Paradise

Back in Storybrooke…

Emma walked down the docks, looking for the boat where Smee lived. When she found the right one, she called out from the pier.

"Smee? Hey Smee! It's Emma, Emma Swan!" She heard movement on board, and a gruff voice replied.

"I'll be right there!" Emma looked around to make sure Killian hadn't followed her or anything. With a few days left until the town's return to the Enchanted Forest, it was difficult getting a moment to herself. Just then, a small door opened on the boat and Smee, wearing that red hat, climbed out and jumped onto the pier and gave her a small bow.

"Hey Smee. You don't have to do that you know."

"If the Captain heard I was being less than proper with you Princess, well…that hook is sharp you know." Emma laughed at his nervousness.

"Relax. If he has a problem, you tell him to take it up with me," she said, "and please, call me Emma."

"Of course. Now, what can I do for you…Emma?"

"As you know, we're going back in a few days. When we get there, I know that you're going to be offered a position in my parent's royal navy, under Killian, and it'll be a real good job."

"Really? I may have been a pirate for these last 300 years, but I'd be honored to serve under Captain Hoo... Jones."

"You're going to turn it down."

"I'm sorry?"

"You're turning it down because I've got a special mission for you. You specialize in procuring hard to find objects, don't you?"

"Yes."

"I need you to find the Jolly Roger." A big smile broke out on Smee's face.

"He told you what happened to her?"

"Not the whole story. All I know is that he traded the Jolly for a magic bean so that he could get to New York to bring Henry and I back to Storybrooke."

"The Captain was always one for the grandest gestures. Do you know where I should start?"

"Port-towns way out of the boundaries of the Enchanted Forest. Whatever wouldn't have been taken by the second curse", said Emma. "I need you to get on this as soon as we get back. And you can't tell anyone, understand Smee?"

"Of course Princess." Emma gave him a look. "Sorry…Emma."

"Okay then. I'll be seeing you around." She walked off to where she'd parked the Bug, but not before turning back to Smee. "Thank you William."

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The cool evening air whipped the hair across Emma's face and the skirt of her wedding dress flapped around her ankles as she leaned against the portside of the Jolly Roger. The lake was pretty calm, only a slight wind, and the Jolly was sailing smoothly away from the castle. She and Killian had just left for their honeymoon after the reception. She was thinking about the day's events when she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist.

"I still can't believe he found her." said Killian as he pulled Emma closer to his chest and placed his chin on her shoulder. "Or that you asked him to."

"I did it because I love you, Killian. You helped bring me home and I just wanted you to have your home again." Killian turned Emma around to face him and held her face in his hands – he wore the fake one on the left.

"You are my home. You and Henry are my home now. Do not, for one second think I need the Jolly Roger to feel at home or that I regret my choice in trading her away."

"I know, I know. It's just…You know what? Let's not get into the whole 'home' discussion. We just got married and I want to spend the next three weeks traveling the realm with you", said Emma as she leaned her forehead against his.

"Okay my love." Emma kissed him lightly, smiling into the kiss.

"Now, have I told you about a wedding tradition in the Land without Magic that has to do with how a groom removes his bride's garter?" Emma asked with a coy smile as she brought her arms up and around his neck.

"You haven't love." he replies as his cheeks flush.

"Well, let me…uh…change and we'll just take care of that, won't we? But first, I may need some help with unlacing this thing, would you mind?"

"Of course not love." Killian replied with a gulp. He was quick, despite having the one hand, and she finally felt like she could breathe again. Emma turned back to face him, making sure to hold the dress up, pulled him to her, and kissed the scar on his cheek.

"Give me ten minutes." she whispered in his ear and sauntered away.

She disappeared down the steps to the Captain's Cabin like she had almost a year ago. Emma looked through the wardrobe to where Emilie had hung her things earlier that day and found a white silk robe. Happy with her choice, she reached behind her and pulled the dress down, stepping out of it. Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw herself clad only in her red and black corset and underwear, with red heels and that garter and she smiled because she knew what it was going to do him when he saw her. She pulled the robe around herself and tied it so that she could magic the dress onto the mannequin in her bedroom back at the castle. She concentrated, seeing her room and where she was sending the dress, and with a flick of her wrist, the dress disappeared in a cloud of white smoke.

Thank the gods we're still close enough to the castle for me to do that and thank you Regina!

Without help from the former Evil Queen, Emma would've never been able to do that kind of thing with her magic. With another flick of her wrist, she started a fire in the small fireplace, giving the cabin an orange glow. When she heard steps above her, signaling Killian was on his way to the cabin, she went and lay on the bed, choosing to lay on her side and propping herself up with her left arm, where she placed her head.

"May I join you Mrs. Jones?" Killian called down.

"Please do." she replied.

His boots appeared on the ladder; he had long since discarded his jacket and vest, wearing only the pants and white shirt. The look on his face when he saw her reminded her of that scene in The Little Mermaid where Sebastian's jaw just drops and Scuttle has to lift it back up. Adorable idiot she thought. "Something wrong, Mr. Jones?"

"Um…uh… no." She couldn't help but laugh at how he couldn't say coherent words and she would never tire of having that effect on him. "So, darling, what's this tradition and garter you mentioned?"

She pulled one side of the robe up and exposed her right leg where the garter sat snugly on her thigh and she could tell the effect it was having on him when she looked back at him.

"In the other realm, grooms would take it off with their…teeth." she said and he shut his eyes for a second and then looked back at her, stifling a small groan. "We may not be in Storybrooke anymore, but I do love traditions."

He was on one knee in front of her before she completely finished talking and started kissing up her leg from the knee, never taking his eyes off her, like when he tied the scarf to her injured hand. When he reached the garter, she saw him take the fabric in his teeth and, still looking her in the eye, he pulled it down her entire leg to where she rested her high heeled foot on his shoulder.

"This is a wonderful tradition darling." He tossed it across the cabin and it landed with a dull thud on some shelf. He tried to kiss up her leg again, but she pushed him back because her foot was still on his shoulder. "No fair Swan."

"It's Jones now buddy." She dropped her foot and stood, pulling up him by the collar of his shirt. She turned them and pushed him back so that he fell on the bed. Emma turned around and looked at him over shoulder, giving him a wink as she dropped the robe. She chuckled at the gasp he made when he saw her.

"I'm so bloody glad the ship can steer herself because I do not intend to leave this cabin for a very. Long. Time." Emma turned and walked over to him and stood between his legs.

"Neither do I, Commander." With that, Killian pulled Emma to him and they fell back on the bed; but not before she cloaked the ship with a flick of her wrist.

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She knew she was dreaming when she realized she was sitting on a beach in Hawaii, but she didn't care. She heard laughter and turned to see Killian chasing after a little boy and Henry chasing after him.

"This could've happened." she said out loud to herself as she thought of the baby she'd lost. She hated herself in that moment; if she hadn't used dark magic on that psychopath, Hans, she would be holding a baby right now.

"It still can." Emma whipped her head to the side and saw a little girl was sitting next to her.

Something about her was familiar; her dark blonde hair fell in curls to her shoulders and she had blue-green eyes and looked to be of single digit age. "It wasn't your fault you know, I just wasn't meant to be. You had to save him and the others."

"You're…you're…"

"Yes."

"I'm so sorry."

"I said it wasn't your fault, so you have nothing to be sorry about." Emma and the little girl sat in silence as they both watched the boys. After a while, the girl spoke again. "He is who you need to get ready for." she said as she pointed to the little boy running on the beach with Killian and Henry. "I think he should be named after my uncle…and grandpa."

"Am I…?" asked Emma without saying the actual words.

"You will be."

"This seems so real," said Emma, "but this is all in my head right? This is a dream."

"I have to go now, and you have to wake up." said the girl. She stood and brushed sand from her skirts.

"But like a great wizard once said: Of course this is all happening in your head…but why on Earth should that mean it's not real?" The little girl laughed and waved as she ran off down the beach.

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Emma's eyes shot open and it took her a second before she remembered where she was: the captain's cabin of the Jolly Roger, almost three weeks into her honeymoon with Killian; they were already on course to head back to the Enchanted Forest. She couldn't remember the dream she'd had, but she had a feeling that it was important. She sat up to say good morning to her husband, but he was gone. The Jolly Roger suddenly started swaying from side to side and that didn't bode well for Emma's stomach.

Trying to ignore that queasy feeling, Emma padded over to the wardrobe and found some undergarments. Despite all the dresses she'd been made to bring with her, Emma pushed them to the side in favor of her riding breeches, shoulder baring white shirt, and her favorite knee high boots. She was rummaging around for one of her vests when she spotted Killian's red one – the one she absolutely loved him in – and slipped it on, doing up the dark silver buttons. She ran a brush through her hair to get the tangles out and then pulled it to the side and braided it kind of like Elsa's.

She took the side door to get out on deck and was immediately greeted by somewhat choppy seas. She stepped out farther on deck and looked back to see Killian at work at the helm trying to steer; he hadn't noticed her yet. The ship jolted again and suddenly, last night's dinner was ready to make an appearance. Her hand flew to her mouth as she ran to the starboard side of the Jolly.

"Emma?" she heard Killian call after her. She braced herself against the railing and everything came up. "Emma!" She barely heard him stomping down the steps over the sound of the water and her retching. She only knew he was there when she felt his hand running up and down her spine to calm her. Emma wiped her hand across her mouth.

"I'm fine, just seasickness. She's really moving." said Emma as she gestured around.

"Aye. I'm trying to get us into port." he protested. Killian saw green creeping into Emma's face as her hand flew up and she leaned over to throw up again. "Darling, you should go lay down."

"I'm fine." Emma snapped.

Killian raised his hands in surrender. "In that case, would you like to come stand at the wheel with me as I bring us into port?"

She took the hand he offered and he led them back to the wheel. He pulled her to stand in front of him with his arms on either side of her as he steered, resting his chin on her shoulder. "You see that dark shape over there?"

She peered over the deck of the ship and finally made out the shape her new husband was talking about. "Yeah. What kingdom is it?" she asked.

"It's called Éire." Killian said and he was quiet until they got close enough to see the port town standing out in the bright morning. "This… This is where I was born."

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"Emma held tightly onto Killian's hand as they walked through the streets of Éire. It reminded her of those small villages in Europe she'd seen on the Discovery Channel.

"So, where are we headed?" Emma asked.

"First, Love, we need to secure room and board for the evening. I may be a hell of a captain, but there's a storm coming and I do not think it prudent for us to be sailing without a crew in that kind of weather." replied Killian.

"After that, can you... uh... show me where you grew up here?"

"I will…think about it."

"Okay." Emma went quiet again as they walked. "How long has it been?" She asked after a while.

"Over three hundred years. I have not returned here since after Liam died." He replied.

"You still seem to know your way around."

He laughed lightly. "I've got a pretty good memory love."

They stopped in front of a tavern called The Lieutenant Duckling and Killian held the door open for her. "After you, Mrs. Jones." It was still early enough in the day so that the bar tavern wasn't full, with only a few patrons sitting around eating breakfast.

"Can you get us some breakfast too? I am starving."

"Of course darling." He led them up to a counter, where an old man stood polishing tankards. "Good morning sir, I need a room for my wife and I."

"And breakfast!" said Emma.

"Yes and breakfast." The barman huffed and pulled a book from under the counter after shouting to the kitchen in the back for some food. Emma left Killian to make the arrangements as she took a seat at a table. She was absentmindedly playing with the rings on her left hand when Killian sat down in front of her, followed by a barmaid who placed two plates of bread and cheese in front of them.

"Anything else I can get ya?" she asked Killian seductively, as she ran a finger down his arm.

"Uh, no…thank you", he replied, slightly uncomfortable. He turned to Emma, "How about you, love?"

"No. Thank you." she replied through gritted teeth with a look at the woman. Killian laughed as she walked away.

"You know, jealousy becomes you darling."

"Well, she best keep her hands to herself if she wants to keep them at all." Emma looked at the barmaid again over Killian's shoulder as he laughed to himself. After they finished eating, they returned to the Jolly Roger to get their things and drop them at their room. Emma realized she had forgotten to put on her necklace that morning and started looking through her things for it.

"So, would you like to meet my mother?" Killian asked.

"What?" she asked as she turned from her small trunk.

"My mother's grave is still here, in a cemetery nearby actually." He said with a look of sadness in his eyes. "Would you like to go lay some flowers with me?"

"I'd be honored, Killian." She said as she found her necklace and put it on.

"Let's go then." He took Emma's hand and left the tavern. On their way to the cemetery, they passed through the market. A few hours had passed and the people of Éire had started waking up. Emma saw a cart with flowers that had just opened for the day and stopped to buy some to lay on the grave of her late mother-in-law.

"Did she have a favorite kind?" she asked him as she looked over all the colorful bunches that were displayed. He dropped her hand and scratched behind his right ear, Emma noticing a small flush to his cheeks. "What?"

"My mother…she favored…buttercups." He gave her a small smile.

"Are you serious?"

"Aye, Love."

Emma laughed to herself as she turned back to the cart and found the best bouquet. She handed some gold coins to the merchant and took Killian's hand and they continued on their journey. After a little while, they came upon what looked like a small church and next to it was the cemetery. "Do you remember where she is?" Emma asked Killian.

"Near the back, under that tree over I believe." he said as he pointed. The stones near the entrance of the cemetery looked newer than the ones they passed as they walked deeper. When they made it to the back, they found a moss covered stone. Killian moved forward to brush it off, revealing,

ISABELLE JONES- BELOVED WIFE AND MOTHER.

"Isabelle is a beautiful name." said Emma as she lay the flowers on the stone.

"And she was a beautiful woman." he replied. He looked away from Emma and crouched in front of his mother's grave. "It's been a very long time since I've come to see you mother, and I'm…sorry for that." He reached behind him and took Emma's hand, pulling her forward and she put her hands on his shoulders as he continued speaking. "Mother, this is… Emma. My true love. My… everything."

No matter how many times she heard him say things like that to her – or about her – Emma was always floored…each and every time. She remained quiet as Killian continued talking, telling his mother how they met, their adventure in Neverland, the battle against Zelena, and finally their journey to the past.

"We just got married, not three weeks ago," Killian was saying. "And now we're on our way home. I promise, Mother, that I will visit you again."

"We both will." said Emma.

"Aye and maybe next time, we'll have a little one to visit you as well." Killian placed a kiss on his fingers then pressed them to the grave. He and Emma left the cemetery in silence. They were walking back through the marketplace when Emma spoke.

"Are you okay, Killian?"

"Of course Swan," he said quietly. "I just miss her."

"Will you tell me about her?" asked Emma and he nodded. They took some seats at one of many small tables set up around some food carts; Emma figured it to be the equivalent of a mall food court. After getting some food and drinks – and the giving of an evil eye to yet another flirty lady – Killian started talking about his mother.

"She was beautiful. I remember she had hair like mine, the same color, but it was long just like yours. We also shared the same color eyes. I suppose that's why it was hard for my father to deal with her death. I was always there, a constant reminder of what he'd lost. She died when I was five years old and Liam was almost sixteen. A year and a half later, my father abandoned me on a ship that was to take us on a trip around the realms."

"He left you alone on a ship when you were only seven?" Emma asked with anger.

"Aye", replied Killian and took a swig of his beer. "I lived on these streets for six months before Liam found me. I'd just been caught stealing from a food cart when he saw; he'd just arrived back on leave from the naval academy and stopped the soldiers from taking me." Emma dropped her food back to her plate and pushed away, tears glistened in the corners of her eyes.

"I knew that your father had left you, but I had no idea you were that young. How could he do something like that…to his son?!" The tears started to fall in earnest now, "I'm sorry that happened to you." Killian stood and walked around the table and sat down next to her as she wiped the tears away.

"You don't need to be," he said. "I no longer am. It's like you said in your vows, that everything you've done and experienced led you to me and that's how I see it in my case. Swan, I wouldn't change my life if it meant I couldn't be in this moment with you."

"I love you."

"I know." Killian replied with a smirk. Emma kissed him lightly and took a bit from her bread.

"So, you want to bring a kid to see where you grew up and to see your mother?"

"I would love to, yes." Emma stroked her chin in mock thought, then smiled at Killian as she leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"Then maybe", she whispered seductively, "We should get started, hmm?" Emma leaned away from him as she saw the tip of his tongue dart out between his lips and a big grin spread across his face.

"Let's." They paid for their lunch and practically ran back to the tavern they were staying at.

They made it to the stairwell before they couldn't keep their hands off each other. Emma jumped into Killian's arms, wrapping her legs around his waist as they backed into their room.

Needless to say, neither one noticed the storm raging outside for the rest of the day.