Thanks for sticking with me. I've also put up a one shot of Henry teaching Hook how to use modern devices if you're interested.
Then went in to a small sitting room, and David offered them drinks as a pre-dinner cocktail. Rum and coke for Killian. Gin and Tonic for Emma. They sat down and Emma studied her mother and father looking for any resemblance. Dark hair, pale white skin, red lips. If it weren't for the very un-queenly pixie cut, Emma would say her mother was the living embodiment of Snow White. Her father was handsome. He had an open spirit, and she could tell that people tended to like him, whether they could pinpoint why or not. She'd grown up knowing who the King and Queen were, but never studying them. She'd never had any cause to. Looking at them now she could make out some features that she inherited; high cheekbones, the fair skin, blue eyes, but nothing that made her feel like she belonged to them.
All four sat quietly, each wondering where to start. Killian, with a mind to Emma's safety, and not wanting to bring up the past, started. "So what was the threat? What did they say?"
David outlined the letter that had been delivered that afternoon. The RG believed that their leader, Regina, was the rightful heir to the crown. Regina wanted to dismantle the monarchy rather than have 'pretenders on the throne' as she put it. Emma represented a threat, as the people would have another generation of Queen on the throne, and represented hope for the Kingdom. Her threat was simple, take away the realm's hope. Take out Emma.
They explained more about the threats when Mary Margaret was pregnant. Daily letters showing up at the Palace, detailing plots to kidnap and kill the baby. All seemed so plausible, and they couldn't trust any of their security staff. Every time they thought they had someone fully cleared, something would happen that made them question. They finally agreed that they could trust only one man, the staff repair man Marco, to take the baby away. Marco had a young son, and the two of them were to be raised together.
"You know that didn't happen, right? The happily ever after with my adoptive family? I ended up in fourteen different homes before I finally ran away. Passed from one family to the next, given away as soon as a younger, cuter kid came along." The bitterness in her voice was unmistakable. Killian reached across the sofa to hold her hand, and gave it a squeeze. He noticed tears running down her cheek, and wanted to reach over and wipe them away.
"We didn't find out until later," David said. "We were told it was for the best, that you would be safest if we didn't know where you were, who you were with. Every year we would get one of your school pictures delivered in the mail. No return address, no note, just a picture. Mary Margaret lived for those pictures. We never got any news of you again until the day you ran away. We sent a detective to find you, but he reported back that you'd found a job, and were making ends meet. We worried that trying to do anything to help you would raise alarms. You had a life. You didn't need us."
Emma wanted to yell, "I needed you to love me," but instead remained silent. Her brain and her heart were fighting, and she needed time to think. She knew that her parents did what they thought was best, but she still couldn't forgive them. She could have grown up with them, even if it was in the shadow of a threat. At least she would have grown up with a family. With so many years of bitterness swirling in her chest, she needed time to process the facts.
Standing up, Emma asked if she could be excused. Saying she would like to get cleaned up, and maybe lie down for a moment before dinner, she asked where she would be staying.
David and Mary Margaret showed them up to a suite of rooms, and showed them where they could find things. Once Mary Margaret and David left, Emma looked around the room she realized they had not just been preparing for her today, but her whole life. There were toys and clothing that would have fit her at various ages. There was a frame on the wall with all of Emma's school pictures in it. Some of them Emma didn't even have copies of, and barely remembered. There was a cradle in the corner, almost hidden behind a big overstuffed chair. In the cradle Emma noticed a white knit blanket with her name stitched in to in purple ribbon. Overcome by emotion Emma started to cry again. Killian came over to her and put his arms around her, stroking her hair but not saying anything.
Through her whole life she had always thought she was unwanted. Someone's mistake, given away to become someone else's problem. Seeing this room and meeting her parents meant she had to completely re-evaluate her childhood. She was wanted. Even if she didn't agree with being given up, she couldn't deny that her parents had cared.
Finally, Emma lifted her head up and started to wipe away the tears. She had never wanted to be a victim, and wasn't going to start now. Obviously her early life was rough, but it turned her in to who she was today, and she was proud of herself. She tried to keep that in mind as she and Killian unpacked and put things away and get comfortable. They didn't know how long they'd be staying, but they thought it best to make use of the beautiful surroundings.
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"Do you think we should be letting them stay in the same room?" David asked.
"Oh protective father, let's pick our battles. Now was not the time to be asserting our parental controls. That ship has sailed," replied Mary Margaret. "Besides, it's clear how in love with her he is. I think that man would find a way to walk on water for our daughter."
"But his past...," David sputtered, trying to think of how to phrase all that they'd heard about Killian's business practises.
"Is questionable," continued Mary Margaret. "But from all the information they provided us, he's really reformed these past few years. He didn't grow up knowing that the woman he was going to love was a princess. He probably never thought his actions would be put to such scrutiny. Besides, I feel like it's a bit wrong. Should we have had him investigated? What would have been wrong with just finding out about him on our own?"
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A maid showed up to Emma and Killian's suite a little while later, asking if there was anything they needed. Telling them that the King and Queen would like to have them join them at dinner, but if they preferred to settle in, dinner could be brought to them. Killian and Emma agreed they would join the royals for dinner downstairs, but once she left laughed about Palace room service being a perq they could get used to. Staff curtseying in her presence, that she was going to have to work on.
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Dinner was a quiet meal. Emma tried to stay calm. She felt like if she spoke, bitterness would come to the surface. She really wanted to try to be open to her parents, and wanted this relationship with them to be as friendly as possible. Killian and David mostly talked; discussing politics, sailing, fencing. Emma didn't realize Killian had so many hobbies, but he was able to keep up with her father. And thankfully, the two of them kept the meal from being completely awkward. After finishing dessert, Mary Margaret brought up the elephant in the room.
"The show is about to air. Should we watch it?" Emma expressed that she would like to. She wanted to know what they had found out about her. Figuring they all would need another drink to make it through, David ensured everyone had a refill before they made their way to a sitting room with a TV. Settling in, the four focused in on the TV, and watched the show silently. Every once in awhile Emma would feel Killian rubbing her shoulder, and realize that she had tensed up completely.
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"I don't like him," David said.
"Now David, you seemed comfortable enough talking with him at dinner. What's wrong with him?"
"He's always touching her, and he looks at Emma like he wants to eat her. I've seen that look."
"She's 28, David. And has not been living the life of a sheltered princess. She's had men look at her like that before. And I don't know if you noticed, but our daughter can definitely take care of herself. I doubt any man has gotten very far with Emma without putting in some serious effort. She's not exactly the most open of people."
As soon as Mary Margaret was out of earshot the King could be heard muttering, "but I still don't have to like him."