Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time

Chapter Twenty-Four

Rumplestiltskin stared down into his crystal ball, watching as the group approached the castle. A pirate and princess, this family was full of all sorts of surprises, he cackled at the sight. He moved his hands over the ball and waited for the dark smoke to clear. His head fell to the side at the image of the town that appeared. Then he saw her. Alexandra. He let out a maniacal laugh, "It may not be in this world, Cinderella, but I will have your baby."

David roared to his feet, his hands closing in around the cage under their winter palace that held The Dark One for so long, "What do you mean 'this world'?" He demanded.

The wizard laughed, "Oh Charming," he leered as he popped next to the cell, "you are oh so frightful." He laughed again, "Don't you worry, one day soon you'll know what I mean." He raised his hands and disappeared.

Cinderella let out a long sob, "My poor Alexandra. This is all my fault. I should've known better, I just, oh Thomas is going to be devastated."

David stepped back and scooped her up from the dirt floor, "It's going to be okay, Ella. We'll protect her and we'll stop him. We always protect each other." He rested his head on top of hers as the queen continued to cry.

"And we're probably going to die in here." She wailed.

David shook his head, "No, Ella, we won't Snow and Thomas will find us. They will always find us." He sighed, "Remember, we've found our soul mates, we won't lose them this easily and we certainly won't lose them to villains. We're heroes, we will win."

"You got that right, Charming." Snow appeared in the entrance of the cave. "Emma, Killian! They're in here."

Ella stood up and pushed her way forward, "Is Thomas"

"He's back with the others, dismantling some of George's camps. We heard a rumor you were with one of them. Guess that was wrong." Snow moved to the bars, "David." She murmured.

"I'm fine, but there's no way out of here." David wrapped his hand around hers.

"Don't be so sure about that, Elsa!" Emma's voice echoed through the cave as she appeared in the cave entrance, "I think I'm going to be your help."

Orson appeared at that moment, "She can't help, Emma, she's dealing with a few dark knights who were gifted with some powers." He explained.

"Bloody hell." Emma muttered.

"Emma!" David scolded her language.

"Leave her be," Snow rolled her eyes, "quite a few things have changed since we sent her off to the edge of the kingdom only to have her not follow directions. Much like both of her parents it seems."

Sheathing his sword, Killian appeared next to her, grabbing her face, he gently stroked her cheeks, "You can do this, love. You can open that cage. I know you can do it. I believe in you, darling."

Orson stepped away and moved towards Snow, "There was some trouble in the East Corridor," He reported, "Elsa has handled it though."

"David, this is Orson." Snow introduced the two, "And this is Ella. Orson works under Killian." She motioned to the dark haired man who was whispering to Emma, one hand cupping her cheek, the other weaving through her hair. Orson dropped into a low bow as Snow continued "What kind of trouble?" She asked.

"It appears either The Dark One or The Evil Queen gifted some of her men with the ability to rip hearts out." At Snow's wide eyes he said, "Elsa has handled it all." He patted his chest, "She replaced me own heart." He promised before turning and dropping into a bow, "As Snow said, I'm Orson, your majesties."

David waved his hand, "David will do." He glared over his wife's shoulder, "Who is that? Killian?" He asked.

Snow patted his hand soothingly, "That's Captain Killian Jones. Let's just say our daughter, who brought so many allies together, some even with magic, is not a little girl anymore." David's blue eyes darkened, "She's found her soulmate." David let out a low snarl she'd never heard him make before. "Oh David, stop being so melodramatic. That is definitely where Emma gets her attitude from. Now, Killian is just talking to her for a moment and then she's going to get you two out of this cell. She's very powerful. It's incredible, really." Snow murmured. David didn't respond, instead, his eyes moved over his wife's head to where his daughter was standing. He growled again, They weren't just talking.

Emma leaned her cheek into one of Killian's palms before rocking up on her toes, winding her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his. Killian dropped his hands from her face to wrap around her waist, hauling her flush against him, ignoring the other royals in the room. When she pulled back, he nudged his nose against hers, "You father wants to kill me, love." He chuckled, pressing his lips to hers one more time, before kissing the corner of her mouth, her cheek, her nose, her brow, her other cheek, the other side of her mouth and then one more on her mouth.

Emma giggled with a shake of her head, "He'll get over it. I promise to cloak you if he tries to go after you with his sword so you can get away."

Killian tipped his head back and let out a loud peal of laughter that had Emma grinning proudly and David's scowl deepening, "Thank you so much, love." He tilted her chin up and pressed another lingering kiss to her lips that left her humming happily despite the situation, "Now, how about letting King David and Queen Cinderella out of their cage." He motioned to the side. He followed her to the cell and watched as she hesitated in front of the cell. Taking her hand in his he gently rubbed his thumb over her knuckles and murmured, "You can do this, love. I believe in you."

David growled and Emma's eyes shot up to her father's, "Be nice, Daddy. You'll love him." She smirked up at Killian, "Almost as much as I do." So maybe she was taunting her father a little bit, but Killian made her so happy, even if they were fighting for her kingdom and had a lot to figure out she was still happy. She paused as she brought her hands up, "No killing Killian when I let you out." She warned. David didn't respond, he just glared at the man standing next to Emma protectively.

"Ignore him." Snow advised Killian with a wink, "He's just being Charming." She quipped, chuckling at David's growl. She was discovering a whole new bevy of noises that her husband could make. It was something she'd like to explore later on when this was all settled.

"You can do this, love." Killian whispered one more time, pressing a kiss to the shell of her ear, as Emma raised her hands and focused all of her energy on the cell. She bit her lip as she felt something push back at her. She frowned and let out a small groan. Closing her eyes, she remembered what Elsa and Genie told her on the ship. When you feel it pulsing back at you and you think you can't defeat it remember your love for Killian. His love strengthens you. It gives you power. He's your true love and it pulls at the very foundation of your soul. You're the product of true love. Your magic is the most powerful in all the realms. His love combined with yours for him gives you strength and power. Nothing can defeat you with him by your side.

Emma tilted her head to the side and focused all of her energy on Killian and her relationship with him. She focused on the feel of Killian's arms around her, the thick drag of him inside of her, the scent of him, the emotion in his eyes and voice as he whispered how much he loved her in the privacy of their quarters, on the day-to-day natural instinct to show her and tell her how much he cares for her, she felt her magic quicken and strengthen until she was forced to open her eyes and step back. Stumbling to regain her footing, Killian's arms wound around her waist before she could hit the floor.

He looked down concerned, "Are you okay?" He whispered, his hand reaching up to cup her cheek.

Emma shook her head, her vision swimming with images of the two of them over the past few weeks flicking behind her eyes before she finally caught his gaze, "Did it work?" She murmured.

"You did it, Emma." Snow pulled Ella into a hug before lunging at her husband, finally able to breath in his scent again.

David stared in awe at his daughter, who was still wrapped in the embrace of the leather clad man, her eyes closed and her forehead pressed against his, "How did?" David began.

Emma took a deep breath before pressing her face into Killian's neck, ignoring her father's question, "You really love me that much?" She asked quietly.

Killian tightened his hold on her, pressing a kiss to her hair, one hand tangling in her tresses, "Please tell me you've never doubted my feelings for you." He murmured.

"I haven't, I just," She shuddered, "that was so intense." She pulled back, "Did you feel it?" She murmured.

He frowned down at her, "Feel what, love?"

Her eyes darkened as her fingers moved to his exposed chest. Tugging on the necklace she murmured against his lips, "I'll show you tonight." She promised in a raspy voice. Killian swallowed thickly and shifted his hips slightly at the sultry promise of her words.

"So Elsa is magnificent." Lancelot's voice interrupted the reunion.

David stepped back, releasing Snow, "Lancelot?" He questioned.

"You did it, Emma." Elsa appeared in the room with Robin. "The castle is secure, the others are watching the forest for unwanted intruders, but we should head back to camp and make sure everyone else is alright."

Emma turned her head, staying wrapped up in Killian's embrace. She was still shaking, trying to clear her head from dropping the magic around the cage, "Yeah, I did."

Elsa smiled softly and moved to rest a hand on her arm, "I told you, his love for you is unparalleled. As is yours for him. It gives you so much power." She shook her head, "I could feel it radiating through the air while you were working."

David moved to stand next to his daughter, "I'll expect a full explanation later," he glared at the man holding his daughter before he opened his arms, "but I am so proud of you."

Emma grinned and lunged at her father, burying her head in his chest and relishing in the feel of his hand cradling her head, "I love you, Daddy." She pulled back, "Dad, this is Killian Jones."

David studied the man for a moment, "David." He finally held out his hand, "Or as Snow likes to call me, Charming."

Killian smirked, "Captain Killian Jones, at your service."

David stared at the man, "Jones?" He questioned.

"Aye, mate." Killian nodded.

"As in the Killian Jones who stole one of King George's ships and turned to piracy." David's grip tightened on the man's hand.

"Now, Daddy." Emma rested her hand over their joined ones, "He's a good man." She began.

"He's a pirate." David spat.

"George got what he deserved." Emma snapped at her father, "And I love him and he loves me and nothing you can say will change that." Her shoulders dropped back as she straightened, "I fully intend on spending the rest of my life with him." David still didn't speak, "Mom already approved."

David dropped Killian's hand and spun to face his wife, "Bloody hell," Killian muttered, rubbing his hand, "what a grip."

Emma chuckled and brought his hand to her lips, she alternated between kisses and nips as her tongue flicked out every so often, "All better." She murmured in a husky voice.

"Bloody hell," Killian repeated, "you're a bloody siren, my wanton princess." He murmured.

"You approved of this?" David pointed to the two.

Elsa shrugged, "You get used to the two of them after a while."

"Used to" David choked on his words, "have you taken advantage of my daughter, pirate?" He moved towards Killian.

Emma stepped in front of Killian, "This is neither the time or place," she began, ignoring Killian's nudges for her to step away, "we need to go. Now. We can discuss this later. Until then, all you need to know is that we love each other and without Killian we wouldn't all be here."

"Emma is right." Snow rested a hand on her husband's arm. "Let's go, we have quite a journey back to camp."

OUAT

Emma settled next to Killian against a boulder on the hill they'd made camp at for the evening. Draping his arm over her shoulder, she tucked herself into his side. "I told Lancelot that the two of us would take first watch." She murmured, pressing a kiss to his chest.

"Did you now, love?" Killian's other arm moved to stroke idly over her stomach, while his hand twirled through the tips of her hair. "Your father"

"Will get over it. I choose you, Killian." At his sigh she leaned up, "If I ever thought there was a choice before, after that," she shook her head, "there will never be anyone else for me." Her fingers slid over his beard, "Killian." She murmured.

"I love you too, princess." He brought her mouth down to his, prying hers open with his tongue and a nip of her bottom lip. Emma threw one leg over his lap, straddling him so she could deepen the kiss.

David watched from a distance, "So they're"

"Very passionate." Elsa rolled her eyes, "Very much in love." She sighed, "And her magic, it's incredible really how their love has strengthened her magic."

Letting out a grunt, "So she fell in love with a pirate."

"And I fell in love with a shepherd." Snow reminded him. She sighed, "Look, David, if you just watch them interact," she sighed, "the way he treats her, the way he looks at her and even more so, the confidence he has in her the way he just supports her and stands by her," she smiled at her husband, "it's everything we ever wanted for her."

Sighing, David leaned back, letting his hand rub circles on his wife's back, "Then I guess I should apologize."

Snow chuckled, "There's my Prince Charming." She murmured, leaning over to kiss him. "And apologize tomorrow, I'm tired."

"I'll make sure they know to actually pay attention during their watch." Lancelot patted Elsa's knee as he stood, winking as she blushed at the contact. Snow just raised a knowing eyebrow at the two.

OUAT

XOXO

MAS