Hello everyone! This is a story I've had on my mind for a while, and I hope to have it done in about 15 chapters or so. Thanks in advance for any feedback and thanks for reading!

The castle stood proud and stoic, the clean lines of the stone turrets appearing appropriately majestic within the circle of the spy glass. The image did much to move the young lieutenant standing at the helm to nostalgia, remembering the years he had spent behind those regal walls as a lad, the unlikely orphan boy finding favor with those far above his station.

The Jewel of the Realm had been at sea for six months, by far the longest trip of Killian Jones's tenure in the Royal Navy Guard of Mist Haven. He had enlisted at the earliest possible age, 16, and in the five years since had volunteered for every mission available, his tireless ambition meaning he was often sailing away from the kingdom and, more importantly, a certain fair haired princess who took up more than her fair share of thoughts in Killian's head. But this most recent trek had been uncharacteristically long, and he sighed in pleasure at the knowledge that he was mere moments from arriving once more on his home shores.

A clap to the shoulder interrupted Killian's sentiment, and lowering the spy glass he turned with a smile for his brother and captain.

"Happy to be home?"

"Aye, Liam, that I am."

It was something of an understatement, an open secret among the men of the Jewel. Killian and Princess Emma had been attached at the hip since they were youngsters, when Emma at the age of 7 demanded her mother pull over the carriage one day to speak with the dirtied and ragged little boy she spied walking along the road. She'd demanded to know his name, then insisted he climb into the carriage while instructing the driver to cart her new friend safely to his home. Killian, then 9, had been sure when she saw the ramshackle cottage he shared with Liam, six years his elder, she would turn up her nose and bolt. But it was with a smile and a friendly wave she departed, returning the next day with a basket of sweets and a request that he entertain her.

It went on like that for weeks, the young princess learning the Jones boys were on their own in the world, their mother dying two years earlier and their father abandoning them a short time after that. By the time the King and Queen learned where their daughter was spending the majority of her time, Emma was already halfway to moving the two boys into the castle herself. Snow and Charming smiled favorably on the lads, arranging a place for them within the navy's quarters inside the castle gates, until which time they were both old enough to join the service themselves. It had been a fortunate turn neither boy had been at all accustomed to in life.

"And what news of the princess? Will she be excited to have her sailors home?"

Killian blushed at Liam's word, lowering his head and scratching behind one ear in his classic tell.

It was no mystery to his fellow sailors why Lieutenant Jones had spurred them on all week, charting the fastest courses, sailing the mast into the best winds, even if it meant inclement weather. They'd made record time, even for the fastest ship in King Charming and Queen Snow White's fleet.

"Alas, I have not received a letter from her highness in nigh on two weeks. I'm not sure she's even aware we're about to make port."

Liam smiled and clapped his brother on the arm, a conspiratorial sparkle in his eye.

"And what of the treasure you procured at our last stop? Have you kept it safe?"

Killian beamed back, patting the left pocket of his uniform trousers, feeling the weight of a small box containing a ring adorned with a sea-jade stone the exact shade of his princess's eyes.

"It has not left my person, Liam, and it will remain so until such a time as it might happily find a new owner."

Liam gave a succinct nod, his face warming in pride for just a moment until he allowed his captain persona to take over once more.

"I'll ready the men to dock and ensure we are able to disembark quickly. I suggest you take a moment and gather your courage, mate."

Killian scoffed. If only Liam knew how many times he had played this over in his mind. He and Emma had been the closest of friends for the near entirety of their lives. He wasn't too far into his burgeoning teen years before he realized those feeling were changing, deepening into something so much more dear. But he'd been a terrified boy, certain those feelings could never be returned. After all, how could a princess learn to love a heartsick boy of no position?

Steadily, however, his resolve strengthened, spurred on by a new side of Emma, who from time to time would look at him with such longing and clear vulnerability that he allowed himself something he had previously avoided: hope. It was then he pursued his naval career in earnest. If he could prove himself, earn his way up through the ranks to a place of title, then maybe, just maybe it wouldn't be so impossible. He'd become the youngest lieutenant in the kingdom's history, and this most recent voyage had earned him good favor. Rumor had it he was not far from promotion to captain. And surely a captain would not be reaching too far above himself to ask for an audience with the king and queen, to request the honor of courting their daughter?

Killian's fist tightened around the ring box in his pocket. He was ready to find out.

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Emma played impatiently at the lace at her wrist, tugging the useless embellishment on her sleeve. What good were pretty trimmings, with the whole of a palace to wander, when she so desperately wished to fly from these rooms, race to the water's edge, and demand Killian Jones make himself known?

Her parents had told her just days ago that the Jewel of the Realm would return home today after six long months at sea. The time since has seen her a mess of nerves, tearing about the castle, ordering new menus drawn up in the kitchens, checking and rechecking that the stables were well stocked and ready to receive riders. If anyone noticed the princess was requesting food items that one Killian Jones was most fond of or that the young lieutenant's favorite past time after sailing was a long ride on a fast stallion, well, she couldn't help that.

It didn't help her anxiety that she had news of the highest import to share with her oldest friend. She was excited to see him, to be sure, but also incredibly intimidated to have the discussion with him she knew must take place. How would he respond? Would he be happy for her? Indifferent? Would he ridicule her?

No, of course not. Whatever else he was, Killian Jones had never been cruel. Still, it had been half a year since they'd seen one another, and half a year at the ages of 19 and 21 could sometimes feel a lifetime. She had no idea what sort of changes in the lieutenant she could expect, nor how he might react upon hearing the girl whose pigtails he used to pull was now getting married.

It was news she herself was still getting used to. There had been a time when her raven haired best friend had been the only young man in her life, but she had never allowed herself to believe it could turn into more. He had shown no interest, in fact acting more formally with her as he got older, as if to keep her at arm's length. And he was so often away, volunteering himself in a manner that would have been unfathomable for a young man with aims on wooing a lady. And so she'd resigned herself to his friendship, knowing that if that was all she could have, it would have to be enough. Killian Jones was the kindest, bravest man in all the realms, and she would take him any way she could get him.

Fed up, Emma moved quickly to exit her private rooms. She'd spied the sails of the Jewel outside her window at least two hours ago, plenty of time to have disembarked and present one's self to one's sovereigns. Where was he?

With a huff, she pushed through the doors of her parents' sitting room, throwing herself down onto a chaise. Snow White, completely used to her daughter's fits of dramatics, did not even have the decency to look up from her card game with her husband.

"Problem, child of mine?"

"Where are they?"

"Who, darling?"

Emma let out a groan and threw an arm over her eyes, drawing a smirk from the queen who peered at her husband over her cards.

"You know who, mother. Killian and Liam. They should have been here ages ago!"

"Should they? Is the Jewel home already?" David asked, drawing two cards and laying down three.

An even louder groan was the response this time, finally earning some pity from the fair queen.

"The sailors made land and are all safely housed in their lodgings just outside the courtyard."

With a grateful smile Emma leapt from her reclined position, racing toward the door before thinking better of it, circling back, and gifting each parent with a peck to the cheek. She was out the door a second later, a blur of the pale tulle she was so fond of wearing.

"Do you know," Snow said, laying down her winning hand, "I think our daughter might be fond of Lieutenant Jones."

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Killian gritted his teeth, his forehead pressed to the top of the chair he now sat on, his legs astride the seat and his bare chest flat against that back of the chair to allow the physician better access to his back.

"What the devil are you doing?" he hissed as a stinging salve applied to his open wound shot a river of pain through his spine. The injury was days old already, a remnant of those last few stormy days at sea when the steel end of a wayward pulley struck him in one long stroke. It had been hastily tended to, as can often be the case on the open sea, and had torn open anew as Killian had been quickly unloading crates that afternoon.

"I could ask the same of you!"

Killian's head snapped up at the familiar voice, stunned for a moment not by the pain in his muscles but by the vision that had so haunted his dreams those many months away. She stood in the doorway, hands poised at her hips, her mouth an unpleased line of determination, her wild golden curls spilling about her face and shoulders in a chaotic but graceful storm. If possible, she had grown even more beautiful since he last saw her.

"Emma."

The princess waved away the bow he saw Liam give her, moving instead to take his brother by the hand and quickly kiss his cheek in greeting before turning her attention again to the injured patient at the center of the room. Killian gulped, knowing the verbal thrashing to come might be unpleasant, but knowing he wouldn't find room to complain so long as Emma remained so near.

She pulled a stool to sit next to him, placing a cool hand to his forehead, prompting him to close his eyes in pleasure. He didn't know if it was the open wound at his back or the scent of her perfume that suddenly had him so dizzy, but he suspected the latter.

Emma frowned.

"What is the nature of the injury, Doc?" she asked, addressing the dwarf who was still applying that damned salve.

"A cut," Doc replied evenly. "Long and rather deep. He'll need stitches."

Emma tsked in annoyance, pulling a wide grim from Killian.

"So sorry to be an annoyance, highness," he teased.

"You hush," Emma said moving to stand behind him, effectively taking Doc's place. Her graceful fingers skimmed along the edges of his injury, the feeling of her skin against his own causing him to shudder.

"Doc, in the medical cabinet at the end of the hall there's a black case. Please retrieve it."

The dwarf made haste out of the room as Emma continued to inspect him. Liam took the opportunity to rearrange the stool, pulling it so that Emma might sit once more while still remaining behind Killian, her brow set in worry.

"I've missed you these six long months, and I don't even get a proper hello, love?"

"You'll get your hellos once you learn to respect royal property."

"How's that, lass?"

"You are a lieutenant in the Mist Haven Navy, beholden to the crown. It would do you well to remember that, and endeavor to return from at least one commission abroad in one piece."

Her tone was cheeky, but he heard the truth in her words, could tell by the set of her shoulders and sharpness in her eyes that he had caused her worry.

"It's just a scratch, Emma."

His princess blinked, finally looking away from the wound and meeting his eyes, her own gaze warming.

"Hello, Killian."

Doc's reemergence with a small black case broke the spell the two of them had been under, as the dwarf set the case in Emma's lap. Opening it, she began removing small jars and containers holding liquids of various colors and consistencies, placing them on a side table.

"These are much more potent than the regular grade ointments kept stocked here. It will lessen the pain, and ensure a speedy recovery."

"Emma, I require no special treatment. It's not necessary."

Her glare silenced him, ending what would have been an argument they'd had at least a dozen times in their lifetime. Emma was constantly extending certain kindnesses to the Jones brothers, on more than one occasion drawing the raised eyebrow of a gossipy kitchen maid or stable boy. But Emma would never hear of changing her ways.

"Is there not a celebratory ball this evening? Honoring the safe return of our kingdom's sailors?"

"Aye," he grumbled.

One of her nimble hands dipped into a jar of green ointment, quickly rubbing the stuff soothingly along his wound. He was only just able to stifle a groan, as the pain considerably diminished.

"And won't you find it difficult to dance with your back split open?"

"Aye," he repeated with a sigh, this time from pleasure, not pain. Both of Emma's hands were on him now, securing a bandage taut against his flesh. He had half a mind to injure himself anew just for the exquisite gift of keeping her fingers pressed against him.

"There, you'll do," she said, finishing the bandage. "Liam, will you bring me that jug of water and a glass?"

Emma took the water, mixing something that looked like tea leaves in and pulling at one of Killian's shoulders, intending him to turn around and take his drink. He did as she desired, realizing as the cool air hit him that he was now presenting himself to the crown princess of Mist Haven with his half naked form. Emma's eyes raked over him, her sharp intake of breath letting him know she wasn't wholly unaffected. She remained frozen for a long moment, before her royal lessons kicked in again, allowing her to regain composure in even the most trying of moments. Her face became a cool expression of nonchalance once more.

"Drink this," she said, placing the tea in his hands and moving to stand. As she did, she slyly stuck her tongue out at him, earning a hearty laugh from her childhood friend.

"Feeling better already," Killian said after a long gulp. The drink tasted like mud. "I dare say I'll be in fine dancing form this evening. Will there be any young ladies wanting a turn with an invalid lieutenant?"

"I should say so," Emma said from the doorway with a smirk. "Liam?"

"Yes, princess?"

"Do make sure he's on time. I have things to discuss with him," she said, turning her eyes toward Killian again. Liam nodded his consent.

"And, Killian?"

He looked up at his name, his every nerve standing at attention, hanging on her last few words, spoken quietly as she slipped from the room.

"I missed you, too."