Hello guys! Before letting you read this chapter, I just wanted to specify something : Snow White and Prince Charming have no idea that Emma is their daughter, not yet anyway. Maybe they'll discover it soon, who knows hehe? Anyway, thank you all so much once again for your support, and I hope that you'll enjoy this chapter! :)
Emma was woken up at dawn by kisses pressed all over her still naked stomach. She moaned and waited for a second before opening her eyes. She wasn't sure of what time it was and was still half-asleep, but she instantly recognized the touch of Killian's mouth against her skin. Her eyes still closed, she ran her hand through his dark locks, and arched her back to get just a little bit closer to him.
She could feel his breath against her, the way his tongue was playing with her body that he knew by heart, and she finally opened her eyes to look at him. He was kneeling in between her legs, and looked up when he felt that she was awake. He smirked at her then and got up a little bit to reach her breast. He ran his fingers down her chest, and moved his mouth to kiss the skin around her left nipple. She sighed and he chuckled slightly against her, worshiping her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
She could already feel her desire blooming in her lower stomach, and she managed to say in a raspy voice "That's definitely a good way to wake up" It was not like it was an unusual way for them to get out of their sleep, though, and she noticed how his pupils were dilated with lust when he looked back up at her once again.
"Shh, love. You have a long day ahead of you. You deserve to relax a little bit."
"Don't stop, then." She said, what made him laugh once again.
He gently bit at the thin skin of her breast and made her gasp, as she'd closed her eyes again to enjoy the sensations he was making arise in her more easily. She started to move almost unconsciously, gently rocking back and forth as if she were pushing him to go faster, because she was so ready for him she thought it could make her go insane.
"Impatient, are we?" Killian said in a husky voice against her, just before dropping another open-mouthed kiss to her breast. She didn't answer, she was too busy losing herself in his embrace for that, and he added. "Be patient, gorgeous. I want to worship you like the goddess you are."
It made her sigh once again. It always made her feel things in part of her she didn't even know existed when he told her those things. She ran her hands down his back to get him closer to her and she could feel how her own desire was making him feel at the way his arousal was pressing against her thighs.
At her greatest surprise though, he suddenly stopped. She opened her eyes to tell him that it was good and that he could continue, but the way he was looking at her made her change her mind. It wasn't love that she was reading in his gaze, it was pure adoration. As if he were seeing her for the very first time, and she just stayed speechless at the flame burning in his eyes.
"You're perfect, Swan. Absolutely perfect." He whispered then, and she was sure her heart could burst at the tone of his voice.
He didn't give her the time to answer anything. He got back to work, kissing her breast a few more times before finally going down. He took his time, gently teasing her as her breathing had grown faster. He pressed little kisses around her belly-button, moved to her lower stomach, and made his lips run along the inside of her thighs, until it was obvious that they both couldn't wait anymore.
When he finally reached the place she needed him the most, she was sure she was going to lose her mind at the things his tongue was making her feel. She dug her nails into the skin of his back to try and keep quiet, but she completely lost herself, uncertain of where she was anymore. She was just feeling him and his touch, his tongue, his lips against her, and everything disappeared to only leave them there in this bed, him between her legs and her on the verge of her orgasm.
When he got back up to lie down next to her a few moments later, she was still trembling with the strength of her pleasure. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and brought her close, as she was burying her face into the crook of his neck to breathe him in and feel the comfort of his skin. She couldn't help but smile as he was kissing her temple, and she sighed against him, feeling so complete and happy it was hard to believe.
When she opened her eyes after a while, everything around her seemed a bit blurry, as if she were coming out of a dream. She was in some way, because what he'd made her feel was coming right from heaven. He smiled at her when he noticed that she was coming back to earth, and leaned to press a little kiss to the corner of her mouth. His blue eyes were shinning so brightly her heart swelled in her chest, and he beamed at her, looking pretty proud of himself for this amazing awakening.
"Good morning, princess." He whispered as she was reaching his neck to drop a little kiss there as a thank you for everything.
"A very good morning indeed." She answered in a low voice, what made him chuckle slightly. "You're very good, captain."
That made him smile again. "Glad to hear that, love"
"What was that for?" She asked then, because if it wasn't unusual for either of them to wake the other up for some morning sex, this had felt different, almost more intense.
"I've already told you, you've got a long day ahead of you. And I couldn't help myself. That's what waking up next to a naked goddess does to me."
"Well, please, don't hold back then." She said playfully.
"I don't intend to." He chuckled. "I love you, Swan."
"I love you, too."
A comfortable silence settled between them, as they were wrapped in their embrace and holding onto each other, slowly getting back to reality after the intensity of their moment. She was feeling like she was going to fall back asleep, and he was keeping her awake by dropping little kisses to her hair and neck. She was feeling so good she didn't ever want to move. Feeling him that close to her was a blessing, and she would have stayed in that position for days if it'd been a possibility.
After a moment, her exhaustion faded away and she should probably have got out of bed, but she still didn't move a bit and just snuggled a little bit closer to her boyfriend, wanting to enjoy his familiar warmth. He was holding her with so much love her smile wasn't leaving her lips, and she was feeling like it was in his arms that she truly belonged.
She was aware that, soon, she would have to go back to the castle to know who had been chosen by the royal couple. She would have to face them again, but she wasn't scared anymore. She'd actually liked talking to them the day before, and she wasn't nervous because she already knew that she wasn't going to get the job. She wouldn't get disappointed, she was just curious to see who would be the new assistant. She was simply happy to be there in her love's arms, and she knew her day was going to be a good one, since it'd started so well. She could feel it in her bones.
She was still amazed by the trust this man had in her. Sometimes, she almost thought that he was right and that she could indeed do anything if she really wanted to. Living with him had made a new confidence appear in her heart. He'd healed her scars and had promised that he wouldn't let go, and he hadn't. And beside him, she was feeling able to overcome anything life would throw their way.
One day, she knew it, they would be happy. She already was, but soon enough, they would be able to live their dream and wouldn't have to worry about money ever again. They deserved this, despite the mistakes they'd made along the way. After everything they'd been through, they had to reach this happiness someday. And she would keep on holding onto this dream until they could actually accomplish it.
Killian started to talk again after a little while. His hand was running through her tangled hair, and their bodies were as close to each other as they could possibly get. In moments like these, she couldn't really tell where he was beginning and where she was ending anymore, they were one, and she loved that feeling beyond words. "You seem to feel better about going to the castle than you did yesterday."
"Your little morning surprise has to do with that." She chuckled, and he followed, kissing her forehead with a smile. "Seriously, though, you're right." She added after a second of silence. "I know what's awaiting for me there, now. They are so nice. So human. And they liked me, if they asked me to come back. They way they were looking at me when I was talking, I don't really know how to explain it but… It calmed me down. So I'm happy to go back there. And I guess I remind them of their daughter a little bit for them to treat me that way."
"Or maybe they just saw how wonderful you are, and they thought that you would be absolutely perfect for the job." He said, what made her roll her eyes, but she was smiling at the same time, because the confidence he had in her seemed to be endless.
"Of course, that must be it." She mocked gently.
"I'm being serious, Swan. You're amazing. And maybe they saw that, and really think that you'd be the perfect assistant for their daughter."
"You're so sweet." She said, looking back up at him and gently running her fingers down his cheek. "But I really doubt it. I don't want you to get your hopes up and be disappointed at the end of the day. I'm just going to go and see, but I'm pretty sure they won't choose me anyway."
"I'll never be disappointed in you, Emma." He whispered to her ear, so gently her heart skipped a beat. "You're incredible. I just wish you could see yourself the way I see you. As the most perfect angel I've ever met."
"Gods, I love you." Was the only thing she managed to say back, her eyes filling in with tears.
"I love you too, my world."
She snuggled a bit closer to him, and they stayed in that position for another while, just taking into each other's scent, touch, skin, enjoying this wonderful certitude that they were meant to be together. She belonged there beside him, and she was feeling more complete with him and Henry by her side than she'd ever thought possible. He was perfect to her, and she couldn't believe this man actually existed, sometimes. This amazing man who'd healed her heart and had made her feel loved and safe, maybe for the first time in her life.
She only started to talk again after a few minutes. She wanted to enjoy his presence first, but she also needed to share what she was suddenly thinking about after their tender moment. "You know, I really hope that they're going to find their daughter soon. I know the fact she's still alive seems impossible, but I want to believe that she is out there somewhere. They deserve to be reunited with their family. And she'd be so loved at the castle. They adore her, even though they don't know her. It's beautiful. Could you imagine this little orphan finally coming back home?"
"It would be wonderful, indeed." He said, but she could tell at the sound of his voice that he was holding something back. She waited patiently for him to continue, giving him the time he needed to find the right words. "I just wish the same thing had happened to you." He finally added in a soft voice. "You deserve to find your family, and I'm sorry you never did."
"If they abandoned me, it's that they didn't want me anyway." She answered, maybe a bit more abruptly than she would have wanted to." What's the point of meeting them if they don't care about me?"
"Maybe they didn't have a choice. I just want you to have the family that you deserve."
She moved a little bit to be able to look at him, and titled her head as she was saying. "I have a family, babe. I have you and Henry. And you're all that I need."
She watched his eyes enlightening at her words, and he leaned to press a long, passionate kiss on her lips as a quiet thank you for her statement. She knew how much this meant to him. He'd been a lost boy too, he'd thought he would never find someone who truly loved him again. And here they were now, together against the world, as it'd always been. They'd healed each other. And she knew they would stay that way until the end of time.
She realized that, before meeting him, she would never have said those things to someone. She'd been hurt too many times, and wanted to protect her heart. She was mistrustful, closed to any kind of love aside from Henry's, who had been her light in the dark ever since his birth. But Killian had come along and had brought all her walls down, one by one, by showing her that she wasn't worthless. She'd started to trust him. She had fallen head over heels in love with him, and she knew these feelings she had toward this amazing man were never going to fade away. Thanks to him and her little boy, she was happier than ever.
Gods, she loved them so much. The family she'd never thought she would have someday.
They stayed in bed for another little while, just cuddling and enjoying each other's presence, before finally deciding to move and get dressed. They needed to wake Henry up, and she had to get to the castle soon. She put on her favorite dress, the one she'd worn for Henry's birthday all those years ago, the first time she'd realized in the back of her mind that maybe Killian could be her future.
He looked at her in awe when he saw her gown and her hair falling in gentle waves in her back, and simply said. "You look stunning, Swan."
"That's what you said all those years ago, too." She chuckled, realizing he'd used the same words and was wearing the same look on his face. "For Henry's birthday, the first time we really got close. Remember?"
"How could I forget?" he answered, approaching her to press a kiss to the tip of her nose, and she laughed. "You looked so beautiful you took my breath away. And you still do, every time I look at you."
"You're a good talker, you know that?" She sighed with a small smile. "When you say those things, I just want to kiss you and never let go."
"What holds you back, then?" he asked playfully.
"The fact that I can't be late."
She smiled at the disappointed expression he offered her, and pressed a quick peck on his lips before pulling away for good. She had to go wake Henry up, she wanted to share a breakfast with her family before going to the castle, just to spend as much time as she could with them. They were her oxygen, and she would have spent every minute of the day with them if she'd been able to.
Henry woke up with a smile on his face. He was obviously still convinced that she was going to be chosen to be the assistant, and she didn't want to tell him otherwise. He looked so incredibly happy, and they just ate and talked and laughed, enjoying the leftovers of what the Queen had given her the day before. She was feeling nothing but love and pride as she was looking at these two amazing people next to her, and she sighed in happiness, etching these moments into her memory, wanting to remember them years from now.
She left a little bit later. She couldn't be late, and if she would have wanted to stay with her boys for a bit longer, she was also impatient to know who had been chosen to be the assistant after all. As they'd done so the day before, Killian and Henry accompanied her, and they parted in the forest. She was feeling so different than the last time they'd done this. She wasn't scared or nervous anymore, just happy, relaxed. Today was going to be a good day, even when she would know for sure that she hadn't got the job. She was so sure of it.
Henry hugged her, Killian kissed her, and they both held her tight and told her that she would do great. Their words and confidence were almost giving her the hope that she had a chance to get this job after all, but she forced herself to stifle this idea. She didn't want to be disappointed at the end of the day. They would be okay, whatever was going to happen in this castle. They would end up getting a job no matter what, and she knew that these meetings with the royal couple had given her the confidence she had been lacking before to finally get the job they needed. She was now sure that she could anything. And her family would be all right eventually.
This time, it's serene that Emma walked through the castle gates. She even smiled back at the guards when they grinned at her, as they knew what she was doing there and that she'd passed the first test. Her heart was beating a bit fast, but it was more out of impatience than fear. She was in a wonderful mood and knew that nothing could go wrong. She was just happy to be there again, and to be able to maybe share one last conversation with this lovely couple that had made her feel so safe.
She didn't hesitate before entering the common room, that day. She was sure that the girls that were going to be there this time were not the ones that had seemed arrogant and judgmental, and she wasn't feeling uncomfortable anymore. Closing the door behind her back, she was surprised to notice that there were way fewer candidates than she'd expected. She counted eight, her included, and she frowned, only realizing now how picky the couple had been.
She felt a wave of pride invading her as she was now aware of how important it was that she was actually there. She'd been chosen because they'd liked her, and only a few other girls were in the same position. That was huge, given where she was coming from.
She thought about the little girl she'd once been, sleeping in a dark street and dreaming about a better life. She'd reached that life, despite everything she'd had to go through, she had a wonderful son, a loving partner, and she was now standing in a castle. Life could definitely take odd turns, and she decided to just enjoy the fact that she was there on that moment, a victory she was taking over life that had tried to break her for so long.
She was about to walk further into the room to go join the little group of girls there when a familiar voice made her stop. "Leia!"
She turned immediately, recognizing her fake name. She'd got used to it with the months that had passed, and was now responding to it like it was her own. This name that had given her the opportunity to be there today, to start over after the mistakes she'd made, to have a second chance. This name that was her way to a better life, someday.
She smiled when she recognized the person that had called her name. It was Chiara, the girl with whom she'd shared a few words the day before. She was there, beaming, her short brown hair a bit tousled by the wind and her huge eyes shinning in excitement. It was merely impossible not to smile back at her.
Emma took a few steps to join her, and she said sincerely :"Hi! I'm so glad that you're here today, too!"
"I'm happy to see you as well!" She answered joyfully. "I knew they were going to love you, though. I'm a bit surprised that we're only a few girls here, you know?" She added, glancing around her to watch the other women there. "I was expecting to see a lot more candidates. That makes me even happier to be here today."
They started to walk to go join the group, and Emma noticed how glad she looked, almost bouncing up and down as she was moving forward. "I'm surprised too. I think the King and the Queen trust their instincts a lot. I'm just so happy that they seemed to like the both of us."
"That's insane, isn't it?" Chiara said, opening her eyes wide, and Emma realized that she definitely liked that girl. She was spontaneous and honest, and she really hoped she would be the one to get the job, since it was impossible that she was going to become the new assistant herself. "I just came here yesterday because I thought that it was worth a try, and here I am now. I feel like I'm in a dream. I've worked on the fields my all life and now I'm standing in a castle, and I can't believe it's real. What about you?" She asked then. "Are you from around here?"
"I only moved in here a few months ago. But it's a nice region. I like it." She was staying purposely vague, not wanting to lie more than necessary to this girl. She hated the idea that she had to hide the truth from her. In other circumstances, she was almost sure they could have been true friends.
"I'm glad that you like it here. I lived here my entire life. I'd like to travel someday, but for now I'm fine here. It's my home, you know?"
She was pleasantly talkative, what allowed Emma to quickly learn more about her. Chiara explained that she was the eldest of five children, and that she'd been raised in a farm. She'd helped her parents for her entire childhood, and she had now moved in a little house standing not so far from where the Dome had once been and was living with one of her little sisters. She was breeding cows, chickens and flocks of sheep, and was selling eggs and milk to the market in one of the smaller towns nearby. She was trying for this job to get a better wage and send a bit of money to her parents, who were beginning to struggle to keep their fields alive.
Emma answered her questions and talked a bit about her, or about Leia and the life she'd invented for her. She was trying not to lie too much, simply telling half-truths and ignoring the guilt that was rising in her chest. Chiara was so sweet, and she resented the idea that she had to lie. So she just lingered on safe subjects and didn't talk about important things, knowing it was probably for the best.
Chiara was as good of a listener as she was of a talker, and she nodded while listening to Emma, looking genuinely interested by the conversation. Emma found herself so invested in the discussion that she didn't hear the royal couple entering the room right away. It's only as the silence was falling around her and as the small group was moving for a bow, that she realized Snow White and Prince Charming were standing there before her. Kate, the Queen's assistant, was also there and was holding a bit back and smiling at the crowd.
She turned hastily with Chiara to imitate the other girls a second too late, and cursed herself internally for not paying better attention. She couldn't believe she hadn't been more focused and was scared that she'd ruined everything, but when she discreetly looked up to watch the couple, she noticed that they were smiling at her. She blinked, realizing that the thought was completely absurd. They weren't grinning at her, but at the entire group. She was aware of that and couldn't believe that this idea had crossed her mind even for a minute.
She quickly relaxed though, helped by the fact that she was way more confident than she'd been the day before. She was so happy to have gotten that far in the race for the job, and her conversation with Chiara had put her in an even better mood. She wasn't hoping for anything, now. She knew there was no way she would get the job, despite her family's trust in her. And that was okay. She was just glad and decided to enjoy the moment as best as she could.
When the King gestured for all of them to stand back up, she glanced around her and couldn't help but smile a little bit. She'd always trusted her instincts, and as she was watching the other girls beside her, she could tell without the shadow of a doubt that the couple had been right to trust all these women.
They all seemed sweet, kind, and were smiling almost shyly, like they couldn't believe that they were still there. She felt suddenly so happy that the Princess would have such a warm presence in her life. If she did get back home someday, she would have someone to lean on, someone good, and it was all that mattered. That was all that a lost little girl needed.
The Queen started to talk then, and Emma turned to look at her. Her smile made her heart flutter, and she listened to her carefully, oddly glad to hear her comforting voice. "We would like to thank all of you for coming here today once again. We are so, so happy to see you and we truly hope that you feel at home in this castle."
"Our decision hasn't been an easy one to take." The King said, his fingers intertwined with his wife's, what made Emma smile slightly. "If you are here today, it's that we saw something in every single one of you. We would like to thank you for the absolute kindness you showed in your interviews yesterday.
"And that's why we have something important to tell you all."
Emma frowned, suddenly intrigued by the turn the conversation was taking. The Queen seemed overexcited, and she looked so young as she was beaming at her husband. Emma wondered what the hell was happening, and turned to share a glance with Chiara, who just shrugged at her with a smile. The other girls seemed as clueless as they both were, and the couple seemed to enjoy this a lot, because they were staring at the group with huge grins on their faces.
Emma suddenly felt strangely excited as well, as if she knew that she was about to hear good news. She had no way of knowing that, but she could just feel it. She watched the couple, her heart pounding so fast in her chest. She'd come there to know who was going to be the Princess' assistant, but she could tell somehow that the words they were about to share were going to change her life in one way or another.
"As you know, we live in a very big castle." The King stated. "And there is a lot of work to do here, we need cooks, gardeners, everything you can possibly think of. When the Princess will join us soon, the work to do will be even more important"
Emma chose to set her excitement aside for a minute as the hope audible in the King's voice was making her heart tighten. He seemed so convinced his little girl was coming back, she prayed every gods she could think of that the Princess was safe and alive, and would find her way back home soon. This couple deserved to have their family reunited. And she would be so loved, there. If the universe was fair, they had to find her. It couldn't be otherwise, and she wanted to believe it.
"If we asked you to come back here today." He added, and Emma started to listen again, because she knew that something important was happening . "It's that we trust you, all of you. We talked about it a lot, but for those who aren't going to get chosen as the Princess' assistant, we have an offer for you."
He was beaming now, his eyes shinning so joyfully Emma couldn't help but smile as well. She could somehow guess what he was about to announce them, and her heart started to pound even faster against her ribs. It seemed impossible, and yet the way he was staring at them told her that maybe she wasn't wrong. Maybe she was right to have hope.
Internally, she gave herself the strict order to calm down. She was probably imagining things, and she didn't want to get her hopes up for nothing. She didn't want to be disappointed at the end of the day. Whatever was going to happen, she was just happy to have made it this far. She just had to remember that.
"For those of you who are interested, we would like to offer you a job in this castle." Emma's breath got stuck in her throat, and for a minute, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. The King's words seemed so surreal she wasn't sure she wasn't dreaming. "We would like for you to tell us what would interest you, and how you think you can help us. It's without obligation, of course, you're the ones to choose if you want to stay or not. If the assistant will have lots of advantages these jobs don't have, you'll be fed twice a day, and a good wage is awaiting for you."
"We didn't want to let you all go with nothing after the great impression you made yesterday." The Queen added. "We really hope that the offer pleases you, and that we'll be able to work with you someday."
Emma wasn't sure for how long she stopped breathing, she just knew that when the actual thought that all of this was real reached her mind, her lungs started functioning again. She couldn't believe this. She was feeling like she was dreaming and was going to wake up in Killian's arms in a few seconds. She felt almost dizzy, and discreetly pinched herself to make sure that she wasn't hallucinating.
The pain crept along her skin, and she almost gasped in surprise.
All of this was real. She was actually going to work at the castle.
Whatever happened next, she was going to have a job. She would be able to earn money and bring food back home for her family. Maybe even save enough to go live their dream, someday. It all seemed so surreal. She was feeling like bursting out laughing at these news, and had to hold herself back in order not to draw attention on her and make everyone think that she was insane.
On that moment, she could only think about Henry and Killian's faces when she would tell them about these wonderful news. They were going to be thrilled. Henry was going to hug her so tight, and Killian was going to kiss her into oblivion. The royal couple didn't know that they existed, but she could go and meet them after her shifts every night, and they could still be a family. They were going to be so proud. Damn, she was so proud of herself for once.
"We will talk with you about all the details later." The King interrupted Emma in her thoughts, and she only noticed there the excited whispers that had filled in the room, and the way the other girls were looking at the couple like they were about to tell them that they'd been joking all along. No one could believe what was happening to them, and it was incredibly beautiful. Turning to look at Chiara, she realized she had tears in her eyes, and she smiled. Everything was right in he world. "But meanwhile, we want to tell you all who we've chosen to be the Princess' assistant."
"As Charming said it before, there are advantages to this, of course." The Queen said, smiling at the group's enthusiasm. "Kate is my assistant for years now, and I trust her with all that I have. She helps me with my hair and dresses, of course, but she does so much more than that. She gives me advice, wonderful ones that I always follow. We're so close, she's a member of our family. And the candidate that will get the job today will be as well. It's so much more than a good wage and working in a castle. It's being part of this team that we are here. We want the Princess to be able to trust the people around her, and that's why we chose the assistant so carefully."
"After talking for hours, we finally took a decision, and we truly think that it's the right one. We're also so happy that all of you will have an opportunity to keep on working here after today. But for this job, we chose the person who touched us the most. The girl that we think would perfectly take care of our daughter." The King explained seriously.
The Queen took a deep breath, and not a sound was audible in the room. Everyone was waiting for Snow White to finally say the name of the girl that had been chosen. Emma was shivering with impatience, and stared at the couple as the Queen was saying. "So, we would like to ask Leia Stark to come join us here."
Emma didn't react right away when she heard her fake name. She still couldn't proceed the idea that she was going to work at the castle anyway, and she didn't register the fact that the couple had actually called her. She'd never imagined it could happen, and when the other girls followed Snow White's gaze and turned to stare at her, her breath suddenly got stuck in her throat.
She wasn't sure if this was really happening, and she almost wanted to pinch herself a second time to check if it wasn't all a dream. The fact they'd chosen her among all of these people seemed so impossible, so surreal. She had to have misheard or she hadn't understood something. She was merely wrong about their intentions and they weren't calling her name for that reason.
It's only when she heard Chiara gasping in excitement beside her that the reality of the situation finally hit her all at once. She'd understood correctly, and she wasn't sure how to breathe anymore. For the second time in the span of a few minutes, she was speechless. Her eyes widened as she was still staring at the couple, and she felt like she was floating above the ground. This moment was going to change her life forever, she could tell and, somehow, she still couldn't believe that all of this was real.
But she had to accept the obvious. She'd been chosen by the royal couple. They trusted her, they'd liked her, and they were now smiling at her like she was already part of their family. Her, the little orphan, the beggar who had been starving in the streets, the woman who'd been abandoned over and over again and had once thought that she was worthless. She'd been chosen by these people.
Her life was definitely taking an unexpected turn. After all the pain, she was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and she suddenly couldn't wait for what the future had in store for her and her family.
She was still frozen on the spot though, not knowing how to react, but she realized she was now smiling. It's only when the King chuckled at her reaction that she finally came back to reality, and she blinked to make sure that she wasn't going to wake up from this dream.
She understood that she should probably be saying something, but when she opened her mouth to thank them for their trust, nothing came out. She met the Queen's green gaze then, and she was smiling at her so gently that she finally remembered how to breathe again. She gestured for her to approach and, as if attracted by an unknown strength, she started to walk to go join her.
"Everything's fine, Leia. You can come." Snow White said to encourage her.
An endless and unexpected calm suddenly invaded her completely, and she didn't lose her smile as she was reaching the place where the couple was standing. The Queen took her shaky hand in hers, as if to show her that everything was going to be okay and that she didn't have to be scared. Feeling her maternal touch, she finally allowed herself to relax completely, and let go of a small trembling breath, tears filling in her eyes as she was realizing what all of this actually meant.
She was going to earn a lot of money and bring food back home. Her family wouldn't be starving ever again. Beyond the pride of having got this job, she would now be able to offer a decent future to her son. She had just proved the entire world that she could do anything, that she was more than a thief and an orphan. To hell with Calvin and Eric and everyone who'd told her she was nothing, she'd proved them wrong, she'd showed that she was more than the way they'd treated her, and damn, it felt so good.
More important, she'd proved to herself that she wasn't worthless.
The King offered her a warm smile as well, and placed his hand on her shoulder, and the spark she read in his eyes bore a pride that she couldn't understand just yet. Snow White was gently stroking her hand with her thumb, and she felt so reassured, the same feeling she'd once had as Judy was reading her stories before going to bed when she was a little girl. It was odd, but on that moment, it felt so natural, so familiar. And she lost herself in the Queen's gaze with the strange feeling of belonging right where she was now.
She finally turned back to face the group of women after a few more seconds, and she noticed that, if most of them seemed a bit disappointed that they hadn't been chosen, they were all offering her sincere smiles of congratulations. They seemed genuinely happy for her, and her heart grew twice its size in her chest.
She met Chiara's gaze, and noticed that she had the biggest smile on her face, one that was digging dimples into her cheeks. Her expression made her chuckle as she was slowly realizing that it wasn't a joke, and she looked up at the tall ceiling, feeling like she could do anything.
Because she'd done it. She'd actually done the impossible.
"Congratulations." The Queen then whispered to her ear, and she felt herself blush at these words, because she was so damn happy it felt surreal.
"You deserve this." The King added with a wink, before turning to the group and starting to talk again. "Ladies, as promised, those interested by working here can go to talk with Kate about this opportunity. As I said, it's not an obligation, but we'd be thrilled to have all of you here. Thank you for coming here today, and for those who will choose to stay, welcome to the castle!"
Without surprise, the entire group moved to join Kate, who was standing a bit back, as she was smiling at them and seemed sincerely happy that she would get to work with these new people. Emma shared one last glance with Chiara, who was still grinning at her, and as her friend was walking away to go talk with the Queen's assistant, she found herself alone with the royal couple.
She didn't really know what to do or say, so she just chose to smile almost shyly at them, not knowing how she would be able to explain them how much this opportunity meant to her. She was so surprised that they'd liked her in the first place, and it was hard to imagine that she was actually going to work in this palace.
On that moment, she couldn't wait to announce the news to Killian and Henry. They'd been right since the beginning, she could do anything, and they were going to be so incredibly thrilled. She just wanted to hug them and could already feel Killian's lips brushing against hers as he would surely tell her that he loved her more than anything in the world, making butterflies appear in the pit of her stomach, as always.
But for now, she knew this moment was important. She wanted to etch every single second of it in her memory and remember this as the day she'd allowed her life to change completely. The Queen opened her mouth to talk again then, and she grabbed Emma's other hand, pulling her closer. She was surprised to notice that it seemed so natural. And she suddenly felt like she'd known Snow White since the beginning of time.
"Welcome here, Leia. We can't even begin to tell you how happy we are to have you here with us. We know you're going to be the perfect assistant for the Princess."
"I don't know what to say." Emma finally murmured. "I'm so glad… Thank you so much for trusting me..."
"We should be the ones to thank you." The King answered. "You're willing to work by our sides, and we couldn't be happier."
"I'm just.. I wasn't expecting this." She admitted with a little chuckle. "I never thought I would be here right now."
"I can see that." The Queen giggled, and her eyes lit up completely. "But you shouldn't be surprised. You're an incredible woman, Leia. I don't know you that well yet, and if I can't wait to learn more about you, I already can see that you don't give yourself enough credits. You're smart and kind, and I can tell that you are a good person. Your sincerity during the interview touched our hearts. That's why we chose to work with you."
A frown briefly replaced her smile as the Queen's words were reaching her, and a pain appeared in the pit of her stomach at the guilt she was suddenly feeling. She was so incredibly happy to have gotten the job and hadn't had the time to come back from her dream yet, and she was only realizing now that they'd chosen her just because she'd lied in the first place. So much for sincerity. They didn't know who she really was. She'd lied about everything, even her name was a fiction.
If she'd told them the truth, they would have thrown her in a cell and she would never have got out again. If they knew that she was Emma Swan, they would be scared of her, not proud. Sure, she'd been forced to steal to survive in her former region. Sure, she'd understood with time that if she still regretted what she'd done and if that feeling would probably never fade away, killing this guard back then had only been to protect the man she loved. But she was still a criminal, and the couple didn't know that. They would never have trusted her with their daughter if they had known her true identity. They thought she'd been honest with them, and that was the only reason why she was standing there now.
They'd liked Leia, not Emma.
She shook her head, forcing herself to put these dark thoughts back where they belonged, deep inside of her. She didn't want to linger on these feelings. She hated the fact that she had lied to them because they deserved the truth, but she hadn't had a choice. She'd taken this decision when she'd chosen to come to this interview, and if she hadn't thought it would have any kind of consequences because she had never imagined she would actually get the job, she still had been forced to lie in order to stay safe.
And she had to remember that Leia wasn't that different from Emma. It wasn't her real name and she'd lied about some parts of her life, but she'd still known pain, heartbreaks and hardships. She hadn't lied about that. She hadn't lied about who she really was. She'd acted like Emma Swan would have, and she hadn't played a part while talking with the couple.
She had been chosen because she'd done good, she had to accept that. Thinking the opposite was only going to make her feel bad and stop her from enjoying the happiness of getting this incredible job. She refused to let her feelings get in the way of this special moment. She'd made it, and she had the right to be proud. She'd done what she needed to in order to survive, and now she had to convince herself that she was a good person. She had to forgive herself for everything.
Luckily, none of her two new employers had noticed her sudden turmoil. They were too busy being happy that they'd finally found someone for their daughter, and were still looking at her with so much pride it made her feel all better. If they were that glad to have her by their side, they had a reason for it. She had to trust herself for once. Everything would be all right.
The King started to talk again, and Emma chose to forget about her doubts to carefully listen to what he had to say. "If you have any questions, Leia, we'll be happy to answer them. But for now, we'd like to directly start your training. We know you don't necessarily have experience in this field, so you'll be working with Kate and my wife to be ready for when the Princess will join us. She's going to need all the support she can get, and we're sure you'll take over the job perfectly."
"You'll be sleeping here in this castle." The Queen then added with enthusiasm. "You'll be fed, and a very good wage is awaiting for you."
Emma's heart tightened again at these words. She'd never thought about the fact that a room could be provided to her in the palace and, suddenly, she felt like everything was spinning around her. If she slept in this castle and worked all day long, she would be far from her family at all time. How the hell would she be able to see Henry and Killian if she was here day and night?
Unable to even think about the idea of being separated from the people she loved the most, she answered. "Wait, I'll be sleeping here? I didn't know it was provided with the job." She said, trying to stop her heart from pounding too fast. She had to calm down, she was going to find a solution. Nothing could keep her away from her family.
"Of course it is!" Snow White answered joyfully. "It's a huge advantage, since you won't have to pay for a home yourself, and you'll be able to save a lot of money. And we need you here. You have to be there at all time if the Princess ever needs you during the night, you know? Your room is right next to hers, by the way. Would you like to see it?"
Emma's first impulse was to protest. She couldn't accept this room, and being separated from her son and boyfriend was unthinkable, she just couldn't. She would give up on this job in a heartbeat if accepting it was stopping her from being with her family. She couldn't even imagine what it would be like to be away from them, her world was revolving around the both of them, and she would be so lost if she was far from her home.
But she quickly understood that she couldn't argue. She had to keep this job, because they needed money and she couldn't let her family down. With this wage, she would be able to offer her son the future he truly deserved, and they would have enough gold to go around the world someday and live their dream all together. This situation wouldn't last forever. She couldn't let her feelings get in the way of this job and get herself fired before she had even started to work.
Because if she asked the Queen to keep on sleeping at the farm she was supposed to live in, she would surely guess that something wasn't right. It wouldn't make any sense, and as Snow White had said it, they needed her there and she couldn't tell them that she wasn't accepting every condition. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, not only for her but for the people she loved, and she couldn't give that all up because she was afraid of not seeing them as much as she wanted to.
And she would find a way to still be with them. She always did, because nothing could keep them apart. She was going to talk about it with Killian, and they would find a plan for her to come and join them when no one was looking. Maybe during the night, if it was safe. She could discreetly get out of the castle and go back to her son and boyfriend to spend time with them.
With a bit of luck, she would also have days where she wouldn't be asked to work, and she would be able to stay with them a bit. She knew nothing could make them grow apart. She was doing this for them, and she was going to fight so they could stay together. She wouldn't accept anything else than that.
She only noticed there that the Queen was actually waiting for her to tell her if she wanted to see the room. She blinked and promised herself to talk about all of this with Killian later, and she finally smiled to answer. "Would it be all right of we did this tomorrow? I have to go tell my employers that I'm leaving them, since I'll be sleeping here from now on." She explained, finding an excuse to go join her family as soon as possible.
They immediately nodded to show her that they were agreeing with her idea. "Of course, you probably have hundreds of things to do." The King said. "We'll meet you here tomorrow morning, and we'll explain everything to you then. You should go gather your things and take some rest, for now. Tomorrow is going to be a big day. The start of a new life, right?"
It made her smile. She chose to forget about all her worries for a while, just focusing on his sincere smile and on the fact that she'd made it, she was where she wanted to be. She squeezed the Queen's hands in hers, and whispered with tears in her eyes, because despite her fears, she was still so damn glad that she'd got the job after all.
"Thank you for everything. It really… It means a lot."
"Thank you." Snow White answered immediately. "I can't wait to really learn to know you, Leia."
They shared another long glance, and a lonely tear rolled down Emma's cheek as she was appreciating how big it was to be there.
She didn't know how, she didn't know why, but she could feel that both of these strangers were going to mean a lot to her. She could see it at the way they were looking at her and at the odd sensation at the pit of her stomach as she was watching them. She felt safe, and if it was definitely strange because she didn't know them, she chose not to ask herself to many questions. It felt too good to try to understand it.
The sun was already starting to get lower in the sky when Emma arrived in the harbor. She'd stayed longer than expected in the palace, even after she'd explained to the couple that she had to go. They'd just talked and talked, and by the time she was making her way back to the city, the evening was slowly settling.
She'd almost run for the entire way, more than impatient to finally go tell the good news to Killian and Henry. She'd chosen to forget about the fear this room awaiting for her at the castle was making arise in her, for now. She also wanted her family to enjoy the news properly, especially her son. Henry had always imagined her as being a princess, and she was going to work at the palace now. She wanted him to focus on that. He would realize soon enough that the couple didn't know about him and that she would have to stay in the castle for longer than expected. She just wanted him to be innocently happy for a little while, because he deserved it so much.
And she was glad too, despite everything. She was happy that they both hadn't trusted her for nothing, and that she was going to make them proud. All she did, she was doing it for them and she wanted them to appreciate what these news really meant. So when she finally saw the ship, her home, she couldn't help herself. She started to run even faster, her heels clicking against the ground, lifting the bottom of her dress up so she wouldn't trip on it.
She could see Killian standing on deck, waiting for her like he'd done the day before. Her son wasn't there, and she guessed that he was probably reading in his room, as always. She waved at her boyfriend as she was approaching him, and yelled while running up the boarding ramp.
"Killian!"
She was so excited she didn't even think that no one knew Killian under his real name in this region. She shouldn't have called him that way, but she was so happy she couldn't realize it fully. Luckily, the harbor was empty and she was already on the ship, so no one heard her. It was good to be alone in this place, she thought. At least they could enjoy this moment as their true selves. Killian, Henry and Emma against the world, like it'd always been.
She stood on deck for a moment, just watching him staying still a few feet from her. He would normally have come to greet her immediately, but he had probably understood that something important was going on. He was watching her with a mix of excitement and pride shinning in his gaze, and she imagined the smile that would spread on his face when he would learn that their future was sure now, and that it was going to be absolutely wonderful. He hadn't been wrong to trust her for all these years, she thought with a wide grin.
"I've got the job!" She said in a low voice, panting and feeling like saying it out loud was almost too much for her.
She wasn't sure if he'd heard her for a second, but she suddenly saw his eyes widening in awe, and she knew. He'd understood, and he was standing there, watching her like she had just brought him the moon. As if to engrave the information into her new reality, she said again, almost yelling this time, because she was finally realizing that it was all real while sharing the news with the man she loved.
"I've got the job!"
"You did it, Swan." He said then, and she could hear the emotion in his voice. "You actually did it!"
It was as if they'd awoken with these words. She suddenly started to move again to run into his arms, and he grabbed her waist as she was reaching him, lifting her up from the ground and holding her so close to him she could hear his heartbeats. He made her spin and she actually giggled, as she could feel his own joy invading her completely. He was so happy, she could sense it in her bones, and when he chuckled, their laughter rose to the sky like a promise of a better future.
He kept her in his arms for a very long time then, and it's only much later that he put her back on her feet. They pulled away for a second to look at each other, and the pride she read in his features made her heart stutter. He didn't give her the time to say anything, to explain what had happened or to express how happy she was, he grabbed her by the hips again and pulled her to him, so fast that their mouths collided.
She almost lost her balance with the strength of their embrace, but his arms held her up and they kissed and kissed until they couldn't breathe anymore. He was telling her everything that he felt right there, he was expressing how happy, proud and amazed he was, and the time stopped around them as they were becoming one, not knowing who was who anymore and their hearts beating in unison.
When they parted after a long time, he looked at her with pure adoration and murmured against her lips. "You are amazing, Emma. Bloody hell, I love you. I love you so much."
"I love you, too. I knew you'd be happy." She said, stroking his cheek and completely lost in the blue of his eyes.
"I'm more than that, love. I'm just… You're the most wonderful person that I know, and I'm so bloody proud to be spending my life by your side."
She just grabbed his jacket and pulled him back to her then, because she wasn't sure what to answer in order not to break their moment. Sometimes, the most important things weren't told with words, and she said them with her lips instead. He understood her, she could tell by the way he was holding her close, like he never wanted to let her go. On that moment, she'd forgotten about the bad news of the room awaiting for her at the castle. They were all alone in the world and she couldn't think about anything else than him, his touch, his scent, his entire and perfect self.
After a while, she pulled away to press her forehead against his, and whispered against his lips, her smile never leaving her. "We should tell Henry."
"He's going to be so happy." Killian said, his fingers running through her tangled hair.
"I know." She grinned, a happy, thrilled smile that made Killian kiss her lips one last time.
Their hands still intertwined, they walked to Henry's room. She remembered how they'd done the exact same thing the day before, and how her son had smiled at the news that she'd passed the first test. This time, it was going to be even more intense, and she just couldn't wait. She was going to tell him that she'd got the job, and he was going to look at her with his huge eyes and she would be sure that she'd made him truly happy. That's all she ever wanted. To make the people she loved happy.
Henry was laying in his bed, exactly as the day before. This time though, he only stood still and looked at her without coming to hug her, understanding at his parents' smiles that something important was happening. Emma shared a glance with Killian, tears in her eyes at the news she was going to announce her baby boy, and she approached him, running her hand through his hair before saying in a whisper.
"I did it, kid."
"What do you mean?" He asked, as if he were scared to believe something that wasn't true.
"I got it. The job. I'm the new assistant."
He blinked, and for a second, he didn't say a thing. He looked like he couldn't believe what was happening, and she smiled at him, waiting for him to say something. Finally, he looked back up at her and said in a low voice. "Are you serious? You're going to work at the castle?"
"I am" She just answered, and the grin that appeared on Henry's face then was worth everything in the world.
He almost made her lose her balance once again as he was wrapping his arms around her. Snow White's story had always been his favorite, and she could imagine how special it was for him that she was going to work with her. He probably would have to give up on the idea that she was the Lost Princess now, because Snow White hadn't recognized her like she would have done it in his dreams, but it was still something big. And she could tell how happy he was by the way he was hugging her. "You did it, Mom! You really did it!"
They stayed for a very long time there, simply hugging each other, and Killian ended up joining them for a collective embrace that made her heart swell in her chest. They were so close in the happiness they were sharing, and all their fears disappeared to only leave place to the impossible : the lost little girl was going to work in a palace. It was beautiful and crazy and absolutely wonderful, and they were saying all those things by simply holding onto each other, their hug tender and intense and so real.
When they finally pulled away, Henry dragged them to his bed and made them sit down, asking Emma to tell them everything that had happened. She talked about her moments at the castle, her smile never leaving her, but she wavered when the time to talk about the room at the palace arrived. It only lasted for a second, though, as she decided that it was a subject she needed to talk about with Killian first. They had to decide what to do together before telling the news to their little boy. He was going to be sad, surely, and she didn't want to ruin this moment. She wanted him to stay happy for now. It was better that way.
It's only much later, as the night was well settled and the stars were shinning in the dark blue sky, that Henry fell asleep in their arms, lulled by the stories she was telling him. They made sure that he was actually asleep, then walked back to their room to be alone for a bit. She was frowning now, knowing the conversation she was going to have with her boyfriend wasn't going to be an easy one. She didn't want to hurt him by explaining to him the only problem she was facing with the job that had been offered to her, but they had to decide on what to do together.
However, when she turned to finally tell him about the weight on her shoulders, he didn't give her the time to say one thing.
He grabbed her waist again, his blue eyes darkened by the lust burning in it. With this simple view, she forgot about everything she wanted to tell him, feeling his skin against hers and her own desire blooming in her stomach at the way he was looking at her. He made her move back to the table in the middle of the room, and without notice, he lifted her up from the ground to make her sit on it.
He started kissing her then, so passionately she moaned against his lips. His tongue asked for an entrance she gave right away, and his taste invaded her completely as she was losing herself in his touch. After taking her dress off hastily, he laid her down on the table, without parting from her once, and found himself straddling her, his hand running down her body and making her shiver in pleasure. The coldness of the wood in her back was contrasting with his warmth, and she felt like she could just turn insane at the things he was making her feel.
It was rough, that night. They both liked rough sex, but they also liked to take their time too, sometimes, to enjoy each other fully. It wasn't the case now. She had to dig her nails into his back and bite at the skin of his neck to avoid screaming her pleasure at the ceiling.
It's at the same time that they reached their orgasm, and he laid above her when they were done, still shaking and trying to find their way back to earth, holding onto each other like they were the only ones in the world. They were panting, somehow stunned by the waves of pleasure that had run over them, and she couldn't believe how good it felt. How good he was feeling.
When they finally found themselves able to breathe again, he carried her to their bed and gently laid her down on it, contrasting with how harsh their moment had been before. He looked at her like she was an angel coming right from heaven, then pulled her to him as she was snuggling against him, their legs tangled beneath the sheets. There, he whispered to her ear :
"I am so bloody proud of you, you wonderful woman."
She smiled and, perhaps for the first time, she felt like maybe he was right to feel that way.