Of Monsters & Men

Chapter One

At long last, the final battle for the Savior had been fought and won thanks to the great sacrifice she made for her loved ones. All who lived within Storybrooke, both hero and villain alike, had gotten their happy endings as Emma had promised them she would fight for. Granny happily continued to run her diner. Dopey had returned from school and the seven dwarfs continued to work the mines, then enjoyed spending their nights drinking and celebrating their new beginnings. Even Grumpy. August worked with his father in Marco's Garage, while they both did woodcarvings for themselves and the new shop he had opened within town to sell their work. Blue recovered from the Black Fairy's torment and continued to work within the convent with the rest of the fairies, while gratefully remaining Gideon's Godmother. And Archie remained the town's psychiatrist, as he fortunately continued to help anyone who came to him with troubles and worries.

Henry continued to go to school with Violet and their relationship had begun to grow stronger than ever before without the worry of villains arising to harm his family hanging over him. Regina was no longer just the town Mayor as she had been off and on through the years since Storybrooke was first created. She was once again Queen and one whom everyone revered and respected.

Mr. Gold had finally given up choosing darkness and power over his family despite still being the Dark One. Now he lived for his wife and their son, who had been given the gift of a new life after having been restored to the child newly born as a reward for Emma's sacrifice and his parents' love. And Belle happily remained the town's librarian and scholar.

Snow White and Prince Charming bought themselves a new home on a farm and were finally free to live happily as they raised their son, Neal, without the fear of losing him as they had lost Emma the day she was born thirty-two years earlier. David was able to retire from being sheriff with his daughter so he could return to being a farmer. And Snow continued teaching her friends' children of all ages.

As for Emma and Killian, the newly and happily married couple were finally rewarded with the life they always wanted together from the moment they had fallen in love. For the pirate and former villain, he loved Emma since they shared their first kiss in Neverland. And for the heroine, though it took longer for her to realize she loved him too, she truly accepted she did love Killian when he revealed she was his happy ending nearly two years after they met. It was the first time he had ever told her he loved her, but she knew he had for much longer.

Now, Killian had taken over being sheriff alongside his wife for David so that his friend and father-in-law could enjoy the life he truly wanted with Snow and their young Prince. Emma loved having her husband work so closely with her, but their honeymoon had been stolen from them the eve of their wedding when the Black Fairy's curse struck and tried to pull them apart for the Savior's final battle. So after two weeks of working normal hours at the station with only few incidents here and there that required the town sheriffs' services, Emma suggested they leave Storybrooke for awhile on the Jolly Roger and Killian readily agreed. David was only too happy to come back on as acting sheriff for as long as they were gone.

Late one afternoon, Emma was completing the tasks Killian had assigned her to help him set sail while he completed his own duties, then took his place behind the ship's wheel. It still amazed her to watch him tie off the sails and work the riggings despite only having use of one hand even if he did have two hundred years of experience.

Once she finished, the woman who loved the old pirate raised her head to look up at him while he concentrated on steering out into the deep blue waters of the ocean, until he felt her eyes on him. He smiled down at her and Emma walked up onto the upper deck so she could take her place at his side, then leaned in to kiss him.

After a few minutes, she pulled back and smiled lovingly at him while she spoke up saying, "I'm really happy we're finally leaving on our honeymoon that we should have been free to take the night we were married."

Killian held his wife close while he continued to steer the wheel as he teased, "This is indeed much better than the separated ones granted to us by the Black Fairy. You don't have any regrets or worries about leaving Storybrooke, or more importantly your family, do you?"

"Not at all," Emma responded sincerely. "I might have before when we were still battling villains and worrying about the fate looming over my head. Not because I haven't wanted this for so long, but I would have feared the ones we love might have been attacked while we were gone. But I'm not concerned about that now. And even if someone did, they can handle the dangers just fine without me. I just want to be here with you, my husband."

"And I you, my wife," he answered sweetly, then looked out at the waves surrounding them. "So, you've yet to tell me where it is we're headed. Surely you don't wish to remain out of the wide open ocean for the full three weeks. I've lived on the waters for long periods of time my whole life. For years at a time in fact. You haven't."

She shook her head as she replied, "Actually, I'm not sure. I guess I figured we would sail until we came across some far off land, or an island that isn't inhabited by a demon child and dark magic."

Killian chortled and then responded, "If you wouldn't mind, perhaps we could sail to New York. I would love nothing more than to see your world outside of Storybrooke. You could use your power to cloak the Jolly Roger once we get close so no one will see us pull into the harbor aboard a pirate ship or see it while docked within the harbor. The longest I've seen the non-magical city was only a few days, but I spent them trying to convince you I wasn't a madman stalking you, as well as within a barbaric brig."

"Yeah, I'm not so sure I ever really apologized for having you arrested," Emma said with regret in her voice and in her eyes. "Somehow… even though I had no memory of you, it doesn't feel right that I did that to you."

"You only feel that way because you love me," her husband answered cheekily, then stepped back from the wheel and guided her to the side of the ship so they could look out over the horizon. "Believe me, I don't blame you for seeing me as a madman. People of the world without magic can't believe it's real because what we don't understand is frightening. But despite the memories of that brig, I'd be honored if you would show me all the things about New York you loved so much. You've seen my world and had to endure many atrocities, some of which because of me. I'd love to see yours, to see the beauty that's beyond home. What do you say, Swan?"

Emma nodded, then sincerely replied, "I would love it. There's so much to do and see in New York. We can go sightseeing like any other tourists. We can go to the top of the Empire State Building, visit the Statue of Liberty and memorials where the World Trade Center once stood, we can see a show on Broadway, take a long romantic carriage ride through Central Park…"

He nodded and responded, "Aye, love. It all sounds wonderful, though I'm not certain I know any of what you're talking about other than Central Park. It is after all where I found myself and then you when I first arrived in New York to save you. But we can discuss all of that later if you wish, perhaps over dinner. For now, let's just enjoy the sunset. It's really quite beautiful tonight, though no more beautiful than you are right now as you look lovingly into my eyes."

"You're such a charmer," she answered with a laugh.

"That title is reserved for your father," Killian smugly replied and then leaned in to kiss her once more. "I prefer dashing rapscallion."