After All

Chapter 13

A sudden rainfall started minutes after Emma and Killian began their journey. It was so strong it made them stay the rest of the night in a small inn nearby the town. The place was not that bad, they at least had a bed and a small window with view to the woods. Plus, it was cheap. 

"We shall continue tomorrow morning" Emma said once they were in the room. 

She untied the red ribbon in her hair, leaving it loose, and laid on the bed. Hook stared at the window with a blank look. She was thinking about asking him what was going on when she felt her eyes closing until she couldn't help falling asleep. 

Hook watched her with a sad smile on his face. Taking some coins from his coat he went to the little tavern downstairs and asked for a drink. 

Two hours had passed when the princess opened her eyes again. The room was dark and a cold air was swirling all over the place. The rain had ended, leaving a damp atmosphere in the outside. Taking a look at the clock she saw it was past midnight. After noticing Hook's absence she put on her cloak and boots. 

She went downstairs following the voices that came from the tavern, which was more like a small room filled with tables and chairs. Once there, she found who she was looking for. 

"Killian" she said staring at him "What are you doing?" 

Hook took a sip of wine from a black bottle and grinned. 

"Having a drink with these gentlemen" he replied. A group of four men were in the same table with him. 

"Why?"

"Can't I have a drink and give myself a break?" He contested in a strong tone. 

Next to him were two other black wine bottles completely empty. 

"Damn it Killian, you are drunk"

Emma began to worry. She had never seen him drunk and it wasn't a good sign. 

"Bring me another one please!" Hook ordered out loud. 

"No more wine. Let's take you back to the room"

He said something nobody understood, making the men laugh at his comment before drowning themselves into more alcohol. Ignoring Hook's senseless pleads Emma used all her strength to pull him back to the room. Magic wasn't the best option with all that people present. 

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Emma said madly once they made it upstairs. 

"Why keep on questioning me? I was just drinking" he sat on the edge of the bed, placing his hand on his forehead. 

"I had never seen you this way"

"This is the real me, love. This is who I really am. A drunk and pitiless man"

"Nonsense. I know you're better than that. I just don't get why you did it"

"Why don't we put the cards on the table, love? You a princess, me a pirate" he stood on his feet, surprisingly steady "We have differences and complete opposite ways of living. This wasn't going to work anyway" 

His words were ice cold for her heart. Emma felt her eyes becoming tearful. 

"You don't mean it. You are not sober, that's why" she said trying not to burst into tears. 

"Your life was far much better before knowing me. You can now go with your royal parents and swim in riches while I spend the rest of my days in misery and loneliness. Go back to your spoiled princess life"

That was it. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. In other words, what made her slap him hardly on his face, making him fall to the ground. 

"I gave up that life to give myself the opportunity to explore the world. I left everything behind to be with you!" she snapped furiously as he stared at her with wide eyes "But now I see things clearly, I have been waisting my time. You made me throw six months of my life to the garbage. Half a year which I'll never recover" 

Emma took a small leather bag from the floor and tightened her cloak. 

"Wh-where are you going?" He asked concerned. 

"The castle, the place which I can proudly call home" 

"It's dark and dangerous out there. You can't go out!" Hook said still lying on the ground. The punch was slowly making him get control of himself. 

"Watch me" She made her way out with tears already falling from her eyes. 

"Emma" Killian called for her, making the girl stop at the room's entrance. She stood there for a matter of seconds before speaking. 

"I thought we had something special. Thanks to this I realize we didn't. I was a fool for opening my heart to you and it was the biggest mistake I've ever done" she said without turning to meet his broken gaze. 

I believed that you loved me. She thought with gloom without having the courage to say it out loud. 

"Farewell, Hook" 

With that said, Emma shut the door behind her and ran downstairs without controlling her sobbing. Once outside the inn she took the white horse and rode through the dark woods with the moonlight as her only guidance. 

Killian wanted to follow her, tell her he was sorry. But he couldn't. He was still under the effects of wine. 

Slowly, he went downstairs screaming Emma's name loudly. With clumsy steps he tripped over a man, making him spill his drink over another man who was standing close. He got quite angry so he knocked Hook out with his bare hands. 

"Emma" he whispered before everything turned black. 


*****

Uuuhhh cliffhanger!!! I love those hehe ;) hope you enjoyed!! Don't worry, I'll post next chapter quite soon