"No!" Rachel said quickly. "No, this isn't your bad idea." She hesitated for a moment. "It's mine. It was a bad idea for me to think that maybe I could make this work." She bit her lip, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. "It was my bad idea."

"You aren't the only one that wants it to work, love," Hook pointed out, although he said no more than that. Because clearly she was upset.

Rachel just bit her lip and looked away, wrapping her arms around herself. She didn't want to leave, because she had nowhere to go, but she didn't want to stay, either. It would be too uncomfortable.

"Go ahead and get some rest," Hook said after a few moments of silence. "Think things over some. I have more work to do." He moved off without another word, scaling one of the masts easily and setting to work fixing rigging.

Rachel hesitated, and then stepped down off of the ship. She didn't want to be there, not right now. She didn't go far, though, just to the end of the dock. Sitting down, she wrapped her arms around her knees and tried desperately to keep from crying.

Hook left her there so she could think. After all, he couldn't help her make the decision, and he'd already made his opinion clear.

Rachel just sat there for a long time, staring at the water. She wasn't entirely sure what she was feeling anymore, and she didn't care to try to pick it apart yet.

Hook did keep an eye on her to make sure she didn't wander off or get in trouble or anything. But he did give her space, working on his ship quietly.

Tina, meanwhile, was still staying quiet, even as they got back to the castle. She figured she'd go hide for a while up in the tower taking note of what all was up there.

After a while, Rachel got up and cautiously made her way back over to the ship. She didn't step aboard, though. She just looked up at Hook.

Gold was still fuming a bit when they got back to the castle. Hook always managed to put him into the worst mood.

Hook blinked at that, making his way down slowly. "What's wrong?" he asked, making his way over to her.

Tina sighed and made sure he got inside okay before she moved to sneak off up to the tower for a while. Clearly he wasn't in a mood for company, or talking.

"I want to know something," Rachel said quietly, "and I need to know you're telling me the truth when you answer."

"Of course," Hook said. "Ask away." He had the feeling he wasn't going to like the question much, though.

Rachel was quiet for a moment. "How often do you compare other women to Milah, and find them lacking?"

"Other women or you?" he asked, his eyes narrowing a bit. Because there was a big difference in the answer there.

"Is there a difference?" Rachel asked. There wasn't much of one from where she was standing.

"Yes," Hook said quietly. "There is. Most other women barely get a second thought, and the ones I do look at long enough to compare to Milah don't compare. But you... you're different. You're smart and witty and kind and softer than she was. I can't compare you to her because you're too different, and you mean too much to be compared to anyone else."

Rachel's lip trembled as she wavered.

"You-- You don't ever think 'if only she did this like Milah'?" she asked, almost afraid of the answer.

Hook was quiet for a few moments. "When I first met you and first started talking to you, I would try to compare you to Milah," he said quietly. "I gave up after maybe a month. And, no, I don't ever think that. You are your own person, just as Milah was her own person. I would never wish you to be anyone but who you are."

Rachel blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. And then she broke, running over to him and hugging him. She clung to him tightly, trying her hardest to stop crying.

"I want this to work," she managed to say.

Hook blinked a few times before he got his arms around her, holding her there gently. He wasn't real good at comforting women, but he was at least relaxed.

"Just breathe," he said quietly. "Don't worry about it for the moment, alright? Just relax."

Rachel just clung to him, trembling.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, "I'm messing up your shirt."

Hook snorted. "I don't care about the shirt, I've got others," he said. "I'm more worried about you right now, love."

"I'll be okay," Rachel replied, although she still stayed close to him. She was a bit calmer, now, although still not completely calm.

Hook didn't let go of her, just holding here there for now. He didn't mind, after all.

Rachel slowly, gradually relaxed there in his arms.

"I'm sorry about that," she murmured finally. "I didn't mean to do that."