"Do I have to go, mama?" She asked frowning, her tiny face scrunched in displeasure. She balled her petite hands onto fists and sighed.
"Yes, Emma, I'm afraid you do. You'll be good, won't you? You're strong, baby, you'll get through this. And, when it's over, daddy and I'll come get you," She tried to calm the 8 year old down.
"I'll be good, I promise. Promise me you'll come get me okay?" She smiled determinedly at her mother. Her mother took in a shaky breath and pulled her in for a hug.
"I promise, Emma."
She awoke from the dream and sighed, her mothers words still fresh on her mind.
I promise
Such silly words, they were. She knew her mother was never coming to get here, yet she still remembered those words like she had been told them yesterday. She swung her legs over the side of her hammock, pulling her hair into a ponytail. She was looking around the room when she heard a knock at the door.
"Emma, are you awake?" She heard Smees voice ask her. She snickered and yawned
"Yes, Mr Smee," she called out to him.
"Remember, he is coming today. Liam would want you to look your best and act your best." She smiled sadly at the mention of Liam.
"I know, and I'm 19. I'll act appropriate, don't worry." Liam's brother was coming back after 6 years. She didn't remember much about him, just that he was an okay kid. They were friends, until he left to join he navy when he was 15. She put on her most appealing dress and walked out the door.
"Remember what Liam said, Smee," she warned him and grinned.
"What in particular?" He asked her curiously.
"Even when Killian comes back, I'm still captain." She smirked at him and he smiled.
"Of that I have no doubt, he wouldn't want it any other way," He nodded to her, sighing.
"I'll bring him back here, alright, ma'am?" He clarified with her. She nodded curtly and leaned against the mast. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She missed Liam, but she knew she didn't miss him as much as his brother probably did. She heard footsteps behind her and she smiled and turned around. She saw Smee board the ship with a tall, handsome man.
As Killian walked onto the ship, he looked at Emma's small frame. She appeared too small, but she looked mighty and proud. She was gorgeous and it surprised him. He didn't really remember her, and he didn't think she looked like that when they were children.
"Here she is, sir," Smee told him with a grin. "Remember, sir, fair warning, she will kick your ass before you can blink. She is most definitely the captain." He whispered to him. Emma tilted her head slightly and grinned.
"So, you're the mighty Killian Jones. You've certainly changed since we were children," she smirked at him, looking at his ocean blue eyes. He returned the grin.
"I could say the same of you, love." He informed her, looking at her luscious blonde hair. She rolled her eyes.
"Well, you're welcome to stay as long as you'd like, assuming you want to," she told him politely.
"Aye, I'll likely stay a few weeks, I got kicked out of the navy," he explained. She nodded and gestured around her, walking past him.
"I'd take Smees warning wisely," she whispered as she passed. He looked at her with amusement and she winked at him.
"Don't bother me, I've things to do. Killian, do make yourself at home. Liam would want you to," she smiled sympathetically at him and shook her head. He tensed at his brothers name. He sighed and pulled out his rum flask.
He sighed and smiled to himself. She was certainly going to be hard to deal with for the few weeks he was here.
Emma opened the door to her cabin and winced. She hadn't expected him to be so-
No. She was not going there. Not now, not ever. She rolled her eyes at herself and looked into the mirror. She sighed heavily and plopped down on her bed. Yawning, she closed her eyes. She wasn't asleep, just laying and lost in thought. And that's how she stayed, eyes closed, for a few hours.
After a while, she heard a knock on the door. She sat up and walked to the door.
"Who is it?" She asked in a tired voice. she tried to fix the way she sounded, and succeeded. She cleared her throat and laid a palm on the door.
"It's me, Captain, I was just wondering how long we were going to be docked?" Smee asked her curiously. She tilted her head and thought for a moment.
"We should be leaving in a moment. Why?" She walked away from the door, putting on a leather jacket.
"Oh, well, Killian was wondering but he wanted us to ask." She smirked and rolled her eyes. She walked back to the door, opening it and smiling at smee.
"Let's go then, shall we?" She gestured to up above the lower deck. He nodded vigorously. She climbed up the ladder and stifled a yawn, walking to the helm. Once they set sail, Killian came over to her.
"I have no intention of doing so," He said after a minute. She looked at him curiously.
"Of doing what?" She asked him wearily. He shrugged.
"Taking your place as captain. You do it fine all on your own. Which I was skeptical of until about an hour ago, your crew was telling stories of how you saved them and," he paused, looking down. "And Liam. Which is also what I came up here for. To thank you." He told her simply. She gazed at him, making his heart pound.
"For what? He saved me countless times, I was returning the favor. And besides," she looked like she didn't know if she should continue. "I couldn't save him when it really mattered anyways," the guilt was etched in her features. He looked at her emerald green eyes and sighed.
"It wasn't your fault, love. He was killed during battle, which is for sure what he would have wanted." He tried to comfort her. He knew that pained look on her face all too well.
"Well, anyways, it doesn't matter now, he wouldn't want us to live in the past, so I try as hard as I can not to." She told him and looked back ahead. She looked determined and he smiled in spite of himself. He had been in a state of loathing in the last two years since Liam died, and it was nice to have someone who sort of understood. He wasn't there to say goodbye. He could have been, but he wasn't. He was dead and Killian didn't get to see his brother before he died. He was suddenly grateful for Emma's presence. He was glad Liam had someone there, even if it wasn't him.
"Where did you come from, swan?" He asked her suddenly. He saw her tense and grit her teeth.
"Wouldn't you like to know," she rolled her eyes and didn't make eye contact with him. He sighed.
"An innocent question, really," he told her. "Although i understand if it's painful to talk about." He informed her. This time, she did look at him.
"If I told you, I'd never hear the end of it." She joked. He didn't smile, instead, he frowned.
"Ah, love, I see. How about I'll make you a deal. If you tell me I promise I won't tell the crew, and in turn I'll ask no more personal questions." She sighed and nodded.
"If you tell the crew, I'll gut you. Remember, I'm still captain." She warned. "I was a princess," she told him simply. "I don't remember specifics, but my parents gave me to Liam because the wanted to protect me or something." He waited for her to continue. She didn't.
"If you call me princess," she started. He laughed.
"Your secrets safe with me, darling." She looked at him for a moment before nodding. He could see that. Her, being a princess. It seemed fitting with the way she looked. But, he thought her behavior resembled more of a pirate. They sailed for a while longer, until they docked at a corner of the enchanted forest.
"Care to join me for a drink?" He asked her, reading her expression carefully. she shook her head and sighed.
"Not tonight, but you can go," she told him. He nodded.
"Right well, I'll be back in a few hours," he stated simply. She nodded a little and walked down below deck.
About three hours later, when Killian came back, drunk off his ass, Emma was looking at the sky.
"Hello, love," he greeted her. She could smell the rum in his breath, and it made her uncomfortable. She smiled tightly at him and continued to look at the stars.
"Hello," she whispered.
"What are you up to, Swan?" He asked her curiously. She motioned at the sky.
"Watching the stars," She mumbled. He nodded.
"I used to do that," he looked at the stars. He pointed to a constellation and smiled. "That's Cygnus the Swan," she rolled her eyes and smiled.
"I know that," she told him. He stared at her with a deep look. She shifted and she knew that he was just drunk, but it still made her heart race. His gaze was soft, yet intense, and he looked like he was searching the very depts of her soul. His gaze moved down to her lips, and she tore her gaze away from him and looked at the sky again. He continued to stare at her lips. He felt a longing, and he honestly just wanted to kiss her, but he knew it was irrational and that he was drunk. Still, he hadn't felt this in a long time, and it confused him. He certainly hadn't liked her when they were kids. But things had changed since then.
"Emma, I know I said no more personal questions, but can I ask you something?" She hesitated, then nodded.
"Why don't you try and find your family?" He asked her. She shrugged.
"They aren't my family. Why, are you trying to get me to give you the title of captain!" She asked with an eyebrow raised.
"wouldn't dream of it, beautiful." He purred. She ignore him and looked around. She looked at him, only to find he was staring at her.
"Don't call me that," she warned him.
"Darling, you must know it's true, you are beautiful. I lack the understanding of how you fail to see it," He gave her a yearning look. He took a strand of her golden hair in his fingers. She sucked in a breath, and tried to pull back.
"Emma," he whispered. She glanced at the ground, pressing a hand to his chest.
"Killian, your drunk," she started.
"Not drunk enough to not know what I want." He continued to whisper to her. She was shaking and shook her head. She was visibly distraught, but he refused to stop trying.
"Please, killian, you aren't thinking straight." She told him. He shook his head and sighed, dropping his hand.
"Whatever the lady insists," He kissed her hand, and gazed at her. She leaned up and kissed him softly, he was utterly shocked. He kissed her back, stroking his hand through her hair. She pulled back and yawned.
"Goodnight Killian," she walked out of view. He smiled and sighed.
This was going to be a long night.