought. 'Oh no, no, no, no, no. This is bad, this is really, really bad.'

She knew this year was glutted with bad luck, but never in her wildest thoughts would she have prophesied this kind of sinister fate. Only hours ago she was sitting at home, kissing her father goodbye and being ready to invade her very special world of stories. Yet, she had decided to pay the bakery a visit to buy some of her favorite delights for her everyday afternoon tea. What she didn't know was that at the very same time, pirates, who sailed under the crimson flag, had come ashore to stock up their supplies. Of course they didn't pay for what they took, which led to the consequence of persecution. The governor, who happened to be Lady Susanna's very father, had ordered immediate capture of the thieves and evacuation of the civilians. Yet, just when the troops were about to catch the outlaws, Lady Susanna, who had missed any of the occurred incidences, had left the bakery, looking very pleased about her recent purchase. She had also missed that four of the pirates were running directly into her, which led to the unfortunate trouble of becoming a captive of these very corsairs.

'Why did I have to leave the house? WHY?,' she screamed in her head.

'I could have had tea right now. Reading my books!'

Being a prisoner of pirates and being in the middle of a capturing by another ship wasn't even troubling her this much, it was the simple fact that her daily routine was ruined and there was nothing she could do about it. Just when she was frowning to herself, someone loosened the chains around her wrists. For a second, Lady Susanna didn't even notice the releasing of her hands. But before she had time to comprehend her rapid freedom, a bold, stinking man swung her across his broad shoulder and started running. The blood in Lady Susanna's veins stood still, she couldn't even make herself scream. Only then she saw, from an upside-down view, how close the other ship had gotten to the one she still was an involuntary member of. The stranger climbed up the wooden rail and Lady Susanna slowly began to understand.

'No,' she gasped, but before she could even try to loosen herself from his tight grip, the unknown man took a great jump across the deep ocean right beneath them. And there it was, a high pitched scream that made Lady Susanna's lungs ache with desperation. They landed with a hard hitch that went through their bones. The man wasn't running anymore but he still held her with a firm grip, not letting her go. She now started to punch the man in the back and kick around with her delicate legs.

"LET ME GO!" She screamed. "LET ME GO!"

But none of this seemed to bother the stranger. Then they entered a room, or more like a cabin, as much as Lady Susanna could see. The man took the Lady from his shoulder, much more gentle than he had swung her across it, only minutes ago. Lady Susanna, still bewildered by anything that had just happened to her, was almost about to tell the man about her gratitude for helping her to escape the other ship, when he pushed her down and forced her to sit on an uncomfortable wooden chair. The sudden movement made her squeak with surprise.

What was happening, she thought to herself. But before she could even ask, he tied up her hands together, yet again, using a thick hemp rope. When she looked up from her hands, baffled by her misfortune, the man was already gone. Lady Susanna could hear the sounds from the battle. Canons firing, men shouting, blades clanging. It was just then, that she slowly started to grasp where she was brought to. Her fearful eyes looked around and in the dim light of the candles she could recognize a single bed, a desk and a dining table right in the middle of the small cabin.

'Why did you have to leave the house…,' she blamed herself, 'Why?'

Just when tiny crystals started to form in her green eyes, the door opened. Lady Susanna blinked away the tears and starred at the door, her face mirroring rigidity and fierceness. Another man entered. She couldn't see his face in the dark light, but he was taller and thinner than the man who brought her aboard this ship. He wore a long black leather coat, leather pants and a red vest that almost glowed in the candlelight. For a moment he just stood there, watching her. Then, she could see something that resembled a smile and as he took a step closer, she got verified that it was, indeed, a filthy smirk. Lady Susanna gritted her teeth, raging on the inside. She swore to herself, if this man just took another step closer to her, it was going to be his last. Her hands may have been roped together, but her feet were still intact and ready to kick. Just when he attempted to take another step she screamed, with a very steady voice: "Stay were you are!"

The smirk on the stranger's face only got bigger now. He lifted his leg as if it was in slow motion and placed his foot carefully another step closer to the girl in front of him, obviously mocking her.

"I mean it!" She said. "Don't you dare coming closer, or-"

The man chuckled scornfully.

"Or, what, darling?"

Lady Susanna didn't know what to answer. All she could do was to look him right in the eye, furious and stern. Suddenly, he closed the gap between them in one quick movement, so his face was right in front of hers. She could feel his hot breath meeting her skin, which made her nervous heart only beat with an ever higher magnitude. From this striking distance his smile looked almost eerie and sinister.

"Cat got your tongue, now, love?"

He nearly whispered before he slowly moved back to his old spot in the cabin.

"But where are my manners?" He said, turning around and opening his arms.

"We haven't been formally introduced. Your rude tone implies that you evidently don't know who you're talking to. Looks like I still have to work on my reputation."

The Lady wasn't sure if that last part was meant for her ears or only as a note to himself. But before she could think about it any further, he went on, revealing his identity.

"The name's Killian Jones," he said taking a tiny bow while looking right into her eyes, making sure he had the girl's full attention, "and I am captain of this ship."

"Hold on, hold on!" Henry interrupted Hook.

"Killian Jones? Isn't that your name?"

"Aye," Hook nodded.

"And you want me to believe this is a real story? How stupid do you think I am?"

"I certainly don't think you're stupid at all, lad. Yet, you're missing the possibility of me not being the only one who ever went by this name. Or do you think you're in the exception of being the single titular of your name?"

Henry thought about it and shrugged.

"Probably not. But it's still weird."

"What's odd about it? If you hadn't cut in on me, you would've had learned that, in fact, this was the story of my grand-grand-grandfather who I was named after."

"You mean, your grand-grandfather was a pirate?"

"Grand-grand-grandfather. And yes indeed, that he was." Henry pouted, disbelieving.

Of course Hook was talking about his own past, but he could hardly tell this to the boy who still hadn't regained his memories back.

"However, he wasn't a generic pirate at all. There was one thing about him that differed him from any other man who was sailing with black sails."

"And what was that?" Henry asked. Hook raised his brow, annoyance in his voice.

"Will you allow me to tell this tale, or will you not?" He asked, calmly though.

Henry felt the warm blood rush to his cheeks, his eyes reflecting embarrassment. He didn't want him to leave.

"Good," Hook went on. "As I told, Killian Jones was no common buccaneer. He was a man with a code; a man of honor."

"Honor? Since when do pirates care about 'honor'?" Lady Susanna asked sniffy.

"Looks like you have a lot to learn, m'lady," was his answer.

"Now tell me, why do you think you're on this ship?"

Lady Susanna's eyes widened. She didn't even want to think about the different circumstances that might have lead to the cause for her bondage on this ship. Even the notion of it made the fear feel more prominent in her chest, yet she knew she mustn't show her dread.

"It's because my men were ordered at my behest to not only reprieve any innocent voyagers that were aboard but also to rescue them."

Lady Susanna blinked, her mouth open. This wasn't the kind of reason she was expecting.

"Did I confuse you, m'lady? I feel terribly sorry for perishing your image of my awful self." He laughed.

"I- I just," she didn't quite know how to answer. It surprised her that the matter of her capture was indeed an – honorable one, but she also didn't like the tone in this pirate's mocking voice. Disconcert she looked down to her lap.

"Then why, captain, are my hands tied?" She said, emphasizing the word 'captain' with a sharp tone. Killian puckered his lips.

"I thought you might like it," he teased her.

"That's not funny," she answered, anger in her voice. He came closer now, moving a chair to sit next to her.

"The rope was necessary for I didn't know your background." His voice was soft now, his azure eyes gentle.

"See, I couldn't take the chance on letting a foe frankly walk this ship at his own convenience. I had to find out about your riskiness first. So, who are you, m'lady?" Killian almost whispered.

In this dim candlelight his lips had the dark shade of cherries in late September. Lady Susanna tried to look away and forced herself to focus.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" She teased him back now and Killian sneered. He liked this.

"Perhaps I would." It was just then, that Lady Susanna noticed the silence. The battle must have been over.

"So, enlighten me, love. Are you a friend or a foe?"

"I am not a pirate's bride, nor am I a piratess myself, if you're asking that. I am, though, the daughter of the Governor of Cagliari and I am certain that he's already searching for me. So I highly suggest you to set me free, pirate!"

"Ohh, threatening again?" He answered, clearly amused about it.

"I understand, you are the daughter of someone important, love. Yet, I still don't know who you are."

Lady Susanna looked confused. What did he mean with that? She had just told him. Killian licked his lips before he went on.

"Let's do this again, shall we? Who are you?"

Lady Susanna blinked a few times, not sure how to answer.

"I- I'm… my father's-" Killian shook his head.

"What is your name, darling? Let's start with that."

"My name… my name is Susanna of Cagliari."

"Good," he answered. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Susanna of Cagliari."

She nodded, not sure where this was leading to.

"And what were you doing before you were captured by those corsairs?"

"I…" His head moved closer as she spoke, which distracted her immensely.

"I went to the bakery, to buy some… delights." She swallowed.

"Delights?" He echoed her words, his voice like velvet. Lady Susanna nodded again, her heart beating against her chest. His eyes, that reminded her of the deep blue sky after a heavy storm, never left hers.

"And what was your plan on how to spend your afternoon, if it wasn't for the inconvenience of your imprisonment?"

"Tea," was the only word her dried lips could form, her voice low and shaky.

"Hm…," he exhaled, before she added with a faint whisper "… and books."

Killian looked down, nodding insightfully, as if her declarations were very important details he had missed before. When he looked back into her eyes, his were filled with sincerity.

"You shall get reunited with your father, Lady Susanna, you have my word."

She didn't understand.

"Ex- excuse me?" She stuttered. Was he serious? Just like that?

"If that's your will, that is," he winked.

He must be joking, she thought. Why would he hold her captive and treat her like a dangerous opponent first and then promise her freedom out of the blue? He must be tricking her, she was certain of that. She felt the anger rise up inside of her chest again. If there was one thing Lady Susanna loathed, it was to make a fool of her. Even the attempt of a hoax made her furious!

"Does this amuse you? Playing with a girl's innocence? Toying around with her hope of freedom, simply because you feel like it? Do you really think this is funny at all, you stinking ratfish?" Lady Susanna's words felt like a slap in his face, but Killian didn't move an inch.

After a moment of heavy silence "I prefer Captain," was everything he said. Just when he wanted to stand up from his chair, the sound of a cannon startled them both.

"What-," Lady Susanna looked around, as if she would find the source of the noise in the cabin she was still sitting in. She thought the battle was over, where did this sound come from, she wondered. Killian was at his feet when the door opened.

"Captain, the marine," a crew member shouted before he left as quickly as he had appeared, leaving the door wide open.

Before Lady Susanna could even ask, the blade in Killian's hand gleamed metallic red in the light of the setting sun, his feet moving quickly towards the girl on the wooden seat. Lady Susanna closed her eyes, gasping, her heart almost tearing apart her ribcage.

'No,' she thought, yet again, but when she opened her eyes, Killian was standing tall, his back turned to her. She looked down to her lap and noticed that her hands remained tightly clenched; when she allowed herself to ease her fists, the rope fell down from her skinny wrists. Lady Susanna's eyes reflected confusion and incomprehension. She could hear the sounds of shouting men and firing canons from outside of the cabin. Killian looked over his shoulder, his silhouette glowing in the light of the sun. He waited a long second before heopened his mouth to voice the words that left Lady Susanna tongue-tied.

"This is your chance to escape, m'lady. Farewell, Anna." And then he left.