This is the first fanfic I have written in nearly 20 years. I am new to the OUaT fandom (as in I became a fan in March 2017), but I have quickly come to love the world Kitsis and Horowitz have created. I particularly love Captain Swan and found the wonderful stories here to continue and expand the story that we will sadly not see anymore on the show. My favorite genre is Lieutenant Duckling. This story was inspired by several Lieutenant Duckling stories I've read (though with a slight twist in that Killian is already Captain Hook), and draws from a story I have been trying to write since I was a child. I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or these settings.

Emma stared at the setting sun from the deck of the ship. The sea around her was calm, the boat swaying gently as they sped away from the coast. The wind whipped at her hair, catching the stray tendrils that escaped from her braid. She shivered and pulled the cloak she wore tighter around her midsection.

"You alright, highness?" she heard his voice from behind her. Though he meant his tone to be soothing, she found it sent tingles down her spine, the tension winding her even tighter.

"Yes, Captain. Thank you." Emma turned to look upon the man with whom she had put her trust, in an attempt to save her family. Captain Killian Jones of the Jolly Roger, better known as 'Captain Hook'. The notorious pirate and scourge of all merchant vessels traveling the seas between Misthaven, Camelot, and Arendelle. And now, he was her only hope.

Emma shivered again. Her cloak was not warm enough for the chilled sea air. She realized too late that she had not thought to bring a warmer one. The Captain lifted an eyebrow and trained his striking, cerulean gaze on her.

"If you'd like, Princess, I am sure I can find something a little warmer for you to wear," he said as he began to remove his heavy leather duster.

"No," she began, "I have some more things below deck. I am sure I can find something warmer, or at the very least add some more layers of clothing."

Again, he cocked that eyebrow and gave her that unsettling, but not unpleasant, gaze. "And deprive me of your company? You wound me, highness."

"Please, just call me Emma. I don't care for all the formality. And besides, my title doesn't really apply anymore, does it?"

"Nonsense. A mission taken by Captain Hook can only succeed. With my help, you will be victorious and regain your title and holdings."

"You really think so?" She asked, turning her head and peering at him with uncertainty.

"Aye," he stated confidently. "Though I've only known you a short time, I have witnessed your tenacity and have yet to see you fail at any endeavor."

Emma couldn't help but smile at his vote of confidence. She felt her cheeks flush slightly as she looked down at the deck.

"Thank you, Captain."

"Yes, well, eventually, gratitude will be in order," he said with a smirk as he lightly tapped his lips.

Emma immediately hardened her gaze and eyed him with suspicion. She struggled to maintain her composure as she felt another chill coming on. "As we discussed, Captain, you have received partial payment now and will receive additional compensation upon successful completion of our quest. Any other 'rewards' you may desire will need to be obtained from other sources."

He winked at her as he removed his duster and moved to place it over her shoulders. He leaned in until his mouth was mere inches from her ear and said "We shall see about that."

Emma couldn't help the warmth in her cheeks as she watched him walk away toward the ship's wheel. He ordered a crew member to go below deck and retrieve another duster as he took the helm and sped the ship further away from the coast of Misthaven.

-/-

Two years earlier, Emma had been a Princess of Misthaven, happy and secure in her castle with her family and friends. She spent most of her days with her father, learning the roles and responsibilities of leading a land the inhabitants fondly referred to as "The Enchanted Forest."

It was enchanted. Although Emma did not personally practice magic, she felt it all around her. The trees sang. The streams sparkled even on the cloudiest of days. And all around her she felt love. Her mother said love was what made their land enchanted. Queen Snow told Emma of the time before, when fear and vengeance were widespread among the land. Snow's stepmother, Regina, ruled with fear and did all she could to eradicate the joy and peace throughout the land. In response, Snow said, the trees grew silent, streams dried up, and animals fled. There was widespread famine and discontent. Love was replaced with fear, and the land responded.

Emma grew up hearing stories of how her mother escaped from Regina's clutches and took residence in the woods. She beamed with admiration as Snow recounted how she learned to fend for herself and protect herself from harm. Emma listened as Snow told tales of how she met all their friends, who were now beloved as family and doted on Emma. But, above all, Emma's favorite story was her mother and father's tale of True Love.

Queen Snow and King David met when Snow was in exile and David was being forced into an arranged marriage. They felt a connection almost immediately, but both denied their feelings for some time. After David realized his feelings, he ran from his father, King George, and his arranged marriage in order to seek out Snow. There were some struggles along the way, but eventually they were married in a private ceremony in the forest and worked together to reclaim Snow's kingdom.

All this happened before Emma was born, but she had lived most of her life dealing with the reconstruction following the war. She had learned a great deal as she helped her parents rebuild the kingdom, and she felt a strong love and affection for her land and her people. Emma had great plans to help continue to restore the forest and the peace and prosperity of her people.

When Emma was 18, nobility from Misthaven and nearby Camelot began to visit the castle, seeking to court her. Emma had a younger brother, Leo, but the people were still anxious for her to marry and produce an heir, in order to establish a strong line of succession. Emma was very guarded around her suitors. Perhaps because of her parent's grand love story, Emma was reluctant to entertain the overtures of any man she felt would not be her true love. Her parents understood and supported her wishes, though they each expressed their hope that she not be too closed off and possibly miss her chance at happiness.

Shortly after her 20th birthday, disaster struck in Misthaven. Regina, the Evil Queen who had been banished long before, returned, with King George as an ally. War began and George's army pillaged and plundered the land on their way to the palace. Emma, who had always dreamed of adventure, was plunged into a living nightmare. She felt the forest grieving for the pain and suffering of her people. She watched, completely helpless, as her parents fought a losing battle. Misthaven had only just recovered from the last war and could not compare to George's forces, whose strength seemed almost supernatural.

King David eventually decided he needed to join his forces and protect the castle at all costs. Snow wished to join him, but David pleaded with her to remain behind with Emma and Leo, who was only 12 years old. Emma and Leo both wanted to join their father on the battlefield, but he staunchly denied the request. Leo was too young and Emma was too vulnerable. Although she knew how to defend herself with both sword and bow, and was trained in hand-to-hand combat, David knew that Emma's presence was dangerous among George's men. George had made it no secret that he intended to capture Princess Emma and force her to marry Lord Cassidy, a Duke and the man he had named as his heir, following David's disownment.

Emma seethed at the thought of being left behind, though she understood her father's reasoning. Snow shared her sentiment, but immediately put Emma and Leo to work to help fortify the castle and prepare for siege. The waiting was terrible. Emma kept her body busy with the toil, but she could not stop the anxious thoughts that plagued her mind. Alongside those thoughts, she could still hear the forest crying with the loss occurring everywhere. The land was dying as love was replaced with fear throughout the kingdom.

The war finally reached the castle, and David and the remaining troops fell back to the protection of the keep. A diplomatic solution did not seem at all possible. Snow and David began preparing Emma and Leo to flee, urging them to pack their things and prepare for a hasty escape through the tunnels that ran under the keep. Both children protested at the thought of leaving their parents. Just when all hope seemed lost, Regina extended an olive branch.

She offered Snow and David a parlay. They would relinquish the Kingdom to her in exchange for their lives. The deposed King and Queen would be exiled and promised death if they dared return to Misthaven. Emma would be married to Lord Cassidy and leave Misthaven for her new husband's estate in George's kingdom, Anwalt. Leo would remain with Regina and be raised as her heir.

Snow and David were deeply conflicted by this offer. The war was all but lost. There were not enough men or provisions to defeat George's forces. But they bristled at the thought of being forever separated from their children, as well as leaving their children's fate in Regina and George's hands. The royal family was held prisoner in their own dungeon as they contemplated the next move.

For her part, Emma proposed taking Regina's deal in order to regroup and find another way to be reunited. Her parents strongly opposed an arranged marriage for Emma after two years of supporting her quest for true love. But Emma saw this as an opportunity to save her people and thought nothing of her own happiness. Finally, the family decided to inform Regina that they accepted her offer, though they immediately began plotting a way to escape and reunite with one another as soon as they were able.

-/-

"It's getting cold, milady. Perhaps you would like to go below deck?"

Emma was once again distracted from her thoughts by the gentle voice of Captain Jones. She found the soothing tone at odds with what she knew of the man. He seemed hard and strict with his crew. He tolerated nothing which he deemed 'bad form,' (though the definition of what he considered bad form was not always clear). But with her, he was soft and caring. Despite this, Emma had a hard time fully trusting him due to the feelings he ignited within her. Her experience interacting with men was limited to her suitors and her brief marriage, but no one had ever made her nervous the way Hook did. She felt he was dangerous for that reason alone, and she eyed him warily once again as she turned to face him.

"Thank you Captain, but I am quite warm in this coat you lent me." She shrugged the coat a little closer and couldn't help but enjoy the scent that emanated from it, a heady mixture of spices, rum, and sea air.

"Aye, I see that highness. But as we are nearing the shores of King George's lands, it may be wiser if we did not display you on deck as we pass through the narrow channel."

"I told you, call me Emma," she expressed her annoyance at his stubbornness with a look. "However, I do see your logic. Will you escort me to my chambers, Captain?"

"With pleasure. But I cannot call you by your given name. It would not be proper, especially when you still use my title."

"How then would you like me to address you, Captain?" Emma couldn't help the smirk that crept on to her face as they walked across the deck.

"You can call me Killian, Majesty," he said with equal vigor.

"No, I will not agree to that unless you call me Emma."

"I think I will call you 'Swan,' instead."

"That's unusual. Why 'Swan?'"

"Have you ever seen those particular birds?"

"I have. Some resided in our garden back home."

"Then you know how beautiful and graceful those creatures are, but also how vicious they can be when they feel threatened?"

"You see me as vicious?"

"Only when threatened. Or when someone threatens your family."

"Well, I suppose there is some semblance of praise in your pet name, so I will permit it. As long as you no longer call me 'majesty' or 'highness' or any other of those insipid forms of address."

Their short walk to her quarters was over much too soon. Emma found she did not want to part with Killian just yet. Fortunately, he seemed to have a similar desire as he leaned in and lowered his voice an octave.

"Rest, Swan. I will call on you in an hour to come dine with me, provided you are not opposed to the idea." He inclined his head slightly, and Emma swore she could see something resembling hope in his eyes.

"As long as you don't threaten me, Killian, I will be glad to join you."

"Splendid," he said, flashing her a handsome grin. "I think Swan will work very well as a name for you. I suppose we will need to refer to your little one as 'Cygnet' when the time comes."

Emma raised her hand to rest on her stomach, which was just beginning to swell. "As long as you keep my child away from King George, you may refer to him with whatever name you choose."