And here's chapter four! No songs in this one, it's just a short interlude before the big moment. I still don't own OUAT or Enchanted.
"This is so amazing!" - Tink gushed when she realised what was in the envelope Killian dropped by her office later that afternoon. When she left his place that morning, she thought she was never going to see him again, but then that... strangely romantic young man serenaded her by mistake and her spirits lifted slightly, which most certainly had nothing to do with his mop of messy hair and dimples. So she reluctantly let Killian in and he presented her with two tickets to The King and Queen's Ball.
"I'm glad you like it, darling" - he smiled into the kiss.
"Are you kidding? This is so romantic! And.. so unlike you!"
He shrugged with a smile. "So you wish to attend, then?"
"Absolutely! Pick me up at seven tomorrow?"
"I'll be there. Oh and Tink - nothing happened with Emma and myself! I swear, I was just helping her..."
She covered his mouth with her fingers. "If you say nothing happened - I believe you."
"Thank you, sweetheart" - he smiled and pulled her into a hug. He spotted Emma winking at him over Tink's shoulder and his smile widened.
Baelfire and Graham took refuge in a rundown motel in Brooklyn for the night, after having spent all day looking for Emma, albeit with vastly different intentions. Bae was getting frustrated with this world - so far, the only good thing to have happened to him was the encounter with a lovely blonde lady whom he mistakenly thought to be his Emma. He longed to be back in The Enchanted Forest and begin the happily-ever-after.
As was Graham. Regina was getting impatient, as she kept telling him every time she appeared in mirrors. He didn't realise it yet, but her hold on him began to weaken the moment he stepped foot in New York. He was infatuated with her for as long as he could remember, but right now he couldn't remember why. And he didn't like it.
"Sire, may I venture outside for a while? I need to get some air" - he asked Bae, who nodded absentmindedly, playing with the remote control. A few minutes after Graham left, the prince let out a surprised yelp - his beloved Emma was in the magic mirror!
"The police are baffled by a strange event that occurred in Central Park today" - the woman in the mirror was speaking. - "Apparently, a young woman got everyone to sing some song everybody seemed to know but nobody could remember what it was called. Here is the video from the event."
Sure enough, Emma was singing! And there was a strange man with her!
"Who is this, magic mirror?" - Bae demanded.
"The man with her appeared to be no other than Killian Jones, a family lawyer of 116th and Broadway!" - the woman continued. Bae beamed.
"Thank you magic mirror!" He seized his sword and ran out of the room to search for that scoundrel Killian Jones.
"Oh man, I wish I'd been there to watch you and Daddy sing!" - Wendy pouted that evening when Killian and Emma tucked her in. Emma laughed.
"Were you nervous to sing in front of the crowd?" - Wendy asked softly.
"Oh, not at all!"
"I always get nervous when I sing in front of my class" - the girl whispered shyly. Emma nodded and took her hands in hers.
"Let me tell you something, Wendy. When I was a little girl like you, I used to be afraid of many things - the woods, the trolls, and sometimes the people in the woods. I was alone since I was young and I realised - if I'm going to be scared of all things, how will I ever get to know the good things in life? So one day, I just ventured into the woods and learnt how to fight trolls and how to find myself a decent meal. And I've made lots of nice friends from the woods since!"
"Wow, you're really brave!" - Wendy spoke in awe. Emma chuckled.
"You can be brave too! Just forget about the big crowd and sing as you would for yourself. Think you can do that?"
Wendy nodded. "G'night, Emma" - she said sleepily.
"Good night, Wendy".
Emma exited the room and joined Killian on the couch.
"Thank you for that, love" - Killian spoke softly. - "Wendy's a great kid, but she's pretty shy."
"She's wonderful" - Emma said sincerely. - "Very kind, and quite sweet. You know she has your eyes."
He chuckled. - "Aye, that she does."
"Does she miss her terribly?" - Emma asked, biting her lip.
"Miss whom?"
"Her mother?"
"Oh." - Killian wasn't expecting that question. - "Well, we don't really talk about it."
Emma blushed. - "I'm sorry, Killian."
He shrugged. - "No, it's quite alright. I just... Gods, I haven't spoken to anybody about her in years!" - Killian closed his eyes, running his hand through his hair and dropping his face in his hands for a second. Emma touched his shoulder timidly. He didn't pull away.
"Was it sad?" - she asked softly.
"Aye" - he nodded. - "But not at first."
"Were you in love?"
"Indeed we were. But it was nothing but a fantasy."
Emma frowned. - "How do you mean?"
"I mean - that happily-ever-after stuff you talk about? It doesn't exist, Emma. It's a fantasy - a nice one, granted - but a fantasy nonetheless. One day..." - he choked slightly and Emma squeezed his hand reassuringly - "One day you just... wake up".
"But why did you have to wake up?"
"She... she left" - Killian replied curtly, trying to cover up the pain. Emma's hands flew to her mouth.
"I'm so sorry for you both!" - she whispered. He shrugged.
"It was a long time ago. I'm a big lad, I can handle it. I just worry about Wendy sometimes. I just want her to not be disappointed in the real world when she grows up, you know? That's the reason I don't encourage the fairytales and suchlike. True love and all that."
Emma frowned. - "But true love does exist!"
He smiled. - "Sorry, forgot who I was talking to."
She laid her hand on top of Killian's. - "Well I hope you don't. I mean, you have your Tink and I have Bae!"
Killian sighed, pulling away his hand from underneath Emma's. - "How do you know he's even coming?"
"Because he is!"
"But what if he doesn't come?"
Emma frowned. - "Why would you think that?"
He stood up. - "Because I deal with situations like that every day, Emma! If a relationship has problems when it first started, it doesn't last very long in most cases!"
Emma pouted. - "Trust me, he's coming!"
Killian sighed. - "If you say so. But just in case he doesn't... I just..."
"What?" - she whispered, looking into his eyes.
"I just wanted you to know" - he whispered, taking her hand in his - "that in case things work out differently from what you expect and you decide to stay in New York, I would be honoured to help".
Emma smiled, squeezing his hand. - "That's very kind of you, Killian. Thank you."
He squeezed back. She didn't let go.
Earlier that day, when she grabbed his hands to dance around with him, he felt... warm. Happy. He hasn't felt that way in a long time. Not since he first met Tink all those years ago. But it wasn't quite the same.
With Tink, it was based on mutual attraction. There were sparkles, fireworks, all that stuff. But with Emma... He felt like there was a warm blanket around his heavily guarded heart. And Emma... just who was she? Was he protective of her because he was a decent person or was there another reason? Did he see another lost soul through her eyes?
He pulled away abruptly. Gods, he sounded just like one of those fairytale characters!
"Goodnight, Emma" - he nodded and retreated to his bedroom.
"Goodnight, Killian" - she whispered. Her emotions were all over the place.
Wendy was the first one to wake up the next morning, closely followed by Emma. The girls made breakfast while Emma told stories about her time in The Enchanted Forest.
"Good morning!" - Killian's accented voice interrupted the story about Red coming to terms with her alter-ego - The Bad Wolf.
"Morning, Daddy!" - Wendy squealed and Killian kissed the top of her head.
"Did you ladies make breakfast?" - he smiled at the pancakes and hot cocoa on the table. Emma didn't get a chance to tell him about how Wendy taught her all about pancakes and hot chocolate with cinnamon, however - a knock on the door startled them.
"I'll get it!" - Wendy said and dashed towards the door. A second later, Emma and Killian heard a booming voice:
"It is I! Prince Baelfire of Misthaven, come to rescue my bride, the fair Emma!"
Emma gasped, almost dropping her cup. "Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness, he's here!"
"Apparently" - Killian said, stunned. Emma leapt from her chair.
"Quick, how do I look?"
Killian raised his eyebrow. It appeared Emma's made a dress out of his curtains. Strangely, it didn't bother him.
"You look lovely" - he promised. Emma beamed.
"Emma!" - Baelfire appeared in the doorway. She turned around.
"Bae!" - she exclaimed and he took her in his arms and twirled her around. Wendy and Killian exchanged a bemused look.
Eventually, the prince set Emma down and let his eyes rest on the lawyer for the first time. He glared.
"You! You have been keeping my bride captive!" - he lunged at Killian, drawing his sword. Emma grabbed his arm.
"Bae, no! These are my friends! This is Wendy, and this is Killian. And this is Baelfire!"
"Oh." - He placed his sword back in the shealth and took Emma's hand. - "Well, are you ready, my love?"
"Ready for what?" - she frowned.
"To go back to The Enchanted Forest, of course! I've been dreaming of a true love's kiss... Emma?"
"Yeah?"
"You're not singing" - he whispered.
"Oh sorry! I was just caught off-guard. Before we leave - there's something I really want to do."
"Anything for you, my fair bride!"
"I wanna go to this ball."
"A ball!"
"Yes - we can dance, and we can talk?" - Emma wasn't sure how the idea of going to the ball popped into her head. Perhaps it was all the talk with Killian about getting to know each other on dates yesterday?
Bae sighed. - "Alright. But afterwards - we'll go back to Misthaven, right?"
"Of course!" - Emma reassured him. - "As soon as it's over." He beamed.
"Wonderful! I cannot wait!"
