Tina nodded. "Well, maybe you'll figure things out too." She smiled a little and gave Rachel another quick hug. "Anyway, I'm going to head back before Gold gets pissy again."

"Good luck with him," Rachel said, returning the hug.

"You too." Tina grinned. "I'll see you again in a day or two." Because now that she knew how to get to the ship she planned on visiting often.

"If you're allowed to escape," Rachel teased gently. She gestured for her friend to go. "Get going. See if you can soften him up a bit with some pastries. And for the love of all things holy, bring me some."

Tina laughed. "Will do." She grinned before she headed back over to Gold, still grinning.

Hook watched her go and waited patiently for Rachel to come back.

Once Tina and Gold were leaving, Rachel went back over to Hook.

"Try not to piss him off so much," she said.

"Love, we've been pissing each other off since long before the curse, even," Hook said with a shrug. "It's habit by now. I can't not."

"And he can set your ship up in flames," Rachel pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "Have you not noticed how fond he is of fire magic?"

"I have, but he hasn't yet," Hook pointed out. "Besides, he's more distracted now, more worried about keeping her happy than being rid of me."

"Why does he want to be rid of you?" Rachel asked curiously. She'd been wondering for a while. "Don't glare at me," she added, "you brought it up."

Hook was quiet for a few moments. "Milah," he finally said quietly. "Because of Milah."

"Milah whose name is on your arm," Rachel said. It wasn't a question.

Hook sighed. "Yes, that Milah," he said quietly. "She came to me one night after I'd been drinking with some of my crew, asked me to take her with us. Practically begged, actually. So I did." Hook was quiet for a moment, looking at Rachel, debating how much to tell her before he sighed again. "She was his wife. Rumplestilskin's. He came looking for her, so I challenged him to a duel to take her back. He declined. We left. We returned perhaps two years later, and he'd become the Dark One by then. He found us. Instead of asking for her back, though, he took my hand and killed Milah before he left."

"You... stole his wife?" Rachel asked, looking at him.

"I did not steal her. She asked to come with me, and I gave him a chance to get her back. She didn't want to stay with him. I was just the first most convenient chance to get away." Hook looked away from her.

"And you didn't send her back when you realized she was someone's wife?" Rachel asked.

Hook sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I talked to her about it," he said. "Believe it or not, I don't actually make people do anything against their will. She wanted to get away from her husband, make a new life for herself. I let her."

"There's more to it than that," Rachel said quietly after a moment. "I can see that there's more to it than that. Her name on your arm? And I'm betting those clothes you let me borrow were hers." She looked at him. "You cared for her. You cared a lot. And I'm betting you still do." And that observation hurt a lot more than Rachel wanted to admit.

"Yes, I cared for her. We grew close over time after I let her on the ship. But she's dead, and there's nothing I can do about that." Hook shook his head.

"But you still love her." Rachel was sure of that now.

"I doubt I will ever not," Hook said with a shrug. "That doesn't mean I can't love another woman."

"But I doubt another woman is going to want to take second place," Rachel said before she could stop herself. When she realized what she said, her eyes widened and she raised a hand to her mouth. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

Hook shook his head after a moment. "It's fine," he said, looking off to the side. He knew who they were really talking about, after all.

"It's not fine," Rachel protested. "It wasn't-- I didn't mean--" She stopped. She had meant it, and it had been intended as a jab. She bit her lip. "Maybe this isn't a good idea."

"Yes, well, as you've been quick to point out, I excel at bad ideas," Hook said, perhaps a little upset about that.