Hooked (Hook's Daughter Fanfic) *Completed*

Chapter Two

"For God's sake, Rumple," a woman cried in exasperation as her husband shied away from the knife on the sticky table by the bar, "it's a dagger, not a dragon. Don't be scared of it."

"I'm scared because our son is dying," her husband argued. "He should be with us, not some village nursemaid." Milah thought back to the son she had been reluctant to leave behind.

Less than a day ago, their son, Baelfire, had been bitten by a poisonous snake - one which the healer had promised would kill him. But unlike her husband, Milah did not like to give up without a fight.

"I didn't spend our last gold coin on a knife to slice the roast at his wake," she argued back. "Bae only has a couple of hours left. Let's spend that time doing something to help him, something... something brave. For once." She kissed him passionately on his lips. "Now go." Milah watched as Rumple picked up the dagger and smiled to herself. Maybe he could learn to be brave, if he had the right motivation.

"All right," he muttered, then looked to her for encouragement which she gave with a nod. "All right." He repeated before leaving.

Milah stayed sitting. There was no point rushing back. Bae was in safe hands and her Rumple was finally doing something brave ... she hoped. As she lifted her mug of ale to her mouth, her doubt left her as somebody bumped into her from behind, causing the drink to spill over her.

"Oh," the culprit sneered, "did I make you do that? Oh, that's a nice dress and a pretty girl." He took the cloth Milah had kept in front of her while she was on her break and tried to wipe near her chest.

"Stop it," she protested, squirming and trying to push him away, "I don't need that."

"No, I got it. I got it."

"I'm fine," Milah said, more firmly, but she was rescued by another man who had seen her struggle. He pushed her attacker back so he stood between them.

"Leave the lady alone," he advised firmly.

"Or what?" the other challenged.

"Well..." Milah watched as he punched the other man so he fell to the floor, unconscious, before taking a drink from a passing tray.

"Thank you, sir," Milah said as the man turned to face her, his face softening now the problem had been removed.

"Captain Killian Jones," he told her, taking her hand and kissing it. "At your service, ma'am." Milah eyed him suspiciously as she took in his uniform.

"That doesn't look to be the uniform of any navy I've..." the penny dropped and her hopes fell. "Oh. You're..."

"Well, they call us pirates," Captain Jones shrugged, smiling. "We sail where we will and answer to no crown."

"I've not seen the ocean much beyond our small port," Milah admitted. "Is it wonderful to travel so much?" The pirate nodded.

"Aye," he said, taking the seat beside her. "Do you know... there are cities where the air smells of spices... and women are carried on jeweled chairs?" He stopped for a moment before continuing. "Would you like to see that?"

"W-Well..." Milah began. For a moment, she thought about running away with a man who could actually look after her - who would take her to the many different cities and let her try the hundreds of spices from upon her jeweled chair. But then she remembered her dying son. He was already deprived of having a decent father, she wouldn't let him lose his mother as well. "I would love that, but... I have responsibilities here. An ailing child. Husband."

"Ah, a husband," the Captain sounded disappointed and Milah doubted it was because she couldn't offer her services to him. "Well... it would appear a better man than I has won. But I am in port quite often... should that ever change."

She could feel her chance to escape slipping away. 'A better man than I' - if only that were so. Milah wished she could tell him the truth, but what good would it do. She had made a vow on the day of her wedding and one oath-breaker already existed within their relationship. It wouldn't do to have a second.

"It... it won't. But thank you." The pirate nodded before standing up and walking back over to the bar. Milah watched him go before turning back to her own drink.