It wasn't love

I.

And when, when the night falls on you, baby
You're feeling all alone
You won't be on your own

He met her when he came back to the Enchanted Forest, decided to finally get his revenge. He was walking around in the woods, lost in his thoughts, when he saw the redhead carrying a basket of laundry.

Her name was Sarah and her eyes reminded him of Milah and for once he wanted to get lost in someone's embrace and pretend that Milah was still alive.

But she said no. She knew who he was… and she refused.

He didn't give up. He could have many, he knew. But he loved a challenge.

It wasn't love, he said. It was the chase.

She finally agreed, on her terms, because she wanted to have a good time. He made sure she did.

It was the chase, she said. She appreciated the chase.

And then he came back. He kept coming back.

It wasn't love, he said. It was comfort.

In her little cottage in the forest, he felt different. He could escape his own vow of vengeance and just exist for a night. A warm dinner by the fire, tender arms holding him through the evening, a soft smile for him, real laughter and conversation.

It wasn't love, she said. It was company.

She had long ago given up on finding true love or even love. She lived a simple life and it was all that it mattered to her. She didn't ask for more than what had been given to her.

The first time he offered her a pouch of gold, she threw him out of the cottage in the middle of a storm. I might be poor, but I have my dignity, she told him; and it reminded him of Tink.

He never brought it up again.

He got back from one of his trips one day, pillaging and plundering thoroughly conducted, and went to see her.

She didn't have to tell him, he guessed from her rounder belly and fuller breasts. He never asked if it was his, he didn't have to. She told him not to feel any obligations, it was her choice and she'll live with it. He told her he'd be there for her and the child.

It wasn't love, he said. It was good form.

And then she died giving birth and he was left with a little baby boy with reddish brown hair and blue eyes.

When he held him for the first time in his arms, he knew. It was love.

So he kept him. His son, Liam Jones.

II.

When you're standing at the crossroads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along

He noticed her green eyes right away and it gave him a funny feeling. Something he had not felt in a long time.

It wasn't love, he said. It was noticing a pretty lass.

And then she put a knife on his throat and called him a liar. She bested him. Nobody had bested him a long, long time.

It wasn't love, he said. It was admiration.

When she pulled him towards her on the treasure room, his entire body hummed a tune he'd never heard before.

It wasn't love, he said. It was attraction.

And then she chained him to that wall and he lost his mind, his poise. He was desperate. He needed to go back.

"Have I told you a lie?" He pleaded.

"I cannot take a chance that I'm wrong about you…" She said.

"Swan!" He yelled. "Look at me!" She heard the silent plea in his voice and something made her turn around.

"I will help you get back to your son. I won't betray you, I promise." His voice was so full of truth that her walls came down instantly, almost against her will. Something made her go back and release him. A pirate on their side will come in handy to get out of there, she thought.

It wasn't love, she said. It was convenience.

He stayed with her all the way through, until they were able to retrieve the ashes from Cora. He was cunning and convincing and had no problem with doing the dirty work. He only asked that when the time was right, he'd go with them.

He risked his life for her. He hadn't done that in a long time; he had never intended to do it again. But every time he thought about crossing her, the idea of her never returning to her son made him stop.

It wasn't love, he said. It was guilt.

And then they were ready. They had the ashes and the compass and all they needed to do was head to Lake Nostos.

"We need to make one final stop." He told her, a plea in his eyes. And she agreed, something in his blue eyes was telling her it was important.

It wasn't love, she said. It was curiosity.

Then they were approaching a cottage and a small boy with brown hair and blue eyes came running towards them.

And Emma Swan watched how Captain Hook got on his knees and hugged the boy tightly, tears of joy in his eyes.

And she understood. That was love.

He stood by her side when Cora attacked them, the fairest of them all protecting Liam with her bow and sword as he and Emma battled the witch. When he watched Cora tried to take her heart, his own heart stopped, fear running through his veins.

And then her magic blasted Cora and he sighed in relief.

It wasn't love, he said. It was the memories.

He held Liam tight in his arms, looked at Emma and nodded. They jumped.

III.

I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you

The first thing he noticed was a brown haired boy, only a few years older than Liam, running towards her.

And he smiled.

The second thing he noticed was the Dark One standing right there, giving him a snarky grin.

"Well, well, well, look what came through the portal…" Gold sneered.

He stood in front of Liam, shielding his son from danger… a primal sense of protection invading him.

Gold noticed. "And look what the pirate has… I shall have fun with this." He said before raising his hand.

"NO!" Emma screamed as he stood next to him. "You will not touch them." She ordered.

Something in her made the Dark One retaliate, giving the pirate one final death glare before disappearing.

His eyes looked at her with gratitude. "Thank you, Swan."

She smiled at him.

It wasn't love, she said. It was her duty as sheriff.

This world was strange, very strange. He noticed Liam's frightened stare and his heart broke. He needed to figure this out for his son's safety.

Swan helped him. She found them a place to stay, near her, just in case Gold decided to attack them. She explained about schools, clothing, lodgings, and food. It was all confusing, but he did his best to understand. He'd been a pirate long enough to know that adapting to new situation was key.

She only asked one thing in return. She asked him to give up his revenge. For Liam.

"Give him a chance to have a new life. If you go after Gold, he'll kill you. He'd be an orphan… do you want that fate for him?" She asked, her eyes filling with tears. A lost girl begging for history not to repeat itself. His own eyes filled with tears as he slowly nodded, giving up three hundred years of revenge and hate for the chance to raise his son. Because he loved him more than the memory of Milah and his promise of revenge.

He collapsed on the floor and cried for his unkempt promise. She kneeled and stood by him.

It wasn't love, she said. It was human decency.

IV.

When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess, could make me love you less

He slowly adapted to this realm. He found work in the docks, next to his old crew. He picked up Liam from school every afternoon and cooked for the lad. He read him stories about fairytales and pirates. He taught him about swordfight and good form. He told him he was named after the most honorable man that had ever walked this or any other realm.

He ran into Emma frequently, either at Granny's or waiting to pick up their children. She'd smiled and inquired if he needed anything. He'd smiled back and said he was doing fine most of the time, although the nights were a bit lonely in his bed. He'd raise an eyebrow intently at her and she would roll her eyes at him.

It wasn't love, he said. It was flirting.

And one day the Crocodile took her and her son out of town and he did not stop worrying about her, fearing for her safety.

It wasn't love, he said. It was common sense. The Dark One was dangerous.

A few days later, he heard a knock on his door late at night. When he answered, she was there, tears running through her eyes.

"Swan…" He whispered before she threw herself into his arms and he hugged her tightly.

She told him the entire tale that night as he poured two tumblers of rum. He knew bits and pieces of the Neal story, how he had broken her heart and her trust.

Neal was Gold's son. Neal was Baelfire, Milah's boy.

And Neal was back in town and Henry was mad at her and she couldn't cope. So there she was, seeking him for something she didn't have a clue what it was.

But when she finally broke her walls down and cried for the pain the last decade brought on her, the pain of abandoning her son, the pain of feeling a pawn in someone else's game; he held her tight and stood by her.

It wasn't love, he said. It was friendship. He'd stand by her as she stood by him.

He didn't leave her alone after that. Every time she turned, there he was: a silent, comforting presence. As she endured her son's temper, Gold's insinuations to give Neal another chance, her mother's believe in true love and second chances, he just stood by her. He would give her his flirty smirk and outrageous innuendos if he felt she needed to laugh or he would just sigh, ran his hand through his hair and tell her that this shall pass eventually. He would invite her and Henry to have ice cream with him and Liam, or just to stay with him at his place and have dinner.

It wasn't love, she said. It was friendship. He only had so very few friends in town.

And then one day he stood for her in front of Neal, when he was threatening her about taking Henry.

When he saw Baelfire belittle her, something in him snapped. How dare he even consider talking to her after everything he'd done? He wasn't worthy to even breathe in the same space as Emma: strong, fierce, tough Swan. Beautiful Swan.

His Swan.

As Neal finally left, he turned around and looked at her. He could read in her eyes the same awe and realization that was dawning on him.

His hand cupped her cheek as a soft smile came to his face. She looked at him with her beautiful green eyes full of hope, a small smile on her face as well.

And then he leaned in and kissed her.

It wasn't love, he'd said so many times.
It wasn't love, she'd said so many times.

It turned out, it was.