A/N: A couple of songs in this final chapter: You Can Leave Your Hat On by Tom Jones [had to include this as a nod to the first thing I ever saw Robert Carlyle in: The Full Monty], I Need A Hero by Bonnie Tyler, and Across the Stars (from Star Wars) by John Williams.

Haven't even seen any of the new episodes for Season 5 yet. This is the longest chapter yet. And this chapter is definitely filled with adult content...

I hope you all have enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it.

Please review!

~Anna-Margaret

xx

Chapter XIII

"Where'd you disappear to?" asks Maleficent to moment Freya reappears by Lake Avalon.

"I went to fetch my wedding present," she replies, briefly letting her gaze flash pleadingly to Rumplestiltskin and Belle, silently asking them to remain quiet about the pain they'd glimpsed in her before she'd fled. "Now, gentlemen your things are that away, and Regina, Emma, Aurora, Snow, Neve and Belle these are for you," she announces first gesturing to the woods where ivory drapery now hung and then twisting her hands around and making a pushing gesture towards her island.

Six of the chairs that had been around the tables had now moved to sit in a line on the island just in front of the DJ booth. Before the women can move or speak they find themselves enveloped by a twisting vapour of bright blue smoke and transported across the lake and in front of a seat. Their men all glance at one another and then silently trudge off behind the curtain. The six women slowly sit, all of them wary and confused. Regina looks across the still water of the lake and notices that the floating flames Freya had enchanted to encircle the lake are now hovering much higher.

"If it's a wedding present why are we all over here?" inquires Guinevere in a regal tone.

"What are you up to Freya?" asks Maleficent, taking note of the glimmer in her eyes.

The redhead simply winks at her friend and whispers, "Just sit, relax and enjoy the show," before taking her own seat. "Over the last few months I've been in touch with your men, and persuaded them into doing something for you all as my gift to you. Enjoy!" she explains to the seated women across the way, a cheeky smile playing on her rose-coloured lips, before she uses her magic to hit play on the DJ table behind them.

Emma's eyes widened and her jaw dropped a little as the blasting rich and bright tones of the trumpet and the sonorous, pounding beat of the bass drum burst out of the speakers. Her head swings round to gaze at the curtain the men had gone behind in disbelief as she recognises the track playing after one the first few notes. All the other women's gazes joined Emma's as the men strolled through the curtain in a line until they were gathered along the shore of Lake Avalon facing the crowd of guests that were sat watching, their interest piqued by the outfits the men all wear. Standing with their backs to their women, each stood directly opposite where their significant other sat, the men did not see the approval in their womenfolk's eyes as pairs of eyes roved over the uniform-clad bodies.

All six pairs of eyes widen in shock as as one, with the dulcet 'Huh', the six men angle themselves and make obscene two thrusting motions with their arms and hips and then change to the opposite angle to do the same. Over and over their hips and arms sway and lunge with the music. The men turn so that they're facing sideways for both the guests and their women, and as Tom Jones' crooning cry echoes around the meadow - "Baby, take off your dress. Yes, yes, yes." - the men rip open their navy jackets and peel them off their shoulders, letting them hang just above their elbows all the while still provocatively thrusting their hips. Killian, Arthur and Robin all glance over their shoulders and throw a wink to their love. When they pull the jackets off, throwing them casually over their shoulders, and turn to face the seated women Killian has a hint of a roguish smirk playing across his face when he takes note of Emma's shocked, yet approving, look.

As the chorus plays the men saunter through the lake, uncaring of the water wetting the police uniform they all wear. First it's Robin and David, who are on either end of the line; once they reach the midway point of the lake the next two - Rumple and Arthur - follow, and then it's Killian and Phillip's turn. They all stand in the lake water, their eyes never leaving their love's. Emma manages to keep back the shiver that wants to explode through her entire body because of the intense piercing blue eyes heatedly gazing at her. Guinevere and Regina suffer no such compunctions; the former parting her lips and letting a breathy gasp escape whilst the latter heaves in a stuttering breath as her eyes finally manage to break from the hold Robin's held, only for her brown eyes to dart down to the wet light blue shirt. Aurora blushes as, with a sure grip, the men yank off their ties one after another before swinging them high above their head and then releasing the dark blue scraps of material.

Mary Margaret's glance moves swiftly and momentarily to her daughter when, with the start of the next verse, David, Phillip and Rumple take a step closer to them. Legs spread the three men throw one of their hands into the air before bringing it back down to their crotch a la Tony Manero from Saturday Night Fever. In the background the other three are still grinding their hips. As one, all six undulate their hips and shoulders, and then the three in back strut confidently forward ever closer. The trombone and saxophone blast alongside Tom Jones as they drive their hips back and forth, before kicking the water with each leg as they finally reach the shoreline of the island.

Slowly, their heads tilted so that they're gazing heatedly at their women from beneath their lashes and the black rim of their hats, they pull open their wet shirts that are almost see-through. The buttons easily pop open and flashes of bare flesh are gradually revealed. Together they pull the tails of the shirts out of their trousers before undulating once more. With the repetitive line "You give me reason to live" they drop one shoulder out of the remains of their shirt and then the next until it hangs off their arms. Tearing it from their arms in a synchronised move the six men then swing the wet cotton around the top of their heads before chucking them at their women. Neve laughs as Arthur's aim makes the damp garment slap her face and he drops out of 'character' and starts to apologise. David lightly nudges the young king and he returns to dancing with the other six.

Ever so slowly they draw out their belts out of the loops in their trousers, gyrating all the while. Killian's tongue lightly runs against his lower lip as he takes in Emma's reaction to his closer proximity and the continued seduction. She, like all the other women, appear to no longer be aware of the other men dancing for their own loves. All their attention is fixed solely on the man who has been lucky enough to gain their heart. Quick as a whip they draw closer and tug free their belts, using the leather to wrap around the back of the chair and their woman. Holding the ends of the belt each man gently jerks his woman closer before slithering up her, but being careful not to touch her. Regina, Emma, Guinevere and Belle all react in the same way and reach out to touch their teasing man who quickly darts away, dropping the leather strap in their laps.

Standing out of arms reach and in a line again they swivel their hips, grinning cockily at the fierce looks of longing on the women's faces. They slap their hands down on the dark blue trousers, thumbs hitched beneath the waist, and in one sharp jerking motion rip the garment clear from their bodies revealing quite skimpy scarlet briefs in red leather. With a twirl of their fingers the six men pull the police hats from their heads and hold it in place over the underwear. As one they sway from side to side, thrusting their hips in time to the music.

They spin to face those across the lake and give a little flash of a smile at the shocked guests. Synchronised they put their hats back on and walk backwards in a cocky and suave manner until they're a little closer to their women. In one motion their hats are pulled off and dropped back into place over their groin and the leather that had been the last piece of clothing they were clad in is plucked off. The six men grin at the intakes of breath behind them, as well as the screams of delight from both their own women and the women across the lake. Swaying side to side they dangle the red leather from one hand, the other keeping their bits hidden with the police hat, before they drop them and strut confidently forward back into the lake. Standing in the water in a V-shape, the water hitting them just a little higher than mid-thigh they sway from side to side, before turning to flash their bare bottoms to the crazed women screaming in delight in the meadow. With a cheeky wink at their significant others, the men fling the police hats at the seated women and drop into the depths of the (thankfully) unusually warm water.

The screams and whistles fill the night air along with the final bellow from Tom Jones - "You Can Leave Your Hat On!" as the men remain hunkered in the water of Lake Avalon, grinning fiercely at their women sitting collapsed on their chairs. Grinning and screaming from her seat Freya fights for control of herself, Maleficent and Lily not helping matters by shouting and screaming the loudest. After several long minutes she finally regains enough constraint to magic the men all back to behind the cover of the curtain. Wiping away the tears her laughter had brought Freya pushes herself to her feet and clambers through the crowd and the lake to the six women still sitting somewhat dumbstruck.

"That was certainly different," remarks Regina when she finally gains enough composure to speak.

"Did you enjoy it? Because that's all that matters. I know I certainly did," smirks Freya.

"Very much so. I'd definitely be up for something like that again," replies Mary Margaret shocking the others.

"Good! I have just one more song left and then you can all disappear to the castle to get some sleep before you go home."

"I'm not sure if I could handle anything more," murmurs Aurora, lightly fanning herself and making the Lady of the Lake laugh softly.

"Nothing heated. Promise," she swears before throwing on another track. "I hope you all have enjoyed yourselves as much as I have. And that you'll enjoy me in wishing the best for Regina and Robin as they start their new life together. This is the final song of the night so everyone get up and dance!" she commands as she hits play before chucking into the mike, "I couldn't help myself," in explanation for the final song choice.

Regina uses her magic to get herself and other five across Lake Avalon, reappearing just as the men return clothed in their suited attire once more. Everyone in the meadow does as Freya tells them and moves on to the dance floor, dancing around the perimeter of the lake. Most simply sway and bounce to the beat, whilst David pulls Mary Margaret into his arms and dances the quickstep with his flushed wife. The dark Gawaine bows and asks a shocked Lily for this dance. When she accepts the fierce knight pulls her into his arms and dances a sensual waltz with her. Freya flits over to her friend's side, intertwining their arms and resting her head on Maleficent's shoulder, and they silently watch the dragoness' daughter smile and laugh as the gallant knight patiently teaches her the steps and leads her expertly and confidently around the dance floor. Freya sighs almost inaudibly as her gaze roves all the people crowding her meadow. Jefferson suddenly appears at her side, takes one of her hands and pulls her gently, yet forcefully, out on to the dance floor.

"No being maudlin," he informs her with a wild stare as he pulls her close and tangos with her to the Bonnie Tyler song.

"I thought you were staying with Grace," states Freya as she kicks her leg up against his.

"She said that I was to come out and try to enjoy myself. I've been fighting with myself the whole way here. I'm glad I came now though for no other reason than that you're no longer thinking depressing, lonely thoughts."

"Thank you," the redhead tells him fervently to which the Mad Hatter brushes off.

"Shall we show them how it's done?" he grins, nudging his head in the direction of the only other two couples ballroom dancing.

"Why not," answers Freya with a twin grin.

The next morning, as the obsidian sky turns lighter and the horizon is painted in hues of pinks, oranges and reds, the portal to the other world snaps shut with a whoosh just as the party guests finally finish gathering in the courtyard of Camelot. Everyone glances at their surroundings, tensing for some impending attack. Instead only Merlin, in his gawky and young body, appears. Prince Charming moves to withdraw his sword from its scabbard but as his hand tightens around the hilt, the weapon vanishes.

"What's the meaning of this?" asks Mary Margaret, drawing herself up haughtily and regally to face off against the sorcerer.

Merlin remains impassive as he gazes at them all, barely even blinking his large blue eyes. The wind ruffles his bedraggled black hair as he turns to watch Freya walk through the courtyard. The redhead's eyes flicker back and forth to places that, on her last visit through this place, had been home to only the dead and forgotten. She forces herself to stop looking at those spots that are now clear of any obstructions or memory of what befell the people who had been left here and faced Mordred's wrath. Her attention instead turns to her friends who she sends a reassuring smile before turning to Merlin, greeting the young man with a slight curtsey.

"Merlin closed the portal to the other world," explains Freya who waits until the resulting cry of outrage dies down before she speaks again. "He did this so that he might give you all a choice. He will make you a portal that will allow you to traverse to that other place. If, however, you wish to make your return to this realm permanent you are more than welcome to remain here. With Jefferson's hat such a choice was never a possibility. The same number that came through must go back."

"Is that why Arthur and Neve aren't amongst us?" comments Maleficent with a raised brow.

"They asked if it could be done and I agreed," replies Merlin.

"There would be no returning to that other world?" asks Robin, one arm around his wife's back and the other carrying a still-slumbering Roland against him.

"No. I'm offering this only once."

"How long? How long are you giving us to decide?" asks Mr Gold, looking decidedly more rested than those that had been given succor in the Citadel.

"Until noon," states the sorcerer before turning on his heel and striding into the castle.

With him gone Freya approaches Regina and Emma, pulling out her hands from beneath the cloak draped over her. She hands over the handful of beans to the two women, using her cape to hide it from everyone else but Robin and Killian standing by their women's sides.

"Come visit me again. I don't think I'll be able to get in touch with you again, except through Navarre."

"But what of that spell you did before lass?" murmurs the captain, clad once more in leather and black jeans.

"It took quite a bit out of me to perform it."

"Why give them to us, though? What if we choose to stay in the Enchanted Forest?" asks Robin.

Freya smiles weakly at the outlaw. "My ability to scry the future has gotten much better. I saw that Zelena is pregnant with your child Robin. Neither you, nor Regina, would leave that child in that world with only her to care for it and be the child's sole parent. I know not which way Mal will choose. With Lily to consider it is not so simple a choice for her now. Your parents, Emma, I do not trust them to use the beans unless it is considered an emergency or else they will rely too heavily on the beans so that they may enjoy the best of both worlds. Rumple must not be tempted or swayed by this knowledge before he makes his decision with Belle. It will be the starting point for who he will be. I trust no-one else with such items. Use them well."

"No peeking, Swan!" grins Killian as he manoeuvres Emma off the dinghy and helps her climb aboard the Jolly Roger. "You can open your eyes now," he whispers in her ear, his arms wrapping around her from behind.

Emma opens her eyes and stares flabbergasted at the transformation of the ship. In the rigging there are dozens upon dozens of amber-coloured fairy lights netted together and hanging in the ropes. It looks like the shrouds are filled with stars. Rose petals - crimson, white and blush coloured - cover the wood floor of the main deck where they stand. There are a few small tables dotted around the decks, each with a crystal bowl filled with water and several lit floating candles. Pillar candles line the sides of the ship, and as Emma studies them she can feel the magic holding them in place. Noting her preoccupation Killian tells of how Regina had helped him with some of this.

"Dinner was more than enough Killian," demures Emma, slowly spinning on top of the lusciously scented petals and causing her 50's-style, knee-length yellow dress to swirl around her legs.

Killian pulls Emma into his arms and lightly kisses her lips before pulling back to gaze into her eyes. "With all the preparations for Regina's wedding there hasn't been much time for us to sit and relax, and enjoy the peace we have."

"We relaxed last night, at the reception."

"I thought you deserved a night away from everyone and everything. No expectations or tasks needing done. Just you, me, my ship and the open water."

"My parents know you were planning this, don't they?" intuits Emma, recalling her mother's bright smile and persistent calls that continued even after they had left the apartment that she have a good time, along with her father's embarrassing shout through the closed apartment door: "Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Also your mother and I are not ready to be grandparents a second time. So be careful."

"They're looking after everything for tonight. And Henry is having fun in the woods with the Merry Men. Everyone is safe and sound; there's no need for the Saviour tonight."

Emma sighs and lets the strain and weight of being the Saviour melt away from her. She smiles at Killian, bemused by how well he knows what's going on with her without her ever having to say a single word. She leans closer, resting her head upon his chest and enjoys the feel of no responsibility. Her gaze flickers up into the clear ebony sky. In the arms of her lover they watch the film of red descend across the glowing sphere that is the moon high above them. They watch the lunar eclipse in silence, both captivated by the sight of the pearly white face being swallowed by an orangey-red. Slowly, sliver by sliver, the coloured film stretches out across the moon and shuttering out the blazing white light as it descends.

Killian fidgets with his pockets disturbing the momentary peacefulness of the scene and drawing her attention away from the eclipse above, but before she can tell him off he extracts a remote from his trousers. Emma forces herself not to laugh at the look of violent frustration on his face when the stereo on the quarterdeck, by the helm of the Jolly Roger, does not work. It means a lot to her to see his attempts at fitting in with her world, and so she barely smirks when she takes the remote from him and makes the music play on her first try.

Killian scowls at her before presenting her with a courtly bow, "May I have this dance?"

The song begins with the slow, emotional long notes of several violas and the melodious repeating notes of a single harp. It is as the solo oboe joins in, starting the main melody, that Emma realises she recognises the tune. She carefully listens to the poignant melody as the violins continue the main melody.

"Is this…" she drifts off.

"Freya said I should play it to you, before we left Camelot. She said that it was to do with Star Wars," frowns the pirate, showing his confusion for what his friend had told him. "She said it was linked to the name you used before in the Enchanted Forest though a much more amiable love theme than the one for Leia. Do you not like it?"

"It's perfect."

Killian smiles down at her before holding her closer and they sway around the main deck, reminiscent of that first dance they had back in the Enchanted Forest at King Midas' castle. A multitude of horns play through a short section of the score, finally climaxing into an emotional and central part by the violins and horns.

In two descending lines of music the violins continue on, the second of the phrases being higher in pitch. Emma pulls Killian's head closer, her fingers carding through his short black hair, until their lips meet. The kiss deepens, spinning out of control; fuelled by their desire for one another and their inability to have some real alone time just the two of them these last few months since the Darkness was defeated. Killian slips his hand and hook through her hair, following the silken waves down her back as he worships his lips with hers. He'd had many women over the years, but none had filled him with such aching, desire, want, and love than Emma Swan. With his lips he silently pours out all that was in him and she took it all, even the most primitive parts of his need. Her tongue quests against his, battling against one another until they had to part for breath.

The pirates lips braised her neck; his dark stubble prickling the sensitive skin and making her body ripple against his. Without conscious thought he presses her up against the mainmast as he lazily plants hungry, open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone and the little dip at the base of her throat. Gently his teeth close on her skin, his tongue lingering and tasting her. The antithetical feelings of his sharp teeth and the wet probe of his tongue sent chills up Emma's spine. She pulls back from him, her pupils dilated and her lips thoroughly kissed.

"I apologise love, was I too-" worries Killian but Emma silences him with her finger.

"I need more," she tells him, grabbing hold of his arm and pulling him after her.

As they make their way into the captain's cabin, Killian finds himself unable to keep his hand and hook off of her. They slide all over her from behind, availing the opportunity to thoroughly caress his blonde fighter and survivor. His hand and hook drift off her as she descends into the cabin, lit only by a few tapers. Music follows them into the cabin; the score turning darker with low brass and woodwinds performing a repetitive march-like sound. The oboe, hinting at the main melody, is joined by the horns, trombones and trumpets. A crescendo crashes through the score into a part played by a sole violin, accompanied by staccato and legato phrases from the low strings. The horns then take the part of the single violin.

Killian speaks in a husky brogue of the time they went into the past. "I can't tell you how much I wanted to take you into my arms. That dress you wore tempted the darkest parts of me. And then as I watched you kiss and be caressed by the other one, past me, I felt a burning desire to have you then...once I'd taken care of the the other of course. A multitude of scenarios filled my head: what you would look like against the wall of my cabin, on the table, in my bed; how you would feel and taste; where you most liked to be touched and kissed; the noises you would make as I met and parried your desire at my leisure," he lightly wets his lower lip, his sultry sooty eyes roaming over the room they're in and over Emma; his eyes feel like they caress her with an unseen loving touch.

Wave after wave of relentless burning crashes over Emma, filling her entire body with heated passion, as he speaks. The lust drives through her body with each thumping beat of her heart; pressing onwards until it fogs her mind, slithering around inside her until the building ache becomes too much to bear and she must slake her thirst. This all occurs over mere moments as Killian strides towards her, his pale blue eyes heated with his own desire for the woman before him, his hand and hook trembling ever so slightly in anticipation of their impending collision of heated concupiscence and naked limbs.

His hand brushes aside a section of hair, the back of his fingers barely grazing her neck. Then he hooks his hook around her shoulder and, with his other hand at the back of her head, he arches her closer. Killian's lips cover Emma's, moving over them with unrestrained hunger. Emma softens against him, clinging to his shoulders as she takes his bruising kiss. Then she regains a part of herself, no longer lost in the desire pooling off the dark captain. She drags him forward, her hands slithering down his back until she cups his ass with both hands, grinding against him. Emma groans in ecstasy as he thrusts upwards, rubbing against her pelvis. A hiss of breath escapes Killian at the perfect feel of her body against him when Emma stumbles back and braces herself against the wall of the cabin. He drowns in the taste of her skin as he kisses all that he can reach; his stubble sensually scraping and adding to the eroticism building in Emma.

The blonde moves her hands between them and tears at the buttons of his shirt. Her nails scratch against his skin as it is bared resulting in a low, vibrating groan emitting from deep in his throat. His hips take on a wilder rhythm as he yanks her away from the wall and tugs down the zip of her dress. It takes only the slightest of movements from his hook to make the dress drape off her shoulders and fall to a pool around her feet. The captain takes a pace back as he observes the satin and lace bra and matching underwear. Emma, boldly confident by the lust she always sees in his eyes when he divests her of her clothes, jerks him closer by his belt. It takes her only a few moments to pull the buckle free, unzip his trousers and leave him standing there as unabashedly naked as she is.

Killian's lips curve into a smile as he runs the cold metal of his hook over her skin, lingering on her bosom, taking delight in the goosebumps that raise up on her flesh and the shiver she does not try to hide. It makes him even harder to see Emma wanting him as much as he wants her. Outside on the main deck he can hear the melody continue and float down to them but then Emma puts her hands behind her back, unfastens her bra and shimmies out of her pants.

"I can't wait," she tells him breathlessly.

There is nothing else as he quickly drops his briefs and slams Emma against the wooden wall. Her legs part, permitting him entrance. She feels his warm sharp intake of air against her skin where her neck and shoulder meet and lets a gasp of her own out into the cabin when his fingers press softly, then harder, and back to barely there touches against her already-wet entrance. His caress is sure and confident, just like the cocky grin on his face as he looks up at her glassy eyes when he mouths at her breasts, laving the pebbled buds before nipping them sharply and swiftly. Emma's eyes roll back at the contrasting touches

"More!" she cries in demand, grasping his hair and tugging his head back up so that she can kiss him.

"Here?" he asks against her lips, prodding her meaningfully with his rigid cock.

"God yes," Emma replies in a moan, lifting one of her legs to curve around his waist pulling him ever closer.

They both grunt as he enters her, driving deep. Once inside he uses his hook to lift her other leg to wrap around him. Using the wall and his hips to hold her up he thrusts in and out of her, and each time he fills her Killian feels her tightened nipples press and slide against his own naked chest. He pounds into her and she meets his hips with a twist of her own, tearing a guttural groan from him.

"Killian, oh, there," she moans, her legs tightening around him as she clenches around his dick that he continues to drive in and out of her, dragging her through her orgasm.

Emma's mouth is dry as she hangs against the wall bonelessly. Killian chuckles at the look painted across her face as he slows and comes to a stop deep inside her. Her walls still pulse and aftershocks tremble over her body. The captain hoists her into his arms, keeping them connected, and steps out of his briefs before walking over to his sturdy table and draping her on top of it. He shifts her beneath him, pulling a sound from her he'd never heard before. One full of passion, longing, hunger and plain animalistic want. Emma arches beneath him, the muscles deep within her kindling with a slow-building desire once more.

"Emma," sighs Killian, dropping his head to gently suckle one of her nipples into his mouth.

He kisses and tugs on it with his tongue, but this time he keeps the sharp prick of his teeth away from the tightened crest. He releases it with a soft plop before exhaling cool air on to the sensitive tip. Emma squirms beneath him but he uses his hand and hook to keep her still.

"Patience. Slowly."

"Fast and hard," she keens as he pulls out of her.

Killian gazes up at her from beneath his thick dark lashes as he scatters kisses lower, trailing over her stomach. He pauses every now and then to taste her skin with the tip of his tongue and then he pulls back and breathes lightly on the wet skin, making Emma shiver and shudder in his arms. He kisses the curve of her hips, taking care to taste the dip between them before lightly scraping his beard against her thighs. Her toes and hands curls as he moves up the inside of her legs, his soft lips caressing the supple skin. Emma bites her lower lip to prevent the gasp from escaping; a gasp that shoots through her at the feel of his facial hair against that part of her. His breath fans her honeyed heat in sheer torture until she can stand it no more. Her neck arches back as the moan leaves her like a roar. Then his lips are upon her, tasting the hunger dripping from her. Killian's tongue feasts on her before flickering out to stroke and tease her taut nub over and over and over again. She cries out and her body quivers beneath his expert mouth before she finds herself soaring high above.

When she comes back to the surface Emma frowns when she feels a comfy mattress and cold sheets beneath her bare skin instead of the hard warm surface of the table. Glancing to the side she is met with Killian lying sprawled out beside her. She expects him to wear his usual cocky grin and be his atypical arrogant self for having made her peak so hard that she blanked out for several minutes or more. Instead he's gazing down at her with a soft smile and eyes. It always stuns her when he looks at her in such an adoring way. He never shied from his love for her and he never tried to hide it from her. Killian had shown her who he was as a man and in return she'd shown him who she was, all the while having niggling thoughts that something would drive him away so she kept her own heart in a cage.

Before the Darkness took her she told him she loved him. But only now, lying bare in his bed does she sigh contentedly and strip away the last constraints she'd been clutching. Lying next to him she let's her own love shine through her eyes and has a moment of elation at the astonished look in his eyes before he pounces and kisses her thoroughly. Lying in his bed, their eyes boring into one another, they slowly and tenderly make love for the first time. As he languidly brings her to her third climax of the night Emma kisses Killian softly and gently.

"I love you," she cries out in a whisper as her orgasm crashes around her.

Above her Killian's back arches and growls out low and long as his tether his broken and he finds his own release deep inside her. They pant into one another's mouths as they kiss before breaking apart. Killian slips out of his love and gathers her in his arms. He uses his hook and legs to drag over a blanket from the bottom of the berth and wraps it around them.

"I love you too," he murmurs before they drift off into the realm of sleep together.

As dawn's light paints the outside sky the lovebirds are awoken - much too early to their liking - by the sound of something pinging against the metal warning bell out on the quarterdeck. Ever the captain Killian is the first to come to his senses first and hauls himself out of the berth. Emma watches in amusement through bleary eyes as the pirate does not even pause to dress but instead yanks one of the sheets from beneath Emma and ties it around himself toga-style. She grumbles as she follows after him wrapped in a blanket. Early morning is not her cup of tea, especially without coffee to really help get her started and after a night where she's had a few drinks with her dinner. She bangs into Killian, who has frozen just at the doorway of his cabin, and peers around him to see what's wrong. Perched on the warning bell is a merlin, pecking the bell insistently. Emma glances up at Killian, confused why the appearance of a bird would cause such a reaction.

"Navarre," croaks Killian.

Emma feels her blood ice as the bird stops and squawks at them before shaking out it's leg. Killian rushes towards the bird and carefully removes the parchment tied to it. Emma steps up beside him and catches the strand of blue thread that falls out of the message when Killian rips into it. She frowns down at the item in her hand as it doesn't feel like any kind of string or thread she's ever seen before. It feels much stronger and denser, and the longer she touches it the colder it feels. Deep inside, the magic part of her bursts to life like fireworks so suddenly that she almost drops the long strand. But when no magic comes to the surface she relaxes.

"Seems like we can't have a minute to ourselves," mutters Killian darkly passing Emma the scroll and carefully taking the blue string from her.

"Be careful, it's imbued with some kind of magic," she warns him before glancing down at the direct message.

The dark ink strokes seem to almost move on the parchment as she reads: The Lady of the Lake is missing. She disappeared without a trace during the lunar eclipse. Navarre came to find me immediately after it took place. When Merlin and I searched the grove we found no sign of a struggle or of anyone else. All that there was was the single strand of blue material that I have enclosed. Something is at work here preventing Merlin and I from investigating. We need your help. Freya needs it.

"Guess it's back to work then," jokes Emma before wrapping her arms around her love who remains looking bleakly at the sole scrap of evidence they have regarding Freya's disappearance.