Killian took a small step into their room and spotted Emma still undressed, frustratingly staring at the opened armoire. "Is there any particular reason why the Queen is waiting downstairs?"
"Don't we always make her wait?" She mused, still mulling over her clothing options.
"The other queen, love."
"Oh Regina? She's here already?"
"Yes and Henry isn't. Not yet, anyways. I wasn't aware that she was coming tonight."
Emma shrugged, "Here's to hoping that him and Neal didn't take a detour."
"Perhaps it would be best to alert Snow not to go downstairs quite yet," Killian raised his eyebrow.
"Oh my god," she gasped at him, "you're as bad as David."
"It's just a suggestion. You never know with that woman."
Emma didn't want to spoil the surprise yet, so she shut her mouth. Regina, Emma, Snow and Neal had been planning a surprise announcement for Henry for months. Emma was careful not act the least bit suspicious around Killian, given his honest man-to-man relationship he had with her son. If Killian knew the surprise tonight, he would surely go and tell Henry.
Emma dropped her shoulders in surrender over picking out an elaborate getup. "Ugh whatever." She pulled out a folded dark pair of jeans from the upper shelf and slipped both feet into the pants legs. Killian's eyes narrowed curiously as she wiggled the jeans up over her hips. Though he did appreciate the way that they wrapped around Emma's frame, Killian never understood why she would chose to wear such uncomfortable pants.
She removed the clip that held her long blonde curls together, letting them fall along her back. Once she chose the jeans, picking the shirt was easy. Killian watched her, enamored with the natural beauty of her motions. Emma looked up from her shirt buttons to catch Killian's longing gaze in the mirror. She smiled while continuing to button up her shirt, "You could always take a picture."
"I fear it wouldn't do you justice," he took slow advancing steps across the room towards her. When she finally looked back up from her shirt, he was just a few steps behind her with a wide grin.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, darling. I merely find your concerns over your appearance rather fascinating."
"Fascinating?"
"Aye, love. You spend every morning altering your appearance in this mirror, twirling your hair one way or another and softening your cheeks with powder."
"Trust me, I could be a lot worse. And I'm not exactly a woman who rises and shines."
"Oh I disagree," he whispered. Leaning over her shoulder from behind, he left a tender kiss along the side of her cheek. "You see, for me, mornings are something of a privilege. When I open my eyes and turn over to my right, I behold the very essence of perfection," he gestured to Emma's reflection in the mirror, "as I do now."
She playfully turned around and threw her arms around his shoulders, "You're such a kiss ass." He grinned and leaned in to meet her warm lips with his own. Even after the night they had just spent together, Emma still couldn't control herself around him. His usual advances, which she typically just disregarded with a light peck on the cheek, were now taken in full swing. Emma wasn't about to hold back the urge to slam the door, push him onto their bed, and forget there was a dinner about to be served. Killian could feel his own excitement raging within him as Emma's arms slid beneath his coat and gripped the back of his white shirt. It took every bit of restraint he had to pull a few inches away. "Why don't we save all that for later?"
"By later, I hope you mean tomorrow. I plan on sleeping tonight."
He cocked his eyebrow mischievously, "What's the matter, love? Have I worn you out already?"
"No but your daughter has," Emma grumbled. "I'm pretty sure Elizabeth waited for you to get back before trying out all of the life threatening stunts." Killian nodded amusingly.
"You will apologize to Smee though?" Her voice shifted cautiously, aware that Killian was still very wound up from what happened earlier that day at the docks.
His eyes widened with dismay. "Why on earth would I do that? Elizabeth almost broke her neck and half of the ship is destroyed. The man deserves what's coming to him."
Emma sighed, "You and I both know it was not his fault."
"Judging by the way he spoke to me," his eyes narrowed, "I'd say he was asking for a stab wound."
"Killian," she groaned. "I get that you were on edge but that doesn't mean you can just snap on people like that. You need to keep control of yourself, especially with Elizabeth around. You scared the hell out of her," her eyes fluttered, "and me."
Killian opened his mouth to refute her but he could find no words. Smee just lied there, cowering on the edge of the dock as he recalled shuddering with trauma and rage. He had every intention of smearing that man all along the old wooden panels. In his rage he had forgotten everything and everyone around him. He could think of nothing else besides his advancing attack.
Emma read the confusion and trauma lined under Killian's eyes. She kissed his cheek and pulled him close. Killian leaned his heavy head against her neck, breathing in her apparent love and concern. "I love you, Killian Jones," she mumbled in his ear, "and I need you to stay with me."
Shame swept through him. He could only imagine what Emma had seen: his fiery rage and Elizabeth's quivering fear. He gulped down the bitter taste of bile in his throat and sighed against her shoulder, "I'm sorry, Emma."
Regina was sitting stiffly in the main hall. She was wearing a simple black dress and blazer, though styled it with an impressively sized jeweled necklace that Emma presumed to be some kind of magical relic.
In the years of their return, Regina assumed her position as the queen of the monarch that formally belonged to Snow. She changed a lot of the policies and procedures of her command. Her dictatorship, which was once ruled by an iron fist, had calmed into passive law. The people that lived within her territory were finally beginning to warm up to Regina's reign which helped to smooth the changeover.
Regina's arms were impatiently crossed as she watched Killian, Emma and Elizabeth make their way slowly down the staircase. "You're running late, Miss Swan."
"Really, I hadn't noticed," Emma muttered bitterly under her breath. Killian took her hand in an effort to silently calm her. The last thing that either of them needed was to put up with the sass of Regina Mills. Emma quickly gathered her composure before politely smiling back to Regina, "I think everybody is. We can't get started until Neal and Henry arrive."
"Don't worry!" Neal's gruff voice echoed a ways down the hall. "We're here." He and Henry hurriedly shrugged off their riding jackets and gave them to the footmen by the door before making their way across the hall.
Henry took quick and confident strides towards the awaiting group. "Hey moms," he smiled at Regina and Emma. Regina's face lit up with relief and utter happiness. "Henry," she smiled with open arms. Emma had forgotten that this was her first time seeing Henry since he left almost two months ago.
"Mom," he hugged her back warmly. "I uh, didn't realize you were coming tonight."
"I grew tired of waiting. You must tell me everything about your trip." Henry grinned and took her arm to lead her into the other room.
"Hey squirt," Neal grinned down to Elizabeth, "how've you been?"
"Okay," she quietly mumbled. She dropped her eyes to the ground shyly, which was totally out of character for her.
"She's on time out," Emma muttered. Neal raised an eyebrow curiously.
"Elizabeth managed to bring down the mainmast of the Jolly Roger," Killian stated plainly. Neal looked back down to her in astonishment.
"Mr. Smee called me a coward," she grumbled in soft protest down to the floor. Neal heartily chuckled and grinned up at Killian. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you." Elizabeth blushed with embarrassment and ran off without them into the dining room.
"Do you think Henry knows?" Emma anxiously mumbled under her breath.
"Relax, he doesn't suspect a thing," Neal grinned proudly.
Killian's brow furrowed with sudden concern, "Suspect what?" He turned to Emma. She felt bad for bringing it up in front of him, but didn't want to take any chances by telling him now that they were so close. "Don't worry, you'll find out soon."
"Emma," he argued taking her hand.
"I'm sorry but I can't tell you. You're the worst at keeping secrets." Killian bit his lip frustratingly. Neal chuckled, "Yeah like that time we tried to throw David a surprise party?" Killian rolled his eyes, recalling the poor decisions he made in the past regarding these kinds of events. He grumbled inaudibly and followed Emma and Neal into the dining room.
The dinner was comfortable enough, though Emma was frustrated with how distant her parents still acted around Regina. They were trying, however, which was better than nothing. Henry bubbled with his stories of meeting foreign traders and going to distant lands. David and Killian chimed in here and there with their own brief accounts. It was easy for Emma to just sit back and listen.
Emma looked over to Neal and Regina, who were glowing with their pride and affection for Henry. Even Killian, who sat across from Emma, smiled warmly to the boy. It was somewhat surreal for Emma to remember that the family sitting around the table started with Henry and a book. Now everything was about to change for him.
When everyone's dishes had been cleared from the table, Emma slyly looked around to Neal, Regina and Snow. David picked up on the excitement radiating off of his wife, and grew uncomfortable with not being informed. Killian also felt the surprise lurking like an elephant in the room.
"So Henry," Emma began. "We've all been thinking about your birthday which is right around the corner. We all wanted to talk to you about the possibility of giving you a bigger gift: an official title." Emma could feel her mouth dry up with the words. She wasn't ready for anything like this!
Henry looked around confused. "But I'm not next in line, James is."
Regina cleared her throat, "Which is why we want to make you first in line to ascend my throne." She pulled out a thin leather case from her blazer and opened it in front of him. Inside was a sleek golden crown which once belonged to Snow's father when he was just a prince. "Happy Birthday, Henry."
A joyous tear peaked out from the crevice of Snow's eyelid from across the table as she watched her grandson stare at the crown in awe.
Henry's finger gently ran along the golden rim. He gathered himself and looked up to the table. "I… I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to agree to anything right now. Take as much time as you need," Neal added. "It's a big decision to make in one night."
Emma bit her lip in restraint of losing her self-control. This was all too much for her to see in one night. Henry, her Henry, was practically all grown-up. He peered up from the crown to find Emma's wet eyes and her wide smile. He beamed with elation as he slowly lifted the crown out from its case.
"Wait," Killian stood up in excitement and looked over to David. "If the ladies are giving him their gift now, does this mean we can give him ours?"
David's eyes grew wide in shock, "What? No!"
"Damn it Killian! Sit down," Neal urgently gestured down to his seat.
"What gift?" Emma demanded.
"Sorry, love, I would have told you but you are the worst at keeping secrets," Killian mocked her in amusement as he sank back down into his seat.
Emma looked over to Neal, who had pursed his lips together secretively. "You've been going along with them too?"
"Originally I was just with you, but then the guys roped me in." He leaned back in his chair and chuckled, "When they made their claim, I really couldn't say no."
Snow suspiciously glared at her very guilty looking husband. "David?"
He grinned mischievously and chuckled at the sight of all the furious women sitting around the table. "We don't want to reign on your parades, but there's another present waiting outside for Henry." David nodded at one of the footmen in the dining room to make the preparations.
Henry nervously paced over to the closed front doors with everyone following his heels. James and Elizabeth were bouncing on the balls of their feet in anticipation as the guards looked over to David for the command.
"Oh good, at least the guards have been told in advance," Regina muttered bitterly behind David. She was not happy with the thought of being bested on Henry's birthday by this group of men.
They opened the doors and revealed Henry's very large birthday present parked at the bottom of the steps. The black vintage Rolls Royce gleamed from the light leaking from inside the castle.
"You got him his first car without me?" Regina raged at David with envious fury.
He looked back at her incredulously, "I don't even want to hear it. You got him a crown."
"Considering the first car I gave Emma was a crappy yellow bug, I felt like I had to make up for it," Neal smirked smugly at the luxury car as Henry stumbled down the steps to get a better look.
Emma swallowed her shock and looked over to David, Neal and then Killian. She knew that David was working closely with Michael Tillman to try and bring automobiles into the land, but was under the impression that they were stuck trying to find an alternative source to fuel, since gas was a rare commodity in the Enchanted Forest.
Killian cocked his head amusingly, reading Emma's blatant confusion. "Really, dear," he grinned smugly, "did you think those shipments we unloaded just contained food?"
