This is a re upload of chapter 4 since when I write stories I write my plot for that chapter at the top, I left the plot at the top of this by mistake.
Killian led Emma into the cabin, it was small and simple but it had taken the crew just two days to get to her.
"At least you'll only have to sleep in here for two night, one if we're lucky" Emma smiled at him
"Its fine Killian" he smiled nodding
"You have slept on the streets before, I forget" she nodded
"Everyone knows about that, huh" Killian shook his head
"You would never guess; I think your father told my brother as an explanation as to why he was allowing us to stay together" Emma nodded
"Why they feel the need to separate family I will never know" rolling her eyes, Killian was still giving her that look, one she wasn't too much used to but found comforting. Not that she would draw attention to it in case he stopped "I slept in stables mostly" she explained smiling
"That must have smelt awful" Killian commented crinkling his nose making Emma laugh, that beautiful laugh.
"You get used to it" she shrugged sitting down on the bed, Killian hesitated not sure where to go "You don't have any jobs right?" Killian shook his head
"Not until night fall" she smiled nodding
"Well then you can stay with me" Killian smiled sitting down on the bed eagerly before pausing
"Is it ok for me to sit here?" Emma looked confused at him
"Of course" he smiled
"I'm not exactly used to sitting on a bed with a woman of your beauty" Emma looked surprised at this before shaking her head
"I'm not beautiful Killian" rolling her eyes, at this Killian seemed taken aback
"No one has ever told you so?" Emma smiled slightly shaking her head
"When people talk to me they see a crown on my head not me"
"I'm sorry" Killian replied sounding generally broken on her behalf "You should know, Emma" he smiled "Whether you have a crown on your head or not you are beautiful and should be treated as such. I know growing up an Orphan can be cruel but whatever cruel words have been said to you, they are not true" Emma's eyes met his
"How'd you know?"
"I grew up an Orphan too, not quite from such a young age as yourself. I had my brother to protect me too, I can't imagine being alone. But I know the cruel words that can be said. As I know you, and know those words cannot apply to you" Emma smiled
"Thank you Killian, although I wasn't alone. I had Elsa" Killian nodded
"I heard you were friends with her" Emma nodded smiling at the memories
"And I had Regina" at this Killian froze
"I don't understand…" Emma looked at him and sighed
"If I tell you this you cannot repeat it, I haven't exactly told… anyone" Killian smiled
"You know what you say to me I shall never repeat" she nodded smiling
"When I was young, maybe 5 Regina saved me, the same way she saved my mother. I was trying to ride a horse and it went galloping off and she stopped it. I didn't know who she was and I was the only person unafraid of her" Remembering Emma's words from earlier Killian suddenly realised why Emma did not want to hurt Regina or call her evil
"You loved her" Emma smiled
"She was like a mother; I gave her love and she returned it"
"You were the young girl who persuaded her to stop the starvation of the village" Emma nodded
"She cared enough for me to listen, I hoped it lightened her heart and I was correct"
"So what happened?" Kilian's eyes concerned given their current situation
"The dark one" she sighed
"Crocodile" Killian growled "When I was young he made a deal with my father, next thing I know I was an orphan" Emma nodded
"He wanted to rid me of my light magic… if you do that I would be left with nothing and I would die" Killian swallowed "Regina gave him her light magic instead, the light that had been created from loving someone"
"You" Killian breathed as she nodded
"When that was taken so were all her memories"
"I'm so sorry Emma" Emma smiled
"I'm going to get them back somehow" Killian nodded
"I have no doubt you will, with help" Emma looked at him confused
"What are you saying?"
"I think we make quite the team Emma, I would love to help you" she looked at him, hope in her eyes
"You would?"
"Of course! If you would trust me to help I'm sure we could regain her memories, it would certainly help the kingdom and at least I could try to keep you safe" Emma's eyes softened and she smiled
"Of course I trust you" she smiled at him
"What?" he smiled in response seeing her smirk, she shrugged in response
"Normally people insist they will protect me"
"I will" Killian said with confidence
"I know" she smiled "But you are prepared to fight with me?"
"Of course" she nodded at him
"Normally they think I need protecting and can't fight. That's the difference" rolling her eyes, Killian chuckled
"You're capable and independent, Emma. Maybe they were worried you would outshine them" she giggled and he smiled in reply, he really would do anything to see her smile. It was then that Killian realised this wasn't some crush, he was falling in love with Emma. He may have not known her for long, but how long does it take for the heart to recognise its soulmate?
There was a knock at the cabin door then Killian walked up and opened it
"Smee" he smiled
"Dinner is ready" Smee smiled in reply, upon seeing the Emma he bowed down and blushed "I hope I didn't intrude" Emma raised her eyebrows smirking at Killian who smiled in reply, it seemed he and Emma shared silent conversations, inside jokes now. And he loves it.
"You're quite the gentleman, Smee" Emma smiled fully knowing the effect this would have on him. He blushed stammering
"Why… t... thank you, your Princess... your highness" before running off leaving Killian chuckling
"You know the effect you have on people?" Emma shrugged
"I got bored in that palace sometimes, it was more fun to fluster people. It seems everyone's used to royals being all prim and proper" he raised his eyebrows at her
"And you're not that at all, huh?" she smiled at him
"I'm just Emma" she shrugged, Kilian's eyes softening
"And that is why you are beloved among the people" holding out his arm to her which she took as they walked out to dinner.
Killian sat next to Emma with his brother at the far end watching them, observing his brothers face Liam smiled. His brother was in love with the damn Princess. The crew looked miserable, the food on the table was not food they loved. After spending all their time at sea with fish being the only thing available it got old. Emma noticed
"You're sick of fish by now I imagine?" The sailors smiled nodding between them, finding they could be honest with her, she smiled "What food would you like if you could choose?" a chorus of voices answering describing great desserts, sandwiches, fruit. It sounded like a tea party a little girl would dream at which amused Emma greatly. Liam sighed about to apologise and tell the men to eat when Emma flicked her wrist allowed light to fill that table replacing the food with foods they had asked for. They all stared shocked, Liam's mouth hang open "I hope it didn't take you too long to make that" she apologised looked over at the sailor who had clearly done the cooking, he shook his head quickly
"Thank you"" chorus of them, Emma shook her head smiling, noticing Kilian's eyes on her she turned to him grinning
"You left me with fish" he stated staring at his plate she tried to keep a straight face but you could see she wanted to laugh
"I know" she smirked nodding at the men to begin eating, as they did Killian took what was on Emma's plate, she stared at him "gentleman indeed" raising an eyebrow
"Killian!" Liam shouted glaring at him, she was still the Princess after all, Emma rolled her eyes
"It's ok Captain" she smiled flicking her wrist so good food appeared on Kilian's plate "I was teasing" she smiled Liam nodding slowly, the Princess was playfully teasing his brother was magic on his ship. This would take getting used to.
After the food as night began to fall Emma sat at the front of the ship watching the stars, the average of the crew had retired for the night, Killian was sat with her pointed out the constellations, Emma put her head on his shoulder as she watched causing Killian to feel the warmth in his heart grow because surely Emma didn't trust a lot of people after what she had been through, but she trusted Killian, she laughed with him and now she was completely care free her head resting on him. Trusting him
"Killian your relieved" Liam called causing Emma to take her head off Killian's shoulder turning to face Liam as Killian also did, Emma chuckled realising Killian had been meant to do some duties
"I got distracted" Killian muttered, Emma looked up to where Liam stood, he looked tired
"Have you over sailed this ship before?" she asked Killian he smiled at her nodding
"It's the Captain's duty but he showed me how" Emma smiled nodding
"He looks tired" she prodded giving Killian a look
"It's an honour to pilot the ship Emma I can't just take over" Emma raised her eyebrows at him
"Well a few hours ago everyone believed it was a honour to eat with me"
"It is" he nodded "Not because you are royalty, you are kind hearted and provided them with good food"
"If it is honour to eat with me then it must be a honour to star gaze with me, yes?" he nodded slowly not sure if maybe he had overstepped a boundary, she smiled at him reassuringly "If you deserve that honour, why wouldn't you deserve the honour of piloting the ship?" he smiled at her tucking some hair behind her ear
"And you would trust me to pilot this ship?"
"Of course" she replied instantly "Now go and ask before your brother falls asleep" he chuckled going up to his brother
"May I?" he asked, Liam smirked knowing they were out of hearing distance of the Princess
"Did the Princess give you this idea?" Killian nodded
"That she did" smiling
"I'm glad she makes you smile like that brother" Liam smiled tapping his back as he handed Killian the wheel leaning closer "You love her" Killian looked at his brother looking worried "she is out of hearing distance" he assured, Killian nodded
"I believe if I am not already, then indeed I am falling in love with Emma" Liam smiled nodding, looking over at Emma who was watching Killian with soft eyes
"You must tell her" Killian froze looking panicked, Liam chuckled "Tell her before our time is up on this ship" and with that he walked off, leaving Emma and Killian the last awake.
Emma sat on a crate just to the side of where Killian was at the wheel
"You can sleep Emma; I doubt you slept much in that cell I found you in" Emma looked at him nodding slightly
"I could, but then I would miss the view" Killian smiled
"The stars are beautiful" Emma shook her head a teasing smiled appearing on her face
"I was talking about watching you at the wheel" he looked over at Emma as she giggled
"Have you ever been at the wheel?" Emma shook her head
"Of course not" he raised his eyebrows "Our kingdom may hold new ideas that others do not, but all the captains I met were the same" Killian nodded slowly
"They didn't let you" she nodded
"I am a girl and a Princess, that's two-big no's" smiling a little but it didn't reach her eyes. All the children out there that dreamed of being a Princess, living in a big castle and doing whatever they pleased oh how wrong they were. Killian could see for himself, she used to be able to do what she wanted, have freedom. As much as you can have being a young girl in this age anyway, but now people treated her different, as though she could do nothing for herself.
"I do believe you have proved yourself to be quite capable" Killian smiled, maybe he couldn't give her all the freedom. But right now, he was being a Captain and he was going to let his Princess have one wish "come here" she smiled up at him walking over, he placed his hands on her shoulders placing her in front of him, moving her hands to hold the wheel. Smiling as the wind blew some of her hair into his face. "Now you have the wheel" she laughed smiling looking around at him, he smiled in return. After travelling a distance Killian stepped back "You can let go now, we travel straight for the next 5 hours, it sort of drives itself" Emma let go smiling at him
"Thank you" he shook his head
"Anyone that denies you is a fool, you prove yourself worthy Emma" she smiled looking forward as the sun began to rise "I kept you awake didn't I" he grimaced, she smiled at him
"Can't say I mind" he smiled back, she shivered slightly from the cold air and Killian placed his jacket over her "What about you?" her concerned face touched him
"Well you'll notice while you are in a dress, although beautiful, probably not half as warm as a sailor's attire" she smiled at him
"Thanks" he nodded smiling as he brushed the hair that had blown back behind her ear, as he did a bird flew onto the deck, Emma and Killian turning to face it
"A blue bird out here… is that…" Emma nodded
"From my mother, she does that" rolling her eyes slightly, Killian chuckled as Emma reached down to take the note
"I take it you don't send messages by bird"
"I mean I could but no" she smiled "So cheesy" Killian chuckled again at he watched the bird step into Emma's hand she picked it up smiling
"The bird trusts you" he smiled, Emma walked over to him
"Open you hand" he did and she placed the bird next to it letting it hop into his hand
"Blue birds are wise, they're good at picked who can and can't be trusted" smiling at him she opened the note and as she read her face dropped
"Emma? What's wrong?" instantly concerned, Emma passed him the note.
Emma,
I do hope you are safe on the ship,
If not whomever reads this, please
Be cautious, the evil queen has sent word
Around the kingdom offering great
Rewards if they hand over Emma.
Please be safe.
Snow White.
"Emma" Killian breathed letting the bird fly to sit on the side of the ship as he hugged Emma, a first hug that was warm and safe and comforting "No one on this ship would hand you over, your kingdom loves you, no one will"
"Not everyone loves my Killian" he shook his head
"I do. I won't let them hand you over, we're a team after all" feeling Emma freeze he suddenly realised what he had said pulling back his eyes wide "I mean… I may be, I could be falling in love with you. I am in fact" he rambled on looking anywhere but her face not noticing her smiled growing
"Killian" she said calmly, he appeared not to hear still rambling, Liam who had just woken was watching Emma noticed, trying to hold back laughter upon seeing the Princess's smile, he nodded to her "KILLIAN" she shouted and he stopped swallowing, her eyes quickly looking to Liam asking permission, Liam's eyes growing soft at this, he nodded and she smiled at Killian before he had the chance to turn around to see who she was looking at she leaned forward pulling his face to hers and kissed him.
Killian melted into the kiss, all his fears and anxieties melting away replaced by the growing warm feeling in his chest. Contentment, safety, love and home that is what he felt. As she drew back he took in her features, noticing her smiled and smiled back caressing her cheek.
"FINALLY" Liam yelled and Emma giggled as Killian spun around to face his brother
"Liam! What… how" Liam laughed
"Relax brother, I'm happy for you" he came closer smiling at them both "I awoke to see a bird with a message, I wondered if you were upset but I can see my brother had it under control" smiling smugly, Emma smiled too looking at him as Killian flushed "Common lads!" Liam shouted as the men began to rise "If we hurry we won't have to spend another night at sea!" The ran in different directions as Killian offered Emma his arm, she smiled rejecting his arm, his face fell slightly wondering what was wrong until she took his hand instead. He loved this woman
"What about your parents?" Killian worried thinking about their arrival, Emma smiled at him
"My father was a Shepard you know; his twin was a prince not him. They married for love not status" Killian's eyes full of hope "Killian my parents are nothing to worry about" he smiled at her "In fact this works to their advantage"
"It does?" Killian clearly confused
"I tend to not really obey the rules of not wondering off" Killian chuckled
"That's doesn't surprise me in the slightest" she smiled shoving his shoulder in response
"The amount of guards they've sent after me is unreal, now if I just happen to wonder off with you instead they wouldn't have to be so worried and sent all those buffoons after me" rolling her eyes his eyes lit up smiling as he nodded leaning in to kiss her head he smiled
"That I could get used to" he mumbled and she smiled
"Me too" her smile faltering a little "If we manage to escape whatever Regina's plan is"
"Hey" he whispered lifting her head to face him "If you go I go, we are in this together Emma" she nodded at him smiling
"Together, I like that"
"Good" he replied leaning down and kissing her mouth again savouring the taste "Because I'm not letting you go".
