A/N: This is my very first FF and English is not my mother tongue, so please be indulgent to me :) - I also have to thank Hookedonapirate. She doesn't know, but without her support and lovely words I would have never published anything - THANK YOU :)
prologue
"So why don't we, love?", Killian got a bit annoyed. Far too long he felt imprisoned. He loved Emma, Henry, the Charmings but he missed the sea, missed his ship, missed the life of a pirate - or at least a sailor. His reputation was ruined, being a pirate from now on impossible – anyway, he was the True Love of Crown Princess Emma of Misthaven.
So much has changed in the last year. Storybrooke was left behind, vanished again. A few stayed behind in the modern world but nearly everyone came back - back home to the Enchanted Forest. Now Queen Snow and King Charming were building up their kingdom again. With a little help of Regina and Emma, Henry was having the time of his life, but he, Captain Killian Jones, felt misplaced.
He was having another discussion with Emma, about a mission Charming wanted to send him on. The king himself had talked Emma into joining Killian on the mission. "But it will be a year, Killian. I can't leave them that long, I can't leave Henry", she sat on the edge of their bed, face in her hands. He did understand her, her concerns, her anxiety, but it was the first time in a long time he wanted something to fight for. Even Snow White told Emma to go. That they would take care of Henry. That she should go with her pirate uhm formerly pirate. He now was Captain Killian Jones of the Royal Navy of Misthaven. Back again in the navy, again sailing under the flag of a kingdom, but this time it was different as the princess was his girlfriend. As his loyalty was not for anyone - it was the loyalty for her and her parents, her kingdom.
He sighed and sat next to her. "Emma, love, I do understand, but this is important. For me." She looked up, she could see the concern on his face, the importance for him. He was now back on duty but she and he knew that this was just a title, just a job so he did anything. He would go anywhere for her, he would do anything for her. But when King Charming gave him the opportunity to go on a mission at sea and take her with him he was in head over heels. But now he had to talk her round. His Swan, his love, his life. He wouldn't go without her. One year without her in his life had been enough. He would stay. Find another profession - for her. There was enough work to do. He would do anything for her as long as he was by her side. But he instantly hoped that she would come with him. Support his wish, his desire. Maybe it was selfish but the sea was calling his name and official or not, he still was a pirate, a man of the sea.
He sighed again. "Let's just go to bed, love." He got up again and went to undress himself. Emma watched him leaving their bedchamber. She hated to disappoint him, she knew he had done so much for her, but she couldn't leave Henry and her family that long. Or could she? On her daily walk with Snow today, the Queen herself tried to talk her into sailing away. Taking her time with Killian. Emma still was the Saviour, but there weren't any enemies to defeat. She has fulfilled her destiny. Now was time to enjoy her luck and her life. With Killian. Emma sighed and laid back. She thought about the last year. It had been such a different to the years before. She decided to stay with her family although that meant to go to the Enchanted Forest. To leave the modern world behind. But she needed to be with her family. Now that she was reunited she never wanted to leave them again. But she understood Killian. He gave up so much, he changed his life for her in more ways than she ever could for him. It was only one year, so why not. She trusted her parents, she trusted Regina and she trusted Killian - so many people to rely on and everyone told her to go, to enjoy, to live.
She hadn't noticed that Killian was back. He sat next to her and kissed her forehead. "We don't have to go, Emma. You know it doesn't matter where we are as long as I'm with you." Emma opened her eyes, tears welling behind them. She knew it was no lie, she knew he would stay for her. "I know and that's why we are leaving." "Swan, I really do...WHAT?" His eyes blew wide, a huge grin on his face. "You say, we go on the mission? Swan, are you sure?" Emma sat up and smiled at him. She was sure. The look on his face, the wide grin, the sparkling eyes. It was the right decision. "Yes, I am." Killian suddenly kissed her. It was a passionate and heated kiss. His hands held her tight. When he broke the kiss he hugged her. "I love you so much, Emma." She smiled and pressed her body to his. "And I love you, Captain Jones."
379 DAYS LATER
"When will they be back?", Henry was nervous. He hasn't seen his mother for over one year. Hasn't heard from her for weeks now. Every now and then a letter received the castle. Telling them how the mission went and how annoying everything was without a cell phone, FaceTime and Skype. But the last three weeks were quiet. No letters, no information, nothing. Snow was a bit concerned. She knew that there were many dangers at sea, but Killian was an excellent captain, that was for sure.
"SNOW!", Grumpy yelled and entered the throne room. "The Jolly Roger is back. She is landing." Henry looked up. Snow and he exchanged glances. He was up in an instant, running through the open door. "Henry, wait! We have to find David first." But Henry didn't hear her. Snow looked at Grumpy. "I'll find him, you go to the docks." Snow White took Neal, she was so excited seeing her daughter again.
Henry was so nervous, he stood at the dock, waiting for the Jolly Roger to land. "Henry!", David clapped him on his shoulders and looked at him proudly. Snow stood next to him. The whole royal family was waiting for Emma and Killian. "Can you see them?", Henry asked David, but he shook his head. After a while the Jolly finally landed and the plank was put down. There she was. Emma stood on the ship, she looked at her family. Henry smiled. "Mum!"
Suddenly Emma turned her head. Someone was talking to her. She nodded and turned her head again. Charming watched her carefully. She wasn't wearing a gown, she wore tight trousers, her hair put up in a ponytail. Her shirt was tugged under a vest like Killian normally wore it. Snows smile grew wider - she observed Emma in awe. "Mum!", Henry stepped closer still smiling and excited. She smiled at him but her smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Where is Killian?", Snow asked, looking around. Before Emma was able to answer, a tall man was looking at her.
"Emma!?", Snows voice was concerned and low.
"Mr. Baskin, fill up our water supplies and fetch everything else we need", Emma commanded.
"Emma, where is Killian?", Snow slowly asked again but her daughter paid her no attention. She raised her voice and looked at the crew. Every man on deck stopped doing his task and looked up. "We'll leave at sunrise. After you secured the ship, you are allowed to go ashore. Who isn't back by sunrise will be left behind. Haddock, the ship is yours until I'm back." "Aye Captain", the crew called out in unison. She turned again, facing her parents. The concerned and confused looks on their faces made her shiver.
"Captain?! Emma, where is Killian? What do you mean by leaving at sunrise? What has happened?" David stepped closer. He went up the gang plank and touched her arm. Several men got up in an instand and came closer. Everyone was watching Emma and David. "Back off! Back to your duties", Emma yelled and faced David. She lowered her voice again. "Let's go to the castle. I'll tell you everything there."
Suddenly another man faced her. "Captain Swan, what shall we do with Ivory?" Emma turned and looked at the man. "He'll stay in the brig. I'll take care of him when we leave again."
"Emma?!", David now was irritated, "maybe you do not know, but every prisoner of a Royal Ship has to be sent to jail when you reach a port of your kingdom or an port of an allied kingdom." He looked around and frowned. Neither man of the crew wore a uniform.
"Emma?", he asked again now with his king voice, she turned her head and faced him, "Emma, where is Killian?" She didn't answer. "Answer me, Emma!", David yelled.
"Captain?!", Emma turned. Haddock and five other men stood about 6 feet in front of them, knifes drawn and looking at David. Davids eyes blew wide. Emma held up her head, she turned once more.
"Dad. This is not the time nor the place to have this conversation." She looked at him, stern and angry. "Mr. Haddock?"
"Captain?!"
"I think I will take care of Ivory now, bring him up." Her voice suddenly was dark. She turned again. David stepped back. He seemed to be satisfied expecting her to do as he said. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and waited. Emma looked around and snapped at her men. They put their knifes back into their belts and boots and went back to their duties. Emma watched them carefully. She didn't even notice that Snow and Henry stood on deck too.
Suddenly two men brought another men up. He was gagged and his hands were bound. He tried to free himself. Once he saw David his eyes blew wide. He fought even harder and suddenly his gag came lose. "Your Highness, thank god. Your Highness, your daughter, she went mad. After the pirate went over board she went insane. Talked us into a rescue mission. But, sir, that was pure madness." The man shouted at David, his eyes full of hope, full of relief but suddenly he stopped talking. Emma looked at him, her eyes burned into him.
A crew member hit the man hard in the face. "Shut up, bastard, you have no permission to talk. Neither to her nor to the king. You ever talking about our Captain like this again and I'll slam my boot into your mouth."
"Thank you Mr Haddock", Emma suddenly said and stepped closer. "So you think I'm insane? You think that I went mad after...", she paused and continued walking up and down in front of the prisoner. "Justin Ivory", she said sternly and stopped in front of him, "tell your beloved king what you and that filthy crew of yours did when your Captain...", she stopped again but this time because she was interrupted not because she wanted to stop.
"The pirate never was our captain", Ivory said and earned Emma's fist in his face.
"Shut up, you rotten bastard. Don't you dare talk another word like that about Killian." Her voice was hard, her eyes narrowed and nearly black.
"Emma, what's going on?", David asked slowly, he looked at Snow and Henry, than back to his daughter. He cleared his throat. He saw that the prisoner wore a naval jacket. "Lieutenant Ivory", he yelled, "as your king I command you to tell me what had happened." Ivory yanked at the arms of his guards but they held him down.
"Your Highness, a months ago we went through this storm. Clearly not a normal storm. My men knew that something was wrong, the pirate had led us directly into it and..."
Ivorys face suddenly went white. He looked up, Emma still stood in front of him, her arm pointed directly at him. Ivory chocked and tried to breath.
"Emma?", Davids voice was surprised but Emma payed him no attention. "I told you not to talk about him like that." Her voice was dark and harsh.
"Emma!" This time it was Snow who called her. In an instand Emma turned, releasing the prisoner who gasped and looked at her afraid.
"Escort the Queen and my son off the ship", Emma commanded. She was so tired of this. She faced the prisoner again. "Lieutenant Ivory, you and your men are guilty of mutiny. You and your men are guilty of disobedience. What do you say about it?"
"Not guilty, Your Highness", he looked at David who still was shocked seeing his daughter acting like this.
"The king can't help you. We no longer sail under his flag as you know. None of the men here is a naval officer anymore", she turned facing David, making sure that wether Henry nor Snow was on board anymore. "This is my ship, this is the Jolly Roger. I'm her captain and who ever disagrees is free to go now. Whoever is willing to sail with me and under my command is welcome to stay on board." She turned again. "So, Lieutenant, as you see, no royal navy ship anymore, no help from the king. I declare you guilty at all points." She smiled at him, it was a dark smile. "My punishment for you is to join the rest of your crew."
His eyes blew wide, he started to protest, he looked at David who was unable to do anything. He was watching the scene in front of him and didn't know what was happening. The other men on board started to cheer and yelled at Emma. She stepped closer and reached out. The next moment she was holding Ivory's heart in her hand. She smiled at him.
"Never again you will say that I'm insane. Never again you will say anything against Captain Killian Jones or my mission. That's your end." She crushed his heart, the dust ran through her fingers. Davids eyes blew wide. Emma smiled and cleared her hands when she heard Henrys voice again.
"Mum?!" She turned around. He and Snow stood on the gang plank, they looked at her in shock. Emma was furious.
"Didn't I command you to escort them off my ship? Who was in charge of this?" "Me, Captain, I'm sorry." A young men showed up behind them, holding his nose. On this shirt were blood stains. "Go and wash yourself", she ordered annoyed. She directly looked at Snow White but than again she spoke to her crew. "Clear the ship. Double ration of food tonight. Have fun at the tavern but behave. Haddock, as I said, the ship is yours until my return." She walked over to her mother and Henry. Snow was terrified but she followed Emma off the ship.
At the palace all three of them stared at Emma. "What the hell happened the last year?", David asked. "It's unacceptable that my daughter runs around killing people without any consequences."
"Where is Killian?", Snow White asked again, concerned.
Henry sat across Emma, he looked at her. "Are you dark again?" Everyone turned to him.
"No, kid, no of course not. But this man had to be punished. We thought he could tell us more about...", she looked at David but didn't complete her sentence. Instead she got up. "It's important to my men to show no mercy, to show them that I'm not a spoiled princess, that I can handle the ship and the crew as Killian did it." She turned around, looking in three puzzled faces.
"I think I should start at the very beginning. The day we left..."
