Hook was walking around the deck of his ship in the dark waiting for her to come and visit. He had left word for her to meet him here once Henry had fallen asleep. It would of course be his bad luck that the woman he fell in love with would consider his enemy family to her family. How is this much misfortune possible to anyone?
"I am here but why?" He saw Regina walking up the plank. "You will never guess who is staying in the castle tonight with you and your son." "Rumplestilskin" "Aye, you are correct my former evil queen. The Charmings now consider him family because of his marriage with Belle. That is why I chose to stay on the ship rather than near the crocodile."
Regina began to pace on the deck just as Hook was doing when she arrived. "Does he know you are here and I?" "He saw me talking to Emma as I was wishing her a good night. The conversation didn't last long before they left and I quickly excused myself to head down here. I didn't mention a word about you or Henry but I don't know about the others." "Well, I promised Henry nothing would get in the way of us watching the wedding. We will just have to hang low until then and plot for revenge after that. Unless you are not up for that anymore or if there even will be a wedding now thanks to you Captain Love."
300+ years ago…..
"Do you really think you are going to be able to find a wench in here who will want to be with you over me? The second in command of our prized ship and clearly more handsome." Killian asked his shipmate as they were walking the path to the nearest pub. "You might be high and mighty on the ship but I am the one who wins the ladies. These muscles are from doing actual work not walking around barking orders. The arms are what drive all of them crazy." The crewmate named James joked.
They walked in and already saw half of their crew enjoying themselves in some form. "Shall we make a wager then? Who can nab themselves the best looking wench?" Killian egged on as they walked through the door. "Actually Killian, please join me outside for a moment." He heard Liam say from the table just to the right of them. "Yes sir", was his sarcastic reply before he walked outside behind his brother.
Present Day…..
"Good morning sweetheart!" Snow chimed as she opened the door to Emma's chambers. Charming was right behind her with a tray full of breakfast for all them to eat. "We thought a small breakfast up here would be perfect before all of the craziness takes place this afternoon and tomorrow for the wedding. We are still having a wedding right?"
Emma had pulled her covers off and slipped into her robe as she came to join her parents at the small table in her chamber that had four chairs sitting around it. Every once in a while when they were younger, they would have small family meals or free time in the rooms to avoid other people. Neal and Emma each had a matching table for these special occasions. "I'm not late am I?" Neal asked as he peeked his head inside the door too.
"No you are right on time, dear. Where is Elsa?" Snow asked as he pulled up his chair. "She knows this is a family thing that we do and didn't want to interrupt. I told her that was nonsense but she insisted. She said it is the special time for all of us to be together before the craziness starts. But she did say she was going downstairs to help welcome some of our guests that came for the wedding."
Charming looked over to Emma then. "Are we still having a wedding?" "Honestly, I don't know. I had planned to talk about it with Hook last night but we were interrupted by Belle and Rumple. Well long story short, Rumple was the one who took Hook's hand and killed his first love in front of him long ago. So, Hook got upset and left shortly after that. We weren't able to talk about what we feel for each other or anything. He said he was going to stay on his ship last night. I just need to go down there as soon as I can to talk to him."
"I knew Rumple was dark before Belle but didn't think he would be heartless enough to kill the love of someone right in front of them." Snow said covering her chest with her hand. "Before Belle, I don't think Rumple had a heart for anything or one except for Neal." Neal had mused. "Well it was enough that it stuck with Hook and has been seeking revenge ever since then. But regardless, I will have an answer to your question by tonight at the pre-wedding ball."
"Don't tell me I came all of this way and there might not even be a wedding!" Red shouted as she walked through the door with Elsa right behind her. Snow and Charming rushed up to hug her with Emma and Neal close behind. "Ah, I see we are having another hideaway family time." She guessed looking around the room at them. "We are indeed. You are just in time to see if there is going to be a wedding or if Emma is far enough in love with Hook that she cancels to be with him." Charming explained earning dirty looks from his wife and daughter.
"So it happened? You fell in love with Hook." Red asked not really surprised. "I don't know if I would say love. Strongly like sounds good though." "Yeah because we believe that; do we even know how Hook feels? That would help this whole discussion." Neal chimed in again. "Oh trust me; I've seen how he looks at Emma. He loves her too." Elsa said giving Emma a hug around her back.
300+ years ago…..
Liam walked to the where the paths all meet where a well sat in the middle. "What the hell are you doing brother?" Liam turned to ask once he reached the well. "What the bloody hell does that mean? I was going into the pub to have a good night while we are on stay here. You are the one who dragged me out here." Killian shot back trying to figure out where this whole conversation was going. "Is this really how you want to live your life? A new wench and rum binge at every stop. Don't you want to settle down and have a family?"
Killian laughed at the idea because he had never though too much about it before now. "Right, a family so I can end up abandoning my kids just as we were!" "Damn it Killian! That was on our father, not us. You are a good man and would never leave your kin. Don't you even remember mother? She is destined to be like." Killian had to take in a deep breath at the talk of their mother. It was a low blow for Liam to mention her and he knew it. The best memories Killian did have were of his mother and missing her was the worst.
"No matter how much she loved us, she still left too." "That wasn't up to her though. She never wanted to leave us. The plans she had for us still remain though. She wanted us to live full, happy lives with those that we love as well. We owe that to her." Killian kicked around the dirt walking back and forth for a bit. "We don't owe them anything. Our parents left us plain and simple. I won't put myself in a situation to leave those I love either." Killian shouted before storming off towards the ship.
Present Day…..
Hook had made it back up to the castle by noon and was standing on the balcony that looked out and he was able to see his ship. There was a fight going on inside of him that he knew would kill him no matter what he chose. Either he leaves and not returns to avoid the crocodile or he killed him and has Emma hate him. One way or the other Emma would hate him and he couldn't stand the thought of that.
"I knew you wouldn't be too far away." Hook heard and turned to see Red walking out of the balcony to join him. "You always seem to keep one eye on your ship. She is the most important thing to you." Red had made it next to him and was leaning against the railing now just as Hook was. They both starred out towards the ship for a moment. It was a sunny warm day and the small waves were crashing in the sides of it causing it so sway just a bit. "She is a beauty but she is not the most important thing to me anymore."
Red smiled to herself. Never before had she seen Hook care for anything other than his ship, treasure, or rum. Yet here he was claiming his most important possession didn't hold his heart the way it used to just a month ago. "I could have guessed that." He looked to her almost stunned. "Did you know? When I first saw her and then agreed to bring her home, did you know I would fall for her?" He studied her face but saw no trace of surprise. "I had never seen the look in your eyes that you had when you first saw her. There was a reason why I trusted the daughter of King Charming and Queen Snow who also happens to be pregnant with their twin grandchildren in your care. I knew you would protect her at all cost. Emma even told me about the other ship who tried to take yours on. Would you have really resorted to using magic if she wouldn't have been on the ship?" He shook his head gently. "I didn't think so. You are in love with her Hook. What else is there to think about? You should be at her side right now telling her that wedding isn't necessary anymore."
"Her family is sided with the dark one! The one person who took away my happiness 300 years ago is here. How can I be with her when I have to see him all the time? But then if I do exact my revenge, it would hurt her. Either way, one of us will be in pain to be near the other." "You just have to decide what is worth the pain. Will you be better off with or without her? It isn't just you in this Hook. She cares about you too; she will be affected too."
They both went to starring at the landscape around them for a few moments. The noise from wedding preparations and guests in the castle could be heard all around them. The front of the castle to the left of them had the two large banners holding the family crest hanging with flowers above them. The main hall across the way was being set up for the pre-wedding ball tonight and the reception tomorrow. The smaller hall to the right from the main, where the actual wedding would take place, is where Emma had just left from. She had seen Red and Hook standing on the balcony and headed their way.
"There you are Killian. I was actually on my way down to the Jolly to see you." She walked right up to him lifting his hand and hook in her hands. "I think I should spend some time with Snow. We have much to catch up on!" Red took her leave to give them the privacy that they needed. "I just met with my parents, August and his dad. I told them the wedding will not go on. There is no way I can go through with the wedding when I have feelings for you. My parents can handle the whole calling off of the wedding details."
Hook couldn't deny the happiness in her eyes and loved the fact that she was going to call of her wedding for him but everything was starting to hit him. Maybe scared him was a better way to put it. Staying with her would mean ruling this kingdom with her one day. He would have to give up his pirate life for that of a land lover. His whole world would be turned upside down for her. Even with Milah that was never the case. The life he had stayed the same, she just joined into it. Emma couldn't do that though. She had a future already set out for here. There would be no way that he could ask her to leave all this behind. No matter how much he loved her; he couldn't be with her.
"You shouldn't have done that Emma. Marrying August is what you are supposed to do." He looked down at his feet not wanting to see how he was breaking her heart now. "But I want to be with you not him. We could be happy together. Don't you feel what I feel?" "Of course I have feelings for you; I have from the very beginning. But I can't do this. I can't be king one day nor can I stay here while the crocodile runs around. I cannot give up 300 years of revenge just like that." Emma dropped her hands releasing him too. "You can't give up revenge of your first love to be with me? I'm willing to put my ruling on hold for you but you can't do this one thing for me?" "It isn't just 'one thing' for me Emma. This is what has kept me going all this time. We never would have met if it wasn't for this 'one thing'."
Emma had tears in her eyes now that he was letting his true self come out. "Well if that is how you feel, then thank you for the journey home but we are done now." She took off before he could say a word. He tried to catch her arm with his hook but he missed. She ran right down the hall as quick as she could while holding her bump. There was only one place she wanted to be right now and that was her only option. Right before she ran out the side entrance, she passed her parents and August as she made her way out to the garden.
300+ years ago…..
Killian was sitting on the edge of a crate that was to be loaded on the ship in the morning. After the fight, he couldn't stand to be anywhere near the bar. His brother was right. There was more to life than just sailing and being a part of the navy. One day he did hope to wed and have his own children. He knew he would never abandon his children and his uncle would love them as much as possible. It was so clear that he could almost imagine it. All of them living near each other on a farm in the middle of nowhere making their own way into the world.
"I thought I might find you out here brother. Have you been thinking about what I said or just trying to avoid me?" Liam came to sit next to him on the crate. "A little of both at first but now I am just here to think things over." There was silence for a minute between the brother with just the noise from the docks and pubs around them. "You were right. I do want more in this world. I want a life with a family and wife. That is what I want when we are all done with this." "Aye, that does sound brilliant little brother. But where ever we end up has to be by the sea." Killian chuckled as his brother hit his shoulder with his own. "Aye that it does. Do you think we will make great dads one day?" "I know we will. We will make our mum proud. Of that I am sure Killian."
Present Day…..
Emma was sitting out in garden thinking over her fight with Hook. It did sound like she was being unfair to him by asking him to abandon his plan for the last 300 years but it would be for them. That they would be enough for him to forget about revenge; that she would be enough. It was clear that he truly never did let go of his pirate side and she just saw his best side for the trip here. Maybe she was being naïve to think that they would live together in love forever.
"I thought I might find you out here." Emma looked up to see August walking towards her. A month ago, he would have been the exact person she would have ran to while feeling like this. He was the one who picked her up and told her it would all be ok. That it just wasn't a right fit and she would be better off. Now, it was her husband as of tomorrow coming out to talk to her about her problem with the guy she is actually in love with. Could it be any more awkward?
"You know all of my good hide out spots. I will have to come up with some new ones for when we are married and I need a break from you." She tried to smile but it was closer to a happy smirk. "Is there still going to be a wedding?" He asked quietly coming to sit next to her on the stone bench.
She thought about his question for a minute. Yesterday she would have said no without a doubt. Today was a different story. The way he told her that it didn't seem right to give up what his whole life had been focused around for so long hurt too much. He wasn't sure if he could give up all of the hate in his heart for her. "I don't know. We had a fight and he stormed off to his ship. I thought maybe we had something but I guess I was wrong. Maybe I am destined to marry you Auggie. To never find a true love that stories are written about that my parents have. Maybe my love story will be ordinary instead of extraordinary." August pulled her into a side hug as small drops of tears started to run down her cheeks.
"You are an extraordinary person all on your own Emma. There is no need for you to worry about a special marriage to make your life great. You are great on your own. And sure we might not be true love, but I do love you more than most. Plus this is all hypothetical right now. Hook has strong feeling for you possibly even love; he won't leave you and he won't stand by to watch you marry someone else. He just needs time to clear his head."
She sat there a moment thinking about his words. He was right. There wasn't any way for her to know how he truly felt until she went to talk to him; all she knew now was how she felt. And there was no doubt to her now that she was in love. Somewhere over the last month, she fell head over heels for him and needed to be with him. The way he would hold her hands when she was scared or tell her of his pirating tales told her he cared for her too. There was just one thing standing in the way; she needed to tell him now.
"You are right August. I need to talk to him right now and tell him we do belong together." Emma stood and started to run towards the far side of the garden that had a short cut down to the docks where the Jolly was tied up. From the other direction by the castle, Henry was running towards her. "Emma!" She stopped to catch up with him. "Henry, I would be happy to sit and talk with you some other time but I have to find Hook now." "That's why I'm here. He asked me to give this to you." Henry handed her a piece of parchment folded over with her name on it and a small package below it.
Emma took the items and started to read the note while Henry headed back to the castle.
Dearest Emma,
This last month has been amazing. It has brought me more joy and love than I thought possible for myself. The nights that we sat on the deck talking about our lives will stay with me forever.
When I first came to Red's, I was looking for some answers at the time and I found most of them with you. You were the one my heart was leading me to find. It was you who had calmed my heart and head when nothing else I tried could. Your eyes felt like home the first time I looked into them and I never wanted to leave. That is when I fell in love with you, Emma. Not princess Emma but the real you. I would never care about your title when your soul is what holds my heart. It is the same way that you got to know Killian instead of Hook. I let you into the deepest parts of me to find out who I am. No one has been able to do that but you did.
That being said, I am a villain. I have stolen, tortured, and killed men just for looking at me wrong. For over 300 years, I have been on a path that would bring justice to the one person who has wronged me. Rumplestilskin. I know how important he is to you and your family and I could not kill him while I am here. But that also means that I can't stay. Being around that beast just reminds me of what all I have lost in my life. I can't live through that again. So, Smee and I are headed back to get our crew then make our way back to Neverland.
I will love you always my princess but this is the only way I can be right now after seeing him. Please take this gift I got for you though. I saw you admiring it at the shop and wanted you to have it. I don't know why but I always felt as though the swan bird just fit with you.
My love forever swan,
Killian
Emma dropped the note at her feet. Her heart was broken. He loved her with everything he had but it still wasn't enough. The revenge in him was too strong that he couldn't kill Rumple; just to be with her. He is her true love but it wasn't going to be for them.
August had picked up the letter and started to read it while Emma opened the gift that was still in her hands. Inside laid the swan hair comb that had the blue crystals. It was just as beautiful as she remembered it in the shop and would now match her dress perfectly. He had seen her gazing at it and got it for her days before they had even started getting close to one another.
"My love forever swan", she whispered to herself before what looked like a vision flashed before her.
Standing on the Jolly that was decorated with flowers all around them was Emma and Hook. The wind was blowing around them as they stood facing each other hands clasped. He was wearing some different clothes than she had ever seen before but had never seen him so handsome. Her dress had a tiny piece of fabric at the shoulders but was cream color without any beading and was flowing in the wind the whole way down. They were starring right into each other's eyes the whole time.
"You are my love forever, Swan." He spoke before she broke out in a huge smile wrapping her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Emma came back to where she stood in the garden now where August was still sitting on the bench reading the letter.
They are more than just two people who love each other. They are their true love and belong together. If he couldn't stay here, then she would go with him. Now that she knew he really was the one, she needed to be with him. "I have to catch him!" She shouted before heading back the way she had started before Henry stopped her.
The whole way down the hill she ran trying to catch up with him. She didn't care about the title or the royalties that came with her becoming queen. All that mattered now was catching Killian and leaving with him. They could live out the rest of their days together in Neverland sailing on the Jolly forever.
The last turn for her came and she saw the Jolly Roger was already a mile out of the port. Running as fast as she could, she made it up to the dock to shout out for him. Maybe he would turn around for her if he saw her.
"Killian" She screamed as loud as she could. The babies in her stomach started to flutter as she shouted his name.
"Killian" Nothing. The ship was almost to the horizon now. He was gone.
I do not own anything OUAT, just love the show! How did you guys like this chapter? Let me know! The comments and likes make me what to write it faster and get it out there. The flashback at the very last part is how I picture their wedding going. Since I am writing this as a final season and they have already been married, we would have seen the wedding but we just haven't in real time yet. So in other words she was flashing to a part of their wedding back in Storybrooke. The next chapter is the wedding to August so make sure you look for it! Thanks