Chapter Text
The rooster crow cut through Emma’s sleep, waking her and making her wince all at once. It was bad enough that this town was full of fairytale characters; did they also have to keep chickens next door? Rolling out of bed and jamming her feet into her slippers, she headed for the kitchen, hoping some coffee would take the edge off.
"Rise and shine everyone!” Snow chirped as she opened the windows. “Rise and shine."
"I'll rise,” Emma said, “but I refuse to shine."
"I’m making breakfast!" Snow said brightly. “It’s the most important meal of the day, you know.”
Emma did know, and Snow trying to make up for 28 years by going extra maternal was great, but her mother was also a princess who had never had to be useful in her life and a terrible cook. “No time. I’ll just grab a bearclaw.”
Emma made it out the door a few minutes later over Snow’s protests.
--
Stepping in the door at Granny’s, Emma let the delicious smells waft over her and felt content. Maybe she’d stay and have some pancakes or something instead.
“Swan! Just in time to join me!”
Turning, she saw Hook at a table for two, gesturing to the seat opposite. So much for pancakes.
“No time. Very important sheriffing to do. Just here for a bear claw.” She made a beeline for the counter, where fortunately there was a lull in the line, and she was marching back toward the door with the pastry and a cocoa in moments.
Hook was standing beside it, looking at her expectantly.
“What now?” she asked.
“If there is a crisis in town, of course you need my help.”
“Don’t be ridic-” she began, looking at him instead of where she was going as she walked through the door.
“Look out!” she heard, a split second before colliding with something solid. Something solid and, she realized as she turned, drenched in her cocoa. Solid and drenched in cocoa and extremely angry.
“Regina! I’m so sorry.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I-”
“Watch where you’re going!”
“I know, I’m-”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it, Miss Swan. You have ruined my shirt. That’s twice this month. Stay away from me.” Regina’s eyes were blazing, but her tone was icy.
“Sorry,” Emma mumbled, not knowing what else to say. She managed a weak smile at Henry, who she saw now was standing next to Regina and looking very worried. She realized he had been the one to try to warn her. Then she walked away as quickly as she could. Hopefully Regina would get over it soon.
She was out of the patio area and had turned to go to the station before she realized that Hook was still tagging along with her. Could this day get any worse?
“That witch was out of line,” he said conspiratorially.
“Don’t call her that.”
“Wench, then. As you like. She was most unreasonable.”
Emma had a sudden inspiration. “Hey, Hook, you know I could really use another hot cocoa. Can you go get it for me?”
He scowled. “I’m not your errand-boy.”
“No, of course not,” she said, trying to look very serious. “But I need it. For the crisis.”
“Yes, the crisis!” Hook said, nodding. “I’ll meet you at the sheriff’s station.”
She breathed a sigh of relief and continued on her way. At least she’d have a few minutes without him hanging around, puffed up with mistaken self-esteem. Today had really been bad enough already. If only she could never have to deal with him again.
Suddenly, she heard a car horn, a crash, and a scream from the direction of Granny’s. She didn’t even think, she just sprang in to action, running toward the trouble. Someone needed help.
As she got closer, she saw that a car had gone up onto the curb and hit a lamppost, which had fallen, oh no, onto somebody. As she got closer, she saw black leather pinned underneath it. It was Hook, and she immediately had to look away because his injuries were so severe that it turned her stomach.
“I don’t think I’ll be getting you that cocoa,” he gasped out when he saw her, barely audible. Doc was kneeling beside him, looking bewildered about what to do to help him.
“Don’t worry about it,” she said, feeling horribly guilty. If she hadn’t sent him back here-
Hook shuddered and lay still. Her eyes went to Doc, who shook his head sadly.
Emma was surprised to find that she was tearing up. Not five minutes ago she had been thinking how she wanted Hook gone from her life, and now he was. He was annoying as hell, but this was awful. He didn't deserve it. And it really felt like her fault for sending him on this cooked up errand to get him out of her hair.
--
She spent the rest of the day in a daze of guilt and sadness. Somehow, in death Hook seemed more like a mildly annoying sidekick than someone who’d tried to kill her, stalked her, and been generally slimy for years now. He had his funny moments, didn’t he? As she crawled into bed, she felt bone-deep weariness that couldn’t possibly be grief.
--
The rooster crow cut through Emma’s sleep, waking her and making her wince all at once. Rolling out of bed and jamming her feet into her slippers, she headed for the kitchen for some coffee.
"Rise and shine everyone!” Snow chirped as she opened the windows. “Rise and shine."
"I'll rise,” Emma said, “but I refuse to shine."
"I’m making breakfast!" Snow said brightly. “It’s the most important meal of the day, you know.”
“No time. I’ll just grab a bearclaw.” She suddenly had the strangest feeling they’d had this conversation before. Shaking it off, she made it out the door a few minutes later over Snow’s protests.
--
Stepping in the door at Granny’s, Emma let the delicious smells waft over her and felt content. Maybe she’d stay and have some pancakes or something instead.
“Swan! Just in time to join me!”
Turning, she saw Hook at a table for two, gesturing to the seat opposite. The memory of seeing him die came crashing back. “Hook? You should be dead."