She doesn't have a ring but that can be fixed, Killian realizes as he accompanies her, the Charmings and Red back to the castle. He doesn't want to let her out of his sight but if he wants to make this official, then he's going to need a ring and knows exactly what will suffice. It's the only thing he kept of her, his only prized possession in his cabin, back on board The Jolly Roger.
Emma rides behind him the whole time and neither of them say a word to each other but the tension should have been obvious as they reach the royal stables. He dismounts first and then helps Emma off, gently helping her down.
"Stay with your parents, I need to go back to the ship and get some things," he says.
"Couldn't it wait until tomorrow?" she pleads, "I want to spend tonight with you, my fiancé,"
He smiles at her, kissing her softly. "I want that too but there is something I must do," Killian muses, "but I promise I won't be too long,"
Emma eyes him curiously before kissing him again. "I'm keeping you to your word," she warns him, "I love you,"
"I know, love," he whispers and slips away.
"This is unacceptable!" Charming fumes as soon as he and Snow come into the main throne room. He knows
True Love's kiss breaks any curse but his daughter's true love cannot be a pirate. Of all the men Charming pictured with his little girl, pirate wasn't anywhere on that list. A duke, a king, a prince, maybe a nobleman but definitely not a pirate.
"I don't think we really have a choice in the matter," Snow reasons, "David, she loves him and he loves her. True Love's kiss would not have worked if the feelings were not reciprocated,"
He shrugs helplessly, sitting down on his throne. "She's young, she doesn't know anything about love," he continues, "And I will never accept a pirate as a son-in-law,"
Snow sighs, coming over and sitting beside him. "I doubt True Love's kiss would have worked if this was a simple infatuation," she continues, "They're in love and will probably marry with or without our approval. But but I would rather not be estranged from my daughter simply because one of us doesn't approve,"
"And you approve?" he counters, "How could you? You were always the one saying it would be better if she married someone regal, someone worthy of her. She deserves better than a pirate, Snow,"
"I don't think it's a matter of what we want anymore, David," she reasons, sighing, "I know I've been pushy when it comes to finding a suitable husband for our daughter but what I failed to realize is that this should be her choice; not mine or yours but her choice,"
David stares at his wife before looking away grumpily. "I will never accept this, Snow," he retorts, "Like you, I
have my standards too and he is not the person I expected my daughter's True Love to be,"
"More like a Prince, maybe?" Snow questions, "David, you have to let this go. She is going to find ways to be with him even if you don't want them too. Look at the Hell we went through where your father was concerned. Do you really want to put Emma through the same thing? The whole kingdom even?"
"George was not my father, not my biological father. He was his father," he reminds her.
"And you were a shepherd," Snow continues, "and your real name isn't really James but I don't care about those details,"
He looks at her curiously. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," Snow sighs, "That this is her choice, not ours and it would be hypocritical of us to deny her happiness when we fought so hard to be together,"
David shrugs. "It's not the same, Snow," he muses.
Snow shakes her head, standing up and starts to leave but stops, turning back to him. "I'm going to support her David because all I want is her happiness, and because he risked everything to come back here and make sure she was okay," she says, "and I hope you will too,"
Killian doesn't realize it right away but once he steps foot onboard on The Jolly Roger, it feels like the last time he will be there. He's never really had a real home, not since he was a boy, his ship and his crew have always been his family.
Now, he's about to start a new life with Emma and join her family. He'll have a new place to call home and will walk away from his pirate life. He won't forget his years sailing at sea, exploring the unknown but now, he's changing course and has a new destiny, a new love.
He doesn't expect that it'll be easy to say goodbye to the crew that he's considered family for so long and doesn't
know how most of them will react to a Captain-less vessel, but his heart belongs to Emma.
He meets Starkey first as he searches about his cabin for that ever elusive ring.
"You're leaving us?" the other man asks.
"I'm marrying Emma," Killian replies, looking through anywhere he could have put that ring. He finds it after a
few minutes, blue jewel in the center on a silver band.
Starkey studies him carefully. "I'm happy for you Captain but what about the rest of us?" he ventures and Killian looks at him. "I mean, the ship and crew. You can't be her husband and still be Captain of The Jolly Roger,"
"I have considered that Starkey," he reasons, putting the ring away in a pocket and turning back to him. "That's why I'm giving the ship to you. The crew can stay on if they like but you will be in command,"
Starkey looks at him thoughtfully. "Thank you Captain," he says.
"But as former ships' Captain, I reserve the right to use commandeer whenever I please,"
"That's fair. The Jolly Roger will always be yours, Captain," he says, "but thank you all the same,"
It is true, Snow would have preferred if Emma had chosen someone else to be her husband but she also recognizes that the connection her daughter and Killian Jones share, is True Love and Snow cannot deny her daughter, her True Love, or happiness.
She finds her in her room, talking quietly with Red. Once Red sees her, the huntress stands and Emma looks over at her. "Mother," she greets.
"Can I have a moment with my daughter, Red?"
Red glances at Emma and then back to Snow, quietly leaving them. Snow walks over to the bed and sits beside her.
"I love him," Emma says bluntly, and Snow looks at her thoughtfully. "And I want to marry him,"
"Of course you love him," Snow muses, "I'm not blind, Emma. I know it was True Love's kiss that woke you from the poisonous apple. I know True Love, Emma. Your grandparents, my parents had it, so did your father's parents and I share it with your father. It is a very powerful magic, the only magic powerful enough to break any curse. And I would be a horrible mother if I denied you the happiness that True Love brings with it,"
Emma smiles at her hopefully.
"But," Snow continues and Emma's smile lessens, "It isn't always easy. Your father does not approve of your choice,"
"Figures as much," Emma retorts, rolling her eyes, "I know he isn't the man daddy always thought I would end up with but I truly love him,"
"He's a pirate, Emma,"
"And I thought that didn't matter," she reasons, "I'm going to marry him mother, with or without yours or daddy's approval,"
Snow smiles at her. "You have to understand Emma. Your father, he only wants what's best for you. You're his child, his baby girl and he wants to make sure the man you choose to be with, is worthy of your hand,"
"If he only knew what Killian's done to keep me safe, this wouldn't be a problem,"
"And what has he done?" Snow counters, "Emma, I want to believe that he is worthy of your love – he did save your life and I will be forever grateful to him for that but I have heard whispers that he was the reason that your life was in danger while under his captivity,"
"That is true," she admits, "but he regrets everything that happened – not everything that happened between us
obviously – but everything else,"
"And what is everything else Emma?"
Emma shrugs. "Horrible things but they were things Killian had no control over," she assures him, taking her
hand, "Please mother, I love him and I want to be with him. You have to convince daddy to give him a chance,"
"I can take care of your father," Snow muses, "but in the meantime, I would keep your distance from your fiancé,"
"What? Why?"
"Emma, trust me on this one," she continues, "Convincing your father will not be an easy task but I need your cooperation in this,"
Emma sighs reluctantly. She doesn't wish to be separated from Killian again but hopefully, this trial separation
won't be too long. "Fine," she agrees.
"I'll talk to him tonight," Snow promises, stands and hugs her before leaving the room.
As soon as she's gone, Emma rushes to find a parchment and scribbles a message and goes to window. As if on cue, there's already a dove there and she gives the scrolled paper to him. "Give this to him," she commands as the bird flies away.
tbc
