Standard disclaimer applies, I own nothing. This chapter has been part of updating to fill holes and streamline it. All errors are mine.
Chapter Twenty
Emma lifted her skirts and ran along the corridor.
Voices echoed down the hall and growing louder as people headed her way. Emma ducked out the nearest open door and found herself in the gardens below the balcony where guests chatted and cooled off in the night air.
Even in a white dress if she stuck to the shadows she could make her across the garden. Maybe fit in a trip to the food tables and then upstairs to her room.
Milah's blatant dislike and Gold's interrogation added up to a need to get away and grab some quiet. She slowed her run and dashed from one shadow. Not much stood between her and freedom.
A pair of angry voices cut across her route from above. Her foot snapped something and heads turned in her direction, hushing their conversation further. Emma's next spot just past the bright light outlining the two. Nothing to do but stop and wait.
The female, according the bell-shaped skirt, made a sweeping gesture encompassing the ball and her male companion threw his hands up as if he didn't care. She reached out a hand and stroked her companions arm soothingly. They embraced, the dark shadows they presented to Emma melding together. A slow smile spread across her face thinking of fights and making up when a door opened and the couple were more than just silhouettes.
Emma's eye grew wide as Milah and Killian pulled back from their embrace, holding hands while the light lit every detail. Her heart froze in her chest and her vision clouded with tears. It was a while before she realized the door had closed, the balcony had darkened and there was nothing to stop her. She scrubbed at the tears on her cheeks and rushed to the other side of the garden.
Emma almost made it when she ran into someone.
They spun on impact and whoever Emma hit caught her before her back hit the ground.
"I'm so sorry."
"Your highness," Killian's voice answered her apology.
Emma's body locked in place as she stared up at him in disbelief. What kind of stupid fairy tale world did she live in. He held her there as if he had just dipped her in the middle of a dance. One arm cradling her above the ground. Her heart pounded and she stared into his eyes for a couple of loud beats.
Then she remembered. His wife and the embrace earlier and pushed away, scrambling upright.
"I'm sorry I wasn't looking," she mumbled, swiping at her skirts, and trying to regain her breath. She gestured to the distant terrace, taking a step toward it. "I was heading for the food."
"My apologies I was…" He trailed off staring before he stepped into her path. "Did you hear what they talked about?"
"Not really." Emma stepped to the side and returned his frown when he stepped to block her. Her need to comfort him fought with her instinct to run, comfort won. "I don't think they'll ever get along but I think they came to an understanding."
Emma took another step away. "Here's the thing. They're never going to be pleasant to each other all the time but upon occasion it'll be fine. No one should die or get maimed."
Killian's frown deepened.
"Gold really likes that word, maimed but hey, if he's saying it maybe he won't actually do it."
"Thank you, I suppose, your highness." He bowed a bit and finally backed out of her way.
"I'll just go then," she muttered and lifted her skirts to go but she ran into him so she turned back. "Thanks for catching me."
He smirked and without growling at him Emma swiftly turned away again.
"Your highness," he called out. "I should inform you I made a promise to your son."
Killian waited, saying nothing more. Emma rocked up on the tip of her toes and swaying back to her heels, wanting to leave. Needing to stay.
Again, she gave in. She turned around even though she already knew what he promised Henry.
"Your husband is a sailor and I told the lad I would find him."
"I couldn't ask you to do that when you and your wife have just begun settling here."
"You didn't ask," he shot back. "Neither did the boy. I offered."
"As you wish," she replied, hoping she wasn't quite the open book he always claimed she was before turning away. Again.
"I have a few questions for you, princess." His words halted her once more and she looked over her shoulder at him. He remained quiet, studying her.
She raised her brows.
"Any details or a description would be helpful. Maybe the name of his ship, or any bit of information would help."
She looked toward the balcony. Most everyone had returned to the ball and maybe she could steal a bit of time with her pirate. She straightened her spine and swept back around to face him.
"My memories are a little fuzzy still. I know he captained his own ship," she said softly. "He's tall, well taller than me. Dark haired, light-colored eyes, maybe green like mine or, maybe blue." She shrugged one shoulder. Just how much she could describe and keep the pirate from recognizing himself? "Scruffy looking, maybe. That could've changed."
Emma glanced over her shoulder to check for an audience. With none, she took a step closer to Killian. "There's this one detail that'll help. He lost his left hand" – she gestured to his left hand – "and in its place is a hook."
"You're married to Captain Hook?"
"Oh, so you've heard of him?"
"No but any captain sporting such an appendage would end up with that blasted moniker."
Emma looked to the side, wondering if she dared. Killian lifted his left hand and pushed a length of her hair back over her shoulder slicing her heart in two with the familiar gesture.
"If he has it, he'll be wearing his wedding ring on his right hand." She reached up and pulled her hair over her other shoulder. "It's engraved."
"With what?"
Emma's heart hurt at his question, at the flat determined look on his face. "My True Love," she said and stuttered over the look in his eyes. "Death cannot separate us."
"What an uplifting sentiment."
"You'd have to know the story I guess."
He nodded at this.
"Anything else you need?"
His head tilted at her words as his brows went up and Emma wondered what the pirate thought she was asking.
"Tomorrow, Milah goes to spend time with Bae on the Dark One's lands. As I have not been invited." He stopped a moment and swayed slightly to the music from the ballroom. "I will take my leave tomorrow morning and begin the search."
"I…"
"Alas princess, I do have one last request and it's a bit unorthodox," he muttered and scratched behind his ear. The nervous tick a sign that he was still the Killian she knew. He swept into an elaborate bow, much like the one he'd taught Henry. "A dance if you please, your highness."
"I wasn't going to go back…"
He straightened up and gazed directly in her eyes. "I'm not asking for a turn on the ballroom floor."
Emma exhaled sharply, his words and the look in his eyes a physical blow. There it was again, the longing, the love and the adoration he had always given her with a single look.
"Just a dance, right here, before you go wherever it is you go and I set sail to bring back your true love."
The faint strains of music floated in the air around them and they both held their breath.
Emma's eyes fluttered close as she stepped forward and held out her arms. Killian stepped to her, taking her hand in his then wrapping the other around her waist to sweep her into a waltz. It was like the sparring match all over again. Emma's blood rushed through her body as they glided around the barely lit garden.
Emma kept her eyes closed to soaking up the familiar feel of his arms but the hold of his left hand as he spun her instead of his hook disturbed her She glanced up at him. Blue eyes stared into hers and the gap between them growing smaller, their steps slower.
"Is there something on my face," she asked in a hushed whisper.
He shook his head no.
"You stare any harder…"
"I merely wish to provide an accurate description for your husband." He interjected, cutting off any conversation as they spun slowly around the garden. The dim music from the ball faded away entirely and they slowed to a stop. It wasn't till more upbeat music filtered out into the garden that they took a step away from their embrace.
"He must miss you a great deal." Killian bowed, lifting her hand for a kiss.
Emma pulled away and quickly dipped into a curtsy. "Not as much as I miss him."
"So, what is true love like?"
Emma deflated at the bitterness in his words and sank to the ground, blinking tears from her eyes as she looked up at him. Behind her voices rose and fell as guests came outside or went inside while the two of them remained frozen. A pirate and a princess unable to look away from each other.
So many words and things he had done told her that he felt something for her. It was tempting to give in and tell him about the fool's errand he was undertaking. And she'd promptly upset the delicate balance her family was trying to maintain.
"Killian," a female voice called out into the night.
Emma watched as he stepped past her, hiding her outline from the woman on the balcony.
"Like my heart has been ripped out," she whispered to the night and heard him sigh behind her.
"I cannot bear to see your pain," he whispered. "I will find your Captain Hook and drag him back to you." He walked to the woman waiting on the balcony above.
"Keep a weathered eye on the horizon, your highness."
"As you wish."
Emma watched him escort his wife back into the ball. She stood and brushed the dirt from her dress, wondering when exactly she had gone out of her damn mind. Dancing in the moonlight was foolish and she continued to chastise herself as tears streaked down her face.
"Mom."
She wiped the tears from her cheeks and held out her hands to her son.
"Mom, Regina, says I can go." He took hold of her hands. "She expects us to visit come back in two weeks a lot happier."
"Sooner, I promised your grandmother the truth in a week." She swung their joined hands a little. "You know how good she is with secrets."
Henry laughed awkwardly at her joke but it didn't last long, his eye tracking the tears falling down her face.
"Let's just go chill in your room. We can get one of the maids or pages or whoever they are to bring us snacks."
Emma shuddered through a deep breath and tried to smile. "Good plan, kid."