All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

- J.R.R. Tolkien

AN:(Spoiler warning: I am starting the story right after watching 5.04, but I use whatever spoilers fit with the story, including certain set pictures.) (A&E own OUaT. qqueenofhades and killians-dimples on Tumblr own the post that inspired this story.)

Chapter 1: The Startled King

Killian drew the sword, Emma helped reforge it, and together they put an end to the Dark One once and for all. But there are still the echoes, the things she did under its influence and Emma doesn't want to face the town just yet.

Her first instinct was to run but she realized she didn't want to. Not unless Killian was running with her. So they wander instead, down the beach. Not to the docks, people would expect them there. They just wander out, arm in arm, away from Storybrooke, away from all the people she will have to face sooner or later.

"I love you," Killian says after a long stretch of silence.

"After everything I did? To the town, to my parents, to Henry, to you. Killian, I…" she takes a deep breath, fighting back tears. "I don't deserve it."

"Don't say things like that Love," he says, stopping and turning to face her. "I'm not saying the last few months haven't been difficult, not because of anything the Dark Swan did, but because I missed you. I don't begrudge a chance to help you find your way back to the light after a few months of darkness. It's just my way of thanking you for doing the same for me after three hundred years. Undoubtedly yours was the far more difficult task."

She stares at him silently, reading his sincerity in his face. He takes her hand in his, twining their fingers together.

"Emma, I love you. Nothing you, or the Dark One, or anyone else can ever do will change that. And I promised myself that I ever got a chance to tell you, the real you, I wasn't going to let it pass me by."

Emma blinks back tears and leans in to kiss him. It is slow and sweet and full of all the longing and loneliness of three months apart and all the relief of knowing that has come to an end. After a long time she pulls back, staring at him. "I meant it," she says finally "I didn't just say it because I thought I wouldn't get another chance." She gives a teary laugh. "I mean, no, I didn't think I would, and that did give me the push to actually say what I had been trying to get the nerve to say for weeks. I love you."

Killian smiles. "And no curses are going to get between us," he says seriously.

Emma snorts. "Have you met my family? Curses get in the way of love every other week, we just don't let them stop us."

"They do appear to have to find each other fairly frequently," Killian agreed with a grin.

"Finding people is easy," Emma says. "What you did was much harder. You helped me find myself."

"Aye. And I always will. It's no more than you did for me when I was still a villain Love."

"How did you do it?" Emma asks as they turn and walk further down the shore arm in arm. "Come back from the darkness?"

"I had help," he points out with a smile.

"I don't just mean coming back from the darkness though. I mean, how do I deal with the town? With my family?"

"Aye, there you have the advantage on me Love. I had an uphill battle to convince people I had changed. All you have to do is show that that you're the same woman, the same mother, daughter, Savior they know and love."

"How do I do that?" she asks.

"Just be yourself Emma. Your parents and Henry will just be relieved to have you back. You know they will. Belle has been known to willfully ignoremuch worse things than anything the Dark Swan ever did to her. As for Rumplestiltskin and Regina, well, I think both of them have a vested interest in believing that people should get a second chance after turning away from their inner darkness, an interest I will certainly remind them of if they forget."

"And what about everybody else?"

"They'll tolerate you because you're connected to the royal family of sheriffs. Then they'll get used to having you around. Then they'll start relying on you, just like old times. At least that's how it worked with me."

They walk until they reach the town line painted carefully by the dwarves, even out here away from the road.

"Hail to the king!" a voice shouts as they near town.

Killian has his new sword out of the scabbard and raised even before the answering voices reply "Long live the king!"

He is half expecting to find the Knights of the Round Table flanking King Arthur but they aren't. They are kneeling but Arthur is nowhere to be seen. He looks around trying to figure it out. Emma starts laughing, like it is just the funniest thing in the world. It's good to see her laugh like this, especially after everything, and he finds himself chuckling along with her even without getting the joke.

"What?" he asks finally.

"My… life…" she chokes out through her laughter. "Apparently… wasn't weird enough. Do you know how Arthur became king?"

Killian shakes his head.

"By pulling the sword, that sword, from the stone." She bursts out in another fit of laughter.

Killian actually drops the sword in surprise. "Please tell me you're joking Love," he says, picking it up again.

"Like I said. Dating Captain Hook isn't weird enough. Apparently I am now dating the new king of Camelot. Long live the king," she adds with a grin.

"Ummm…" he tries to lead her a little ways away to talk but his entourage gets up to follow. "Give us a minute would you?"

"As you command Your Majesty," their leader says with a deep bow, stepping back away from them.

"My life is weird enough," he assures Emma when they had walked a little way away.

"You don't have to be the king I guess," she says. "But you would make a good king. And as long as we are in Storybrooke being royalty mostly requires you to save the town occasionally. Which you already do."

"I don't like kings," Killian insists.

"You don't know any kings. Except Arthur." She frowns in thought for a second. "Okay. I can see why he would turn you off of the whole idea."

"You forget, I served a king once."

"An experience you learned from. Don't send your navy to Neverland and you should be fine."

"I would have a navy?" Killian asks.

"I don't even know if Camelot has an ocean. That is probably something you should find out before you make up your mind. We can ask my parents what they know about this."

"Aye," Killian says, glancing skeptically over his shoulder at the people who believe they are his subjects. "Perhaps they can help me convince Camelot that I am not a king." But he also knows that this is the first time Emma has assumed speaking to her parents is a good idea, so it can't be all bad. But that doesn't make being king a good idea.

They make their way back to Snow and David's apartment eventually and keep running into people who believe they are his subjects. He keeps shoeing them away, which is a lot easier said than done.

"Can I take you up on that offer to just flee Storybrooke altogether?" he asks after a dozen or so well-meaning people start bowing to him in the street.

Emma is actually relieved. It takes some of the pressure off of her if all eyes are on the possibly new king. As it stands people are more interested his current status as king than her previous status as the Dark One. Storybrooke has a short memory.

"You had very good reasons why that was a bad idea," she reminds him. "And I have no idea if we would still turn into trees. Let the dwarves figure out the town line. Most of the time it's you bringing me home. My turn." She walks purposefully toward the front door, trying to remind herself that they were perfectly good reasons not to just run away with Killian.

Henry must have spotted them heading up the street because he runs through the door, throwing his arms around Emma. Her parents and Regina follow him outside.

"Long Live the King!" someone shouts.

Killian rests his hand on the small of Emma's back and guides her inside so everyone else will follow, hopefully before they notice the people trying to bow to him.

"I'm so sorry," Emma whispers. "I never meant… I'm so sorry."

"None of that matters," David assures her. "We're just glad to have you back."

"You are back, right?" Regina asks, more practically than the others.

"Yes. I'm back," Emma answers. Her parents and Henry are all folded around her in a hug.

"Which is exactly what the Dark One would say," Regina points out.

"Regina!" Snow objects.

"No, she's right," Emma admits. "I know it will take time for you to believe me, if you even can."

"Which is definitely not what the Dark One would say," Killian says confidently.

"Are we just going to ignore the elephant in the room?" Regina asks. Emma freezes, wondering which thing she did counts for that. "Or I should say the king in the room. Why did several people just shout 'Long live the king'?"

"Right," Killian says. He is glad to take some of the pressure off Emma, but there has to be an easier way to do that. "That. They are under the impression that I am the new king of Camelot."

"Awesome!" Henry says.

"Are they right?" Snow asks. She moves across the room and picks up the baby.

"Technically, I think, according to their laws, yes. But I haven't decided if I am going to accept the job. I'm no king and I don't think 'because the sword says so,' is any basis for royalty."

"It's better than strange women lying in ponds," Henry said.

"That's a form of government?" Regina asked.

"What? Did no one else watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail as soon as Camelot came to town?"

"You weren't exactly using it for research purposes," David says with a smile.

Henry wrinkles his nose. "You have cursed memories so you know what people expect from Prince Charming," he says defensively. "I had to catch Violet up on what this realm expects of Camelot. I mean, I made sure Killian watched Peter Pan."

"Aye. That he did. A memory curse later and I still haven't been able to forget that travesty."

David grins.

"It's not like everyone was born into royalty," Emma points out, bringing them back around to Killian's possible kingdom. As long as they move forward to this situation, maybe she won't have to dwell on the crisis that just wrapped up. That is how Storybrooke always deals with a previous crisis, by finding a new one.

"I married into a throne," Regina says.

"And then took over," Snow points out.

"I was swindled into it by the Dark One," David says. "I was supposed to masquerade as a prince for a few days, a week at most. I mean, later I married into it, but before that I was being blackmailed by the district attorney."

"I was actually born into it," Snow says. "Which, come to think of it, may be no more reasonable than the rest of the ways."

"Actually, fighting so save somebody and defeat an evil that is older than any of us, including you, is not a bad way to gain a throne," Henry points out reasonably. "And what do you mean you don't know if you are going to take the job?

"I'm a pirate Lad," Killian replies. "Or I was. I'm not exactly cut out for a throne."

Henry waves a hand dismissively. "Mom didn't think she was cut out to be the Savior. Or a mom. Sometimes what you think you're qualified for doesn't matter."

"We'll see," Killian says noncommittally.

"It's late and it's a school night," Regina says after a while. "We should be getting home." She puts a hand on Henry's shoulder.

"I thought I'd stay here tonight," he says.

"I don't think…" she began but Snow intercedes.

"He'll be with us," she says softly. She doesn't say We can keep an eye on Emma, but the implication is there.

"Very well," Regina says, clearly not happy with the arrangement but accepting it. "Remember, you have school tomorrow so don't stay up too late."

Killian steps out in the hall to talk to Regina. "She trusts you, Your Majesty," Killian says. He says it quietly but it strikes her harder than a harsh rebuke would.

Regina froze. "You know what she did."

"Aye. And I know what I've done. And some of what you've done. And so does Emma."

"That was years ago," Regina says archly.

"Not when she first gave us a chance. Give her some of the same."

Regina sighs. She doesn't argue, but doesn't promise anything either.

Killian returns to the loft after she leaves. Emma is talking quietly to Henry, and Snow is trying to get Neal to sleep, leaving David and Killian a chance to talk.

"So, king of Camelot?" David asks with a grin.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you mate?"

"A bit," David agrees.

"I know you were friends with Arthur," Killian says.

David snorts. "I thought I was. But he was playing me, here and in Camelot, giving me a fake seat just to get me to support him."

"It's not a fake seat. He may have given it to you under false pretenses, but you are still a knight of the round table and that still means something."

"You think so?" David asks. "I think a new king would get to pick his own knights."

"Aye. Maybe you should be the king," Killian suggests hopefully. "You're already part of the round table. You're already royalty."

"Oh no. I already have a kingdom more or less. Actually between me and Snow we have two kingdoms. You aren't pawning your broken kingdom off on me. You want to pawn something, try Gold's shop."

Killian rolls his eyes. "I can't sell Camelot to Rumplestiltskin. I don't want it but I can't do that to them. I am well aware that he is no longer the Dark One," he admits. "But still…"

David stares down at the sword sitting on the table and at the names inscribed on it, his and Emma's names, side by side. "Maybe the kingdom is meant for you."

"You're only saying that because you think I'll let you keep Siege Perilous," Killian accuses.

"In my defense it's a comfortable chair."

"Aye. If I accept the throne, you can keep the comfortable chair."

"Fair enough. You can hide on the couch tonight if you want," David says. He glances over at Emma, still deep in conversation with Snow. "I would hate for your new subjects to ambush you in the dark."

He is loath to leave Emma's side, and also loath to run into the people of Camelot on his way back to his ship, so he gladly accepts the prince's offer.

He wakes in the night to the creaking of floorboards.

"Don't try to sneak past a pirate on a wooden floor," he says quietly. "I know the sound."

Emma freezes. "I couldn't sleep," she says with a sigh. He sits up as she makes her way over to the couch. "I haven't slept for three months so I'm out of practice. I didn't mean to wake you."

"I don't mind." He gestures for her to have a seat. "I've had my share of sleepless nights Love. When I first went to Neverland time, you were there briefly, you know how strange time can be there. Not exactly conducive to a good night's rest even under the best of circumstances and I was hardly at my best. And not sleeping is always somehow..."

"Lonely," she says quietly. She curls up on the couch, leaning against his shoulder. "Mind if I stay until I get tired?"

"As you wish," he murmurs, pulling the blanket around her too. "Stay as long as you want."

"Mmm," she says tiredly, leaning against him.

The smell of bacon and a beautiful woman stirring by his side is by far Killian's favorite way to wake up. He is fairly certain it is objectively the best. David and Snow are in the kitchen, talking quietly. Emma opens her eyes and blinks in the bright morning light.

"Getting the hang of sleeping again Love?" he asks her quietly.

"Yeah." She smiles sleepily. "You?"

"Never said I was out of the hang of it."

"You didn't have to."

"Aye. Though not as out of practice as you perhaps." He kisses her on the forehead.

"How do you take your eggs?" Snow asks.

He is a little confused by the question. For basically his whole life he has always taken them scrambled by the ship's cook or Granny. He is aware, in a vague sort of way, that there are other options, and theoretically perhaps his mother had fixed them some other way, but for that was a ridiculously long time ago.

"Chef's discretion," he replies, really having no idea how he prefers them.

"Okay. I'll give you several. Let me know which you like best," Snow directs him.

"Thank you, m'lady," he says seriously, at least as much for the fact that she considers his preference important to learn than for the eggs. She clearly intends for him to dine at her table more often.

It's strange sitting down with the family for breakfast. He isn't sure exactly when they decided to accept him as one of their own but he is certain they have.

"Can I stay home from school?" Henry asks. "I think my teacher would understand," he adds, grinning at Snow. "I mean, I just got my mom back." Killian has a pretty good read on Henry by now and suspects the boy is trying to use that as an excuse, not that he actually believe it should work.

"Didn't you use up your lifetime allotment of 'my mother is back' hooky during Operation Cobra?" Emma asks.

"He did," Snow agrees. "And if we let you out of school every time a lost member of your family was found, or a cursed member of your family was freed, the school would probably owe you days."

"Besides," Emma adds, "I need to figure out where Arthur went."

"Are you sure?" Snow asks, glancing sidelong at David. "Don't you need some time off after… everything?"

"I need to do something," Emma says. "I was the Savior, then I was the Dark One, and now I don't know what I am. I need to do some good. Unless…" she hesitates. "Unless you don't want me to." Unless you don't trust me. Killian can hear it clearly even though Emma, this Emma, hisEmma, doesn't want to force their answer by asking. He takes her hand beneath the table, reminding her silently that he does trust her, that he is here, that he wants her by his side.

"I'll be glad to have you back at the station," David says. "It's been empty without you. And I can use all the help I can get. How about you Killian, want to help us hunt a king?"

"Can I make him take back his kingdom?" Killian asks with mock hope. Henry laughs.

"No," Emma says with mock seriousness. "You cannot give the kingdom back to the man who brainwashed them."

"Fine. I'll help find him anyway. He should answer for leaving me saddled with it anyway. I just need to drop the sword off at my ship so it doesn't encourage the rumors and pick up a few books from Belle." Then he added in a mumble "aboutmynewkingdom."

Emma grabs her blue jacket and the various people scatter to their respective places for the day. Emma walks with Killian to his ship.

There are people waiting for him. They are mostly strangers, with a few people he knows to be Knights of the Round Table scattered among them. Presumably these are the people who think they are his subjects.

"Is there any chance your magic can whisk us onto the ship Love?" he asks Emma. He can feel her body tense against his for a second.

"I haven't used… Not since… everything."

"That's alright. I guess we do this the old fashioned way," Killian says. He squeezes her hand reassuringly before linking his arm with hers. "But I'm not facing my subjects alone," he adds with a challenging quirk of his brow.

There is no way to sneak around the crowd so he sighs and steps over, hoping he and Emma can squeeze their way through the crowd without being noticed. It doesn't work and everyone takes a knee for the man they think is king. He stands there awkwardly for a moment, Emma's arm linked with his, trying to figure out how to politely send them away. They all appear to have things with them, boxes, sacks, pieces of furniture.

"Is that a cow?" Emma asks, finally breaking the silence. What she really means is, why is there a cow on the docks by the Jolly Roger?

"Yes Your Highness," the woman says, bowing deeply to Emma without losing her hold on the rope holding the cow. She appears awestruck that Emma actually spoke to her. "A gift for His Majesty, the King of Camelot."

"Where did these things come from?" Killian asks.

"From the camp Your Majesty," the woman says, bowing again.

"They came over in the curse Your Majesty," one of the knights clarifies. "Not much did, but whatever did is yours."

Killian glances over at Emma for some sort of backup but she just shrugs. She has no more experience dealing with being treated like royalty than he does.

"But… why?" he asks. "All I did was pull a sword out of a rock. And I did it for the woman I love, not for a kingdom."

"It was prophesized," the knight says, as though that explains everything. "Your motives were not mentioned."

"That's how you ended up with Arthur," Killian grumbles to Emma. "Okay, but why this?" he asks, waving around at the items. "You just said that the curse didn't took little enough with you in the first place."

"Yes Your Majesty," the knight agreed, "but this is the only way we have in this realm to show fealty to our new King. And your ship should be decked out as befits your station."

"This is Storybrooke," Killian says with a sigh. "Shows of fealty aren't necessary. Besides, you live in tents. Either sell this stuff to get started in a new life here or keep them and use them to furnish your own homes. I like my ship. I have a comfortable place to live already. Use these for yourselves."

His subjects stare at Killian with some combination of awe and the belief that he has gone completely mad.

"He means it," Emma says gently. "Life is different in Storybrooke. And now that so many people have lived here for a while I suspect it will be a bit different in the Enchanted Forest too," she added, so if the people of Camelot were ever returned to their homes, Killian would not have to deal with this whole thing over again.

People bow and thank him as they leave. None of them quite sure what to do with themselves, or with a king who didn't seem to see himself as a king. A few of them try to leave gifts anyway and Killian has to catch them and send them away with their own property.

"I have to get rid of this sword," he says, seriously toying with the idea of throwing it overboard. In the end he decides to hide it in the captain's quarters for now. He can always throw it overboard later.