A/N: I am so sorry if this chapter seems forced. It is one of the few chapters that I really had to try and achieve the same feel as some of the others. I hope you enjoy it anyway. Thank you to all of my followers and for everyone who has favorited my story. P.S. Don't hate me by the end of the chapter. Emma has to turn into the woman she becomes.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story. They belong to the great creative minds of Once Upon A Time.
Chapter 28:
9 Years Ago
Killian's head pounded, his stomach quaked and if he didn't know any better he'd say his bed was swaying. He cracked one eye open. Bloody hell! It was too bright to open his eyes. He scrunched them up, as his stomach rolled.
He heard a door open as he laid back cradling his aching head. Where the hell was he? If he was able to open his eyes without searing pain, he might be able to take in his surroundings.
"You finally awake?"
That sounded an awfully lot like his brother, Liam, but he wasn't supposed to see him until bright and early Monday morning. And it couldn't be Monday already, could it? And if it was, his brother was probably here to murder him because he was late to his post, the ship past time to set sail, by the brightness of the sun.
Killian groaned and rolled over, puling the pillow over his head. If he ignored the apparition, it was bound to go away.
Blankets were pulled from his body, before hands stole the pillow from him. "Get up, sailor, you're already late to post."
No, his mind groaned.
It must have made it past his lips as well, because he heard Liam chuckle, the sound grating within Killian's skull. "Unfortunately, yes. C'mon, Killian, I've already covered for you long enough."
Killian flipped onto his back, shielding his burning eyes with his hands and looked up at his elder brother. "Just kill me and be done with it."
"That's what rum will do to you," Liam scolded. "Should have stuck to the good stuff, instead of the rot gut you were swilling."
Killian groaned, just the mention of the liquor painful to hear. "Can't afford it on my salary."
"Well, maybe, if you sold the ring instead of turning it into an earring, like a bloody pirate," Liam said as he flicked the bauble in Killian's ear, "you'd have more cash."
"It reminds me not to allow another woman too close," he murmured, as he slowly sat upright.
"Tell that to the women hanging all over you last night." Liam crossed his arms, legs braced apart, a stern expression on his face.
"Can't help it if I'm so devilishly handsome every girl wants a piece of me," Killian retorted with a grin, then a grimace as pain seared through his head. That's what he go for being too damn cocky. His hands rested on his aching scalp and rubbed.
Liam snickered. "Only because I didn't show up until later to drag your drunk all out of the bar."
Killian's eye brow rose. Liam was hardly ever cocky except when it came to his seamanship skills, so his light hearted response started Killian. He stared at his older brother intently. He rose and looked out the port hole. They were definitely at sea, no land could be seen through the small window. "You shanghaied me?"
"In a matter of speaking. It was for your own good. You collapsed in the middle of a kiss. Not good form, little brother."
"I think I remember that. I thought I was having a dream that Emma was in my arms and then things went black." Killian's legs almost buckled under him as he stood at the port hole, for legs that should be used to the swaying of a ship, they were acting as if they and the sea had never met. He grabbed the nearby desk and held himself steady.
"Well, you were with a blonde when you collapsed, but I heard there was a brunette before that and a red head before her." Liam sat in the chair across from where Killian stood. Liam sat there looking as if he owned the place, which technically he did as they were in his cabin.
"It was Emma," Killian said more to himself than to Liam. "It had to be. It's the only thing that makes sense."
"Don't let your imagination run wild, Killian. How could it be her? What would she be doing in Annapolis? And how do you know you'd recognize her if it were? She's changed."
Killian's head whipped around from looking back out the window to his brother's visage. "It was her. You know it was. You just said she's changed," he accused him.
"I said no such thing," Liam denied and resumed reading a document on his desk.
"I heard you. My mind might be a bit fuzzy right now, but I heard you say she's changed plain and simple. And how would you know that if you didn't see her?" Killian leaned over the desk and slammed his hand atop his brother's paper. "You knew it was her and you brought me aboard ship so I couldn't find her again."
Liam looked up at him, his eyes deadly serious, his countenance one Killian hadn't seen in years, as it looked much like their father's when he was in a rage. "I did."
"So, you're not even going to deny it?" Killian was stunned.
"Why should I?" Liam crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair.
"Damn you, Liam. You are a stubborn ass." Killian marched around the desk and slammed his way out of his brother's cabin. It didn't matter the sound killed a few more brain cells in his head. He refused to be anywhere near his superior officer at that moment, because he wasn't sure his hands wouldn't find their way around Liam's neck. Killian headed to his cabin to change into uniform and remove his earring, certain Liam had had his things brought aboard. He had work to do. And right now there was nothing he could do about contacting Emma Swan.
Bloody hell! This mission was already complicated enough with the confidentiality of what they needed to accomplish. Only the top ranking officers onboard were even aware of the actual mission. And the last thing he needed was to have his mind on other matters. It could get him or someone else killed. But, when this voyage was completed, his main focus would be on finding Emma one more time.
"C'mon, Emma. It's been three weeks. Get up off that couch and go out with me," Brittney told her as she kicked the bottom of the couch. Emma cuddled up on watching television.
Emma looked over at her dark haired friend and grimaced. "Yeah, and the last time I listened to you I had my heart broken. Again."
"Well, if it's broken, that means it still works, so no more excuses." Brittney yanked on the comforter and pulled it off Emma and flung it at the nearby chair. "You are going out with me."
Emma reluctantly stood and stretched. "Fine. Let's go."
"You are not walking out of the door looking like that," Brittney said as she grabbed Emma by the shoulders and led her toward the stairs.
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
"You have worn those clothes for two days. I love you, but you smell. You are going to take a shower and put on some fresh clothes, than we're gonna meet up with a couple of girls from work at Davis' Pub on Chester." Brittney drug her up the stairs and straight into the bathroom, where she turned on the taps for Emma.
"You gonna bathe me, too?" Emma inquired with a sloppy grin on her face.
"I think you're a big girl now and you should be able to tell when you need a bath." Brittney pushed her toward the shower stall. "Now get in there."
After Emma bathed and dressed, she met Brittney back downstairs. "Do I pass inspection, oh great friend and leader?"
Brittney laughed. "Well, at least you got the title right. The clothes, not so much, but you'll do."
"What's wrong with my clothes?" Emma looked down. She was wearing a cute navy tank top with a white see-through netted sweater on top and a pair of dark jeans she just purchased a week ago.
"Couldn't you have bought some cute shoes to go with your jeans when you went shopping? Those boots are not to be worn everywhere," Brittney scolded her, while staring down at Emma's scuffed up knee-length brown boots.
"Not if I wanted to eat. Maybe next paycheck I'll let you convince me to buy some," Emma told her as both girls grabbed their purses and keys.
"Not only will I convince you, I'll go with you to make sure they find their way home." Brittney smiled at her as she locked up Matt's apartment.
Emma and Brittney jumped inside Matt's car that he allowed them to borrow while he was gone. Emma's Bug had been dropped off the night before to the shop where it needed to have the brakes inspected. They sat in silence for a few minutes as Brittney easily navigated the heavy weekend traffic. It was rare for both girls to have a Friday night off from the department store they worked at, so this was a nice change from their rotating schedule.
"So, are you going to tell me why you were so determined I go out tonight?"
Brittney glanced over at Emma and grinned. "You need to get over Killian. And the best way to do that is get another one."
"Another what?"
"Another guy," Brittney said brightly. "Just think about how you got over Neal."
"I got over Neal the day I realized I was pregnant, alone, in jail, and all he bothered to do was send keys for the Bug," Emma lamented.
"Okay, bad example. How did you get over Killian originally?"
It was then that Emma realized for the first time since she spent time with Mary-Margaret that she had opened up to another person. It scared her and felt nice all at the same time.
"With Neal."
"Exactly! Which is how you're going to get over him again." Brittney glanced over at her excitedly.
"With Neal? Hell, no."
"No." Brittney laughed. "Not with Neal, with another guy. We'll go to the bar. If you see a guy that catches your attention go home with him, get Killian out of your system and come home. Easy as pie."
Brittney turned onto the road with the bar and searched for somewhere to park. After a few minutes she shouted Eureka as someone pulled out and she shot in the now empty place. "C'mon, Emma. You're destiny awaits."
Emma slowly got out of the car and looked up and down the street, uncomfortable at her friend's suggestion.
"But what if I hurt the guy's feelings?"
Brittney huffed as she joined Emma on the sidewalk and looped her arm through hers. "What guy doesn't just want sex? I know your only real experience was with Neal, but trust me on this, they'll be fine. Love them and leave them. It's their game, you just have to play it where you are the one leaving first."
Emma sat there most of the night thinking about what Brittney said, while her friends laughed and flirted with the men that approached them. When the night was coming t an end, Emma spotted a gut sitting alone at the bar. He had dark curly hair, a nice smile and wore his day old business suit well. When he raised his glass at her in salute, Emma pointed him out to Brittney. She gave Emma a go for it grin.
Emma stood and approached the older guy. "So…"
He just laughed. "Yeah. I'm new at this, too." He held up his left hand which was tanned except for a small pale line on his ring finger. "My wife passed away a few months ago. Just took it off tonight. Thus the drink."
"I'm sorry," Emma told him as she sat down on a stood next to him. His kind brown eyes smiled before it reached his lips.
He took a sip of his beer. "You want one?"
"No, thanks. I've reached my limit." Emma didn't have the heart to tell him she was still under twenty-one.
"Well, as this is new to both of us, I'm not sure how to proceed." He turned to her. His left arm resting on the bar between them.
Emma placed her hand on his arm and stroked it slightly, trying to negate her nerves. "How about we get out of here?"
He looked down at her hand on his arm, then back up at her. He gave her a nervous grin, which somehow helped Emma relax. "Sounds good."
He threw some money on the bar and stood up. He held out his hand to her. She looked over at Brittney who was watching from their table. Emma saw her nod her head and give her a smile. Emma looked back at the guy and slipped her hand into his.
"Let's go." She smiled at him and grabbed her purse before they left the bar.
