Killian's been delayed at the battlefield, while Emma's left at the castle. Will they be reunited soon?

I wrote this in June 2014, inspired by an edit I saw on Tumblr. Canon divergent, and takes place post season three, where everyone has returned to the Enchanted Forest.

Flashbacks are in italics.

I do not own Once Upon a Time or its characters.

-/-

Emma paced along the castle corridors after leaving the council meeting, her arms crossed, sometimes her steps slow and pensive, other times hurried and impatient, echoing against the stone. It was early spring in the Enchanted Forest, the snow mostly melted but with a lingering chill in the air. She wore a simple, floor-length dark brown dress with long sleeves that had a neckline outlined in soft white fur. Emma's golden waves tumbled loosely onto her shoulders and down her back. Even though she was royal, Emma refused to wear fancy gowns every day.

She stopped at a window overlooking the sea, gazing at the horizon, her eyes searching for the ship. His ship. Her hand went to her neck, fingering the gold coin that hung there. It brought back memories of their parting.


"You didn't think we'd let you sail away without saying goodbye, did you?" Emma said as she and Henry stepped onto the docks.

The Captain grinned from the deck of The Jolly Roger. "Never," he said. Killian walked down the gangplank and stopped in front of Henry. "Now lad, I trust that you'll take care of your mother while I'm gone, right? She can protect herself but sometimes she needs a little assistance." He winked at Emma, who rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I'll be there for her," Henry promised with a smile. Then his expression turned serious and he lowered his voice. "What about the other thing we were talking about yesterday?"

Killian kneeled down in front of Henry so they were the same height. "I'll tell you a secret lad. I'll tell you what worked for me." For some reason he glanced at Emma when he said this. He leaned closer to Henry and whispered something to him that Emma couldn't make out. At his words Henry looked slightly nervous, but his jaw was set, and a determined expression crossed his face.

"Thanks Killian." Henry gave him a big hug, and without another word ran back up the road to the castle.

Emma raised her eyebrows. "What was that about?"

"He wanted some advice on a personal matter, and I've sworn not to say what it is until he's ready, that's all," Killian said, shrugging his shoulders, but he gazed at Henry's retreating form with pride. Emma's heart swelled with emotion.

"Well, thank you. For being so patient and listening to him."

"It's nothing, Swan. I hope it's not too forward of me, but I see him as if he were my own son."

His words warmed her heart. She smiled, but it was brief, for she knew their time was short. She stared into his eyes, finding comfort in them. "I'm going to miss you," she said.

"And I you. But remember, it's only for two weeks. I'll be back soon enough."

"But you're going to a battlefield, Killian!"

"I won't be fighting, you know that. I'm only delivering men and supplies."

Emma moved closer to him. "Just promise that you'll come back."

"Nothing could stop me, love," he said. He took her hand in his and placed it over his heart. "This belongs to you, Emma. It will never stop beating for you." He let go of her hand to retrieve something from his coat pocket. With great care he extracted a necklace with a plain and thin black leather cord. On the end of it hung a small gold coin.

"Is that... is that what I think it is?"

"Aye."

"You kept it? After all this time?"

"Aye. It's the only thing I took from the giant's treasure room on our little adventure." He smirked, but it soon turned into something softer. "I asked the dwarves to string it up for me."

He held it higher and looked her in the eye.

"And I give this to you, Emma Swan, with a promise.

He gently slipped the necklace over her head.

"That no matter what happens while we're separated, no matter what befalls me, I will return to you."

He brushed her hair away from her face

"I promise you, Emma, I will not leave you. There is nothing, nothing in all the realms that could stop me from coming back." Killian cupped her cheek in his palm. "Alright?"

Emma felt tears prick the corner of her eyes but refused to let them fall. Damn romantic pirate. She leaned into his touch, trying to memorize every detail of his face before he left. She wholeheartedly believed him and knew he would keep his promise, but couldn't help still feeling worried. "I love you," she whispered.

"I know, love," he replied softly. "Just as you know that I love you."

She tilted her head up and kissed him. They took their time, making it slow and sweet, sealing his promise. When they finally broke apart they stayed together for a moment, foreheads touching, listening to the rush of the ocean waves and the creaking of the ships.

He stroked her cheek with his thumb. "When I return, you'll be able to recognize my ship. Look to the top of the mainmast, on the smallest sail. There will be a black outline of a swan on it. I'll personally raise it on our return journey. That way you'll easily be able to tell my ship apart from the others," he said in a low voice.

She nodded. "Good."

Killian pressed his lips to hers one more time, and slowly backed away. The moment their entwined hands let go of each other seemed like an eternity to Emma.

She stayed on the docks as his ship departed, holding on to the gold coin that hung around her neck.


Emma's fingers tightened their hold on the coin. She had not taken the necklace off since their goodbye, for she felt that if she lost it, she would somehow lose him.

Three weeks had passed since his departure, but he still hadn't returned. He'd sent her a white dove with a letter attached to its leg, explaining that he'd been detained at the battlefield camp, and that his ship had been damaged and needed repairs. He told her that he thought of her every day and that he would see her soon. That was a week ago. He still hadn't returned.

Emma rubbed her thumb along the surface of the coin, a million different scenarios running through her head about what could have happened. None of them were good. She just wanted him back by her side once again. It was the longest time they'd ever been separated, not counting the year after Pan's curse, because she hadn't remembered him then.

"Hey. You okay?" Emma heard her mother say behind her. She turned around.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"Emma, you don't have to do that with me. You don't have to pretend everything's alright. I'm your mother, and I can tell when you're upset."

Emma sighed. "Truthfully... I'm worried about him."

"He'll be back soon. You just need to have hope," Snow said, wrapping her arm around Emma's waist and gazing through the window at the ocean.

"It's a little difficult at the moment."

"I know how you feel, Emma. When your father and I were first separated, it was awful. Half the time I didn't know what to do with myself. I have to say, you're handling it better than I did."

"I feel terrible. I didn't realize how important he'd become to me until he wasn't there," Emma said. "Until I realized how much I missed him."

"I was the same. It must run in the family." Snow nudged her, bringing a small laugh to Emma's lips. She paused a moment before saying, "He'll find his way back to you Emma. From what I've seen, I don't think there's much that will stop him."

Emma nodded. "Thanks, Mom," she said, making Snow smile.

"I'm going to find Henry. I'll see you later," Snow said.

"Okay. Hey, out of curiosity, where is Henry? I haven't seen him that much lately," Emma asked.

"Oh, well, he's been spending a lot of time with Jefferson's daughter, Grace," Snow said with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Oh," Emma said, slightly surprised. Then she remembered Killian's goodbye to Henry and something clicked. She smiled to herself. "See you later." Snow left, leaving Emma alone to gaze out the window once again, turning the gold coin over and over in her hand. She didn't know how long she stood there until something on the horizon caught her eye.

A ship was approaching. It was a normal occurrence, with the trade in their kingdom flourishing, but Emma couldn't help the fluttering in her stomach every time she saw one. As it drew closer, she noticed something. One of the sails was different from the others. It bore a black swan. Emma smiled slowly.

He was home.

(The next few hours were a blur. Her racing down to the docks as fast as her horse could carry her, jumping off and crashing into Killian. Him hugging her tightly despite the bandage on his upper arm. Him taking her for a nighttime stroll in the gardens. Getting down on one knee. Her saying yes as soon as the question left his lips.)

-/-

Thank you for reading! Comments are greatly appreciated! :)