AN: Yes, I'm finally back. I know it's been months since I last updated this story, so hopefully this long chapter will be enough to make up for the long wait. Enjoy!


Emma briefly paused in her task of ladling out stew into the empty bowls arranged in front of her to glance out the window at the sizable crowd of people milling about outside the town hall, forming a rather disorganized line to the food stall that had been set up out front. For not the first time, she felt a wave of sympathy for those people outside, knowing that most of them were probably among the displaced families who had to camp out on the street, wishing there was more she could do for them.

It had been a week since Arthur and his knights had begun their siege on Storybrooke. While David and Mary Margret had been able to organize a rather ragtag group of defenders, which consisted of some of Robin's Merry Men, surviving members their royal guard from the Enchanted Forest, the dwarfs, and Smee, Bill Jukes & Robert Mullins (who were particularly adamant about getting back at Arthur for what he did to Starkey and Beverly), they hadn't prevented Arthur's forces from taking over most of the forest bordering the town and had only been able to keep the invading knights from making their way into the actual town.

To make it worse, with Arthur laying claim to most of the woods, a good number of townspeople who had previously lived on the outskirts of town had to abandon their homes, seeking refuge along Main Street. So many, in fact, all of the rooms at Granny's were now occupied for the first time since the town was first created. However, in spite of this, and the fact that some other sympathetic individuals had willingly opened up their own homes for the refugees, there were still a number of people who were forced to camp out along the street in tents. In order to help those people, many of the town restaurants had stepped forward to help distribute hot food to them, free of charge. So Emma had not hesitated to join the volunteers in serving the refugees. After all, she knew all too well what it was like to live out on the street.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. Looking over, Emma saw that Ashley had come up behind her, with little Alexandra strapped to her back with a baby carrier.

"Here, Emma," she offered, gesturing to the bowls of stew. "Why don't you take a little break? I can take it from here."

"I'm alright," Emma insisted.

"I know you are," Ashley persisted. "But I believe your parents are waiting in the office down the hall to discuss some matters. You might want to join them."

After a moment of further hesitation, Emma allowed Ashley to take over for her, making her way to the indicated office to meet with her parents. As she made her way through the hallway, she came across Killian, who was also making his way to the designated meeting room. In a flash, she remembered that he had been planning to pay a visit to Starkey's hospital room that day, in order to check up on his condition.

"Killian," she began, stepping over to his side quickly. "How were Starkey and Beverly? Are their injuries….?"

"I was told they'd both make a full recovery," Killian replied, rather shortly. For a moment, Emma was taken aback, and she paused to take in his rather stormy expression.

"Is something wrong?" she asked gently, reaching out to curl her fingers around his hook. Almost instantly, Killian's expression softened, with his shoulders slumping slightly.

"Sorry, Swan," Killian apologized. "It's just…something Starkey said to me, about something he and Beverly are considering."

"I take it that it's something bad," Emma mused. "What is it?"

"I…." Killian trailed off, shaking his head. "Emma, it's not that I don't want to tell you. But I don't know if I should. Not right now. It's just….they're thinking about….doing something. Something rather drastic."

"If that's the case, shouldn't we all know about it?" Emma pointed out. "If it's as drastic as you say it is, it could affect everyone in town."

"I assure you, it's not a matter that would concern most people, or threaten anyone's safety," Killian reassured. "But it's a decision that…. if they go through with it, they won't be able to change their minds about it later, and…." For a moment, Killian seemed unable to speak and simply shook his head. "At least they gave me their word that they would take the time to really consider the matter, and won't jump into anything rashly. And I trust Starkey's word. Still, I….."

"Killian, it's okay," Emma comforted in a soothing voice. "Whatever it is, you can tell me when you're ready to."

Killian simply nodded in response, and the pair continued on their way down the hall, walking in silence.

Upon entering the room that Ashley had indicated, they saw Mary Margret and David were sitting at the long table, along with a handful of other people. While Emma didn't recognize some of people gathered around her parents, she did notice Granny, Ruby, Marco, Archie, Leroy and Doc were among them. She also noticed Robin sitting in a chair against the wall. Roland was sitting next to him, being entertained by Pinocchio and a few wooden toys. The moment they noticed Emma's presence, everyone gathered around the table rose to their feet, facing her.

"What's going on?" Emma asked, feeling slightly self-conscious over how everyone was looking at her.

"Something that your father and I had hoped for, for a long time," Mary Margret stated.

"Emma, the people you see in this room were the members of our Royal Council," David explained. "While we know the circumstances are less than ideal, it's high time you took your rightful place among it."

"If we still lived back in the Enchanted Forest," Mary Margret added, "you would have officially been granted a place at the table when you turned eighteen. As they say, better late than never."

"Oh, right," Emma nodded, hoping her expression wasn't betraying the usual trepidation she often felt at being reminded of the life she could have had as she approached the available seat next to her mother, which a beaming Ruby was holding out for her.

Before she could sit down, she paused for a moment, casting a curious glance at Killian and Robin. It had suddenly dawned on her that they had both been called to this meeting as well. But from what her parents said, it sounded as if this was meant as an exclusive meeting with the members of the Royal Court.

As if she's sensed the direction of Emma's thoughts, Mary Margret seemed to stand up a bit taller, looking between Robin and Killian.

"Hook, Robin, could you step forward please?" After a brief pause, the two men complied with the request. When they were both standing alongside the table, Mary Margret continued. "The reason why we've called the two of you here today is because we acknowledge your invaluable services during the ordeals with Zelena and Ingrid. As such, this council has voted and has decided that you have both earned a seat in the Royal Court."

"Is that right?" Robin said, amusement filling his face. "When I renounced loyalty to Prince John, I never thought I would actually be welcomed to sit among royalty again."

"Well, I never thought I'd allow a pirate into the Royal Council either," David quipped, casting a teasing glance over at Killian. "But I suppose stranger things have happened."

Emma was unable to fight against the smile forming along the corners of her mouth at the sight of Robin and her father joking about, but her brow furrowed slightly when she glanced over at Killian. While he was also smiling as he slowly sat down in a chair next to Marco, she still noticed a trace of unease in his eyes, as if he was feeling uncomfortable being there. She made a mental note to ask him about it later. At the moment, however, there didn't seem to be time as it seemed as if David and Mary Margret were beginning the meeting.

"So, we might as well cut to the chase," David began. "Arthur and his knights have effectively boxed us all into the heart of town. Fortunately, thanks to the lingering effects of Regina's curse, we're not in danger of running out of food and supplies since the shops and restaurants automatically get restocked periodically. But we still have to address the issue of what would happen if Arthur manages to capture the town itself. We need to figure out how to stop him before that can happen."

"Well, it's obvious, isn't it?" Leroy inputted. "This whole mess is because he wants the Dark One's dagger. Why shouldn't we offer to assist him with that? After all, wouldn't we also benefit from that? After everything Rumpelstiltskin did, why are we even trying to protect him?"

"And what guarantee do we have that Arthur wouldn't turn around and take advantage of being given the dagger?" Killian challenged. "He's already proven he wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice his own knights to achieve his goals. Imagine what a man like that would do if he had the Dark One under his control."

"And regardless of what he's done in the past," David added. "Since he was resurrected, Mr. Gold hasn't done anything to warrant our attention. Yet."

"You don't count him abducting Belle as anything?" Leroy challenged.

"Whether we like it or not," Emma countered, "Belle chose to go with him of her own free will. And we have no real evidence to suggest she's being held against her will. So there's nothing we can do about that." Leroy didn't seem to have a good enough argument to that, but he still was visibly fuming.

"What concerns me right now," Emma went on, "is what we're going to do about all those people who were forcibly displaced from their homes and are now living in tents on the street. There has to be a way we can help them more until this whole mess is resolved."

"Perhaps there is something we can do," Mary Margret said, suddenly looking upbeat. "Valentine's Day is only two days away. Perhaps we should have a celebration for it. Like a Valentine's Day ball!"

"Are you serious?" Emma stared. "You're actually thinking of throwing a…a ball? At a time like this? What about Arthur and his knights? They're out there right now, looking for any chance they could get to infiltrate the town."

"Exactly," Mary Margret stated, smiling widely. "A ball could be just what the people of this town need to raise their spirits."

"But…." Emma started to say, shaking her head.

"Emma, do you remember what I told you last year?" David asked. "About looking for the good moments? Well, this is our chance to make a good moment of our own."

"Besides," Mary Margret added, leaning in close to whisper into Emma's ear. "You and Hook haven't had much of a chance to spend time together lately. Don't you think you owe it to yourselves to enjoy one evening together?"

Emma found she couldn't come up with a counterargument to her mother's statement. Almost cautiously, she glanced over at Killian sitting a few chairs away from her. Perhaps it would be nice to have a little one-on-one time. If anything, it would give her the chance to hopefully find out what had upset him during his visit with Starkey. And maybe to determine the reason why he seemed unsettled by being offered a seat among the Royal Council. When she turned back to Mary Margret, her mother must have seen in her expression that she had conceded, for a pleased smile formed upon her face.


Neal shuffled his way up to the Gold mansion, his hands buried deep in his pockets. Even as he went, he still was internally wrestling with himself. Deep down, he knew he should have made this visit sooner. After all, he couldn't deny that it was his fault that Arthur found out about the ritual that could resurrect the Dark One. So, in a way, his father being back was partially his doing. Which meant it was his responsibility to try to convince him to help the town. But he hadn't been able to work up the courage to make this visit until today. Even so, he still had to force himself to continue walking towards the mansion. And upon reaching the front door, it took him even more time to get the nerve to knock. He had to admit he wasn't surprised when his knock went unanswered, but he didn't let that deter him. Instead, he let out a heavy sigh and let himself in.

Upon entering, he found the place appeared to be deserted, though he still walked deeper into the foyer, which had clearly been completely restored since the last time he'd set foot inside the mansion. There was not a single trace of Ingrid's attack on him. That fact alone confirmed what Neal suspected. His father really had taken up residence here again.

"I know you're there, Papa," Neal announced to the seemingly empty foyer.

"I'd wondered how long it would take before you paid me a visit," Mr. Gold replied, appearing beside him.

"I came to talk to you about something," Neal said, turning to face his father.

"Of course," Mr. Gold nodded, a noncommittal smile on his face. Without another word, he started to lead the way into the sitting room. Neal started to follow, but momentarily paused when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Glancing over, he saw Belle had appeared at the top of the stairs.

For a few seconds, Neal was rooted to the spot, simply looking up at Belle, who was mutely meeting his gaze. This was the first time he'd gotten a glimpse of her since she renewed her bargain with Rumpelstiltskin. At first glance, she looked fine and well. But the longer he looked at her, the more Neal noticed she was looking distinctly haggard, with unmistakable dark circles beneath her eyes. Belle, seemingly noticing Neal's scrutiny, averted her eyes and pulled the bathrobe she was wearing tighter around herself. It was only then that Neal realized she wasn't wearing anything beneath the bathrobe, and he self-consciously looked away. Shaking his head in an effort to focus, Neal continued on to the sitting room, where Mr. Gold was waiting expectedly.

"Well then," Mr. Gold began once Neal had joined him in the sitting room. "I trust you're here because you've considered what I said about you being welcome here."

"You're half right," Neal admitted. "But if you have room for me, then you should also open your doors for some of the other people who were displaced from their homes. The people who are now forced to camp out on the street."

"Why exactly would I do that?"

"For starters, it's the decent thing to do," Neal said. "Since you've made it clear you won't lift a finger to assist us in combating King Arthur's attempts at conquering Storybrooke, you could at least provide shelter for the refugees."

"And what is in it for me?" Mr. Gold demanded.

"Nothing," Neal replied, heaving a heavy sigh. "Just the chance to help people. And maybe bridge the gap between them and you. Now that you're back, I thought you'd want to at least try to start over. Take advantage of the fact that you've got another chance at life."

"What makes you think those people would even accept if I did extend the invitation to them?" Mr. Gold challenged.

"Well, if they're able to at least somewhat accept Regina and Hook now, there's no reason why they won't do the same with you. If you extend an olive branch to them and try to offer them assistance. Without asking for anything in return."

"I admit I am impressed with your arguments, son. I can tell you've rehearsed it. But I simply can't allow any of them into this house."

"Why not?"

"How am I supposed to trust them? Any one of them could take the chance to try to find my dagger."

"That's what you're worried about? Your dagger?"

"You know full well that anyone who possesses it can control me. Why would I give any of them a chance to do that?"

"Because you owe it to them!" Neal exclaimed. "It was your curse that created Storybrooke and brought all of them here. Regina may have cast it, but the curse was yours. Isn't it time you made the effort to make it up to them?"

"If I didn't know better," Mr. Gold stated with a frown, "I'd suspect you were trying to deceive me into lowering my defenses so someone could get their hands on my dagger."

"So you're saying you no longer trust me?" Neal asked. "You manipulated Regina to cast her curse and did all of this to track me down again, and now that you have,you think I'd trick you like that?"

"Considering you only approached me to ask for something once I was brought back?" Mr. Gold fired back.

For a long moment, father and son simply stared at each other, as if nonverbally challenging one another. But after a moment, Neal shook his head, turning away.

"You know," he announced as he started to walk away. "I think I understand now."

"Understand what?" Mr. Gold asked. Neal paused by the door to the sitting room, but he did not look back, keeping his back to his father as he completed his thought.

"Why Mama left."

With that, Neal walked out of the mansion, not even bothering to take the opportunity to gauge Mr. Gold's reaction to that statement.


It was a few hours before the start of Mary Margret's Valentine's Day ball, and a sizable group of people were moving about the town's community center. While it was certainly not the most glamorous of venues, it was one of the only locations in Storybrooke that was large enough to pass for a ballroom. So to try and spruce the place up a bit, volunteers had gathered together to put up decorations. Some were adorning the walls with fairy lights and rose garlands while others were setting up tables decorated with lace tablecloths and candlesticks. Robin was among the people working at putting together a refreshment table in the far corner of the main room and making sure everything was ready once it was time to start laying out the food and drinks (wine for the adults and sparkling raspberry pomegranate cider for the kids).

As Robin continued setting things up, he found himself working alongside Tinkerbell, who had also joined the volunteers.

"So, I see Mab gave you the day off from that birthing clinic," Robin commented, striking up a conversation.

"I traded shifts so I could be done in time to help out," Tink explained. "I couldn't miss the chance to assist with the Valentine's Day ball."

"You're really looking forward to this, aren't you?" Robin observed with a smile. "Is there someone special you're planning on going to this ball with?"

"No, not me," Tink denied with a chuckle. "But this is said to be a holiday for soulmates. You could say I have a particular investment in soulmates."

"Well, I hope it's everything you hope it will be."

"Wait," Tink said, her smile fading slightly as she caught on to the subtle undertone in Robin's words. "Aren't you going to stay for the ball?"

"I'll be here, of course," Robin replied. "But there will need to be some people standing guard outside, just in case Arthur sends in some of his knights to crash the party. Or take advantage of the fact that everyone else will be attending the ball in order to try and seize the town."

"I just thought you and Regina would be…," Tink commented with a frown. "I mean, considering what the day represents, I expected the two of you would be here together."

"Wait a moment," Robin started, taken aback. "You're telling me you think Regina and me are…..? What in the world gave you that idea?"

"Because you're the man with the lion tattoo, and…." Tink's sentence stopped abruptly when she fully took in Robin's confounded expression. "Wait a minute. You're telling me that… Regina hasn't told you yet?"

"Told me what?" Robin questioned.

"I….I think I already said too much," Tink replied, shaking her head. "This is something Regina should tell you, not me."

"Well, you're the one I'm asking," Robin insisted, reaching out to grasp her arm in order to keep her from retreating. "Now tell me. What about my tattoo? What do you and Regina know that I don't?"

At first, Tink simply stood there, wide eyed. But then she bowed her head in surrender.


The sun was just starting to set when David parked his truck outside of the community center. While it was still early in the evening, it seemed as if the Valentine's Day ball was already well underway, with the sound of music playing emanating from the building. After parking the truck and turning off the ignition, David exited the vehicle and walked around to the passenger side, opening up the door and extending a hand to help Mary Margret out.

"Charming as ever," she beamed, accepting David's hand and carefully climbing out of the truck while keeping a protective hand on her pregnant belly. Once Mary Margret's feet were firmly on the ground, David cupped her face with his hands and the two shared a soft kiss. When they broke the kiss, David turned back to the truck, just in time to see Emma trying to slide out the open door by herself. Fighting the urge to sigh at her stubborn attempt at independence, he stepped over to help her out as well.

"Thanks," Emma said, allowing David to help her climb out of the truck. As she stepped down to the ground, David took the opportunity to silently admire his little girl. He couldn't deny he was pleased that Emma decided to follow their example and dress up for the occasion, but he never would have imagined she would select a dress like this one. It was soft pink and quite feminine. She even elected to utilize the diamond hair combs they'd given her for Christmas to hold up her hair, which had been styled up in a French Braid bun. The combination of the dress and the hairstyle made her look every inch like the princess she'd been meant to be.

"What?" Emma blinked, suddenly noticing that David was looking at her.

"Nothing," David commented with a small shake of the head. Emma continued to eye him suspiciously, but the smile on his face seemed enough to assure her that it was nothing bad.

Together, the three of them walked into the community center. It was immediately clear that the decoration team had gone above and beyond in getting the place ready for the Valentine's Day ball. The main room had been completely transformed, to the point that it took them a few seconds to recognize it. Ambient light from the combination of fairy lights and lit candles atop the tables dotted throughout the room gave everything an almost magical air. A number of potted ficus trees had also been arranged throughout the room in a random but still organized placement. And there was the distinctive sound of a string orchestra floating throughout the room. Since there was no actual musicians in sight, Emma could only conclude that the music was simply a recording, but the speakers had been expertly hidden as she could not spot a single one.

Their attention was drawn away from the decor when Ariel approached them, smiling widely. She immediately struck up a conversation with David and Mary Margret, discussing the whole atmosphere of the Valentine's Day ball, and how much it reminded her of that ball she'd attended back in the Enchanted Forest, where she and Eric had properly met. Emma could only stand and try to process her amazement that her mother had shared an adventure with Ariel once, back when she was still on the run from Regina. Was there a fairy tale character her parents didn't have a personal history with?

As her parents continued to talk with their friend, Emma continued to scan the room, taking in the familiar faces around the room. In doing so, she quickly spotted Henry sitting at a nearby table with the Zimmer twins. She made a mental note to thank Mr. Zimmer for agreeing to let Henry sleep over at their place tonight as she continued to scan the room. Anton was sitting amongst the Dwarfs. Except for Leroy, who was noticeably absent. Though Emma quickly spotted him in a secluded corner that was partially hidden by one of the ficus trees. It looked as if he was having an intimate conversation with Sister Astrid. A few feet away, Marco and Granny were sitting at a table, sharing a bottle of wine. And Archie was helping oversee things at the refreshment table. But he also seemed to be listening attentively to something Neal was saying. While Emma wasn't sure why Neal would be talking to Archie, it was clearly about something serious, judging by Archie's expression. That and the fact that Regina was also standing nearby, her arms crossed and a no-nonsense look on her face.

Briefly, Emma felt the stirrings of curiosity start to take hold. She couldn't remember a time when Regina and Neal would actually willingly interact like that. So what exactly where they talking about? Just when Emma felt herself starting to walk towards them, she forced herself to stop. She'd promised her mother, and herself, that she would try to go along with their request to simply focus on the evening, and making this one of the good moments. Whatever Archie, Regina and Neal were discussing, it could wait. After all, if it was urgent, she knew at least Archie would pass the word along. But right now, she was here at the ball her parents had decided to throw. And she was supposed to be here on a date.

If he's even here, of course, Emma thought to herself, as she continued to scour the crowd for a sign of Killian. However, she couldn't see him anywhere. For the quickest of moments, a nagging thought formed in her mind. What if he decided to simply not show up tonight? It wouldn't be the first time she'd been stood up. However, at the same time, an equally persistent voice insisted that Killian really was different, also making her recall the reverent look that had formed on his face when Emma had asked him to go to the Valentine's Day ball with her.

It was that moment that Emma sensed more than saw Killian coming up behind her, almost as if he'd been summoned to her side by her thinking about him. When she turned to greet him, though, she instantly froze in place, her jaw dropping slightly as she took in his appearance. It seemed as if he had opted to forgo his pirate duster for the evening. That alone was enough to warrant a double take. It had been a while since Emma had seen him without it, and she had almost completely forgotten how its absence made him look slightly more suave and less intimidating, for want of better words. But the most striking difference was that, while the usual leather pants and long-sleeved shirt remained, the black vest was gone. In its place was a completely different vest, which was vibrant red with a black embroidered floral pattern.

Killian seemed to be oblivious to her dazed stare, simply gazing back at her with an awed expression.

"You look stunning, Swan," he complemented, meeting her gaze head-on.

"You….look…" Emma responded, searching for the right words.

"I know," he inserted with a cheeky grin that Emma couldn't help but chuckle at. "I'd previously been told a bit about the particular holiday this ball is meant to honor from your boy. From what he told me, I believe it's the custom to present your date with flowers." At that, he held out a long stemmed rose, which Emma accepted.

At that moment, Killian directed his attention over Emma's shoulder, suddenly aware that David was sternly eyeing them. He responded with returning the stare, recognizing this as a paternal imitation tactic.

"Hook, it's lovely to see you," Mary Margret cut in, wrapping herself around David's arm and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Why don't you two go and enjoy yourselves?"

"Not too much," David instructed. "Remember, we're watching you."

"I can take care of myself," Emma reminded, rolling her eyes at David's protective father act as she led Killian away, heading further into the room to join the other partygoers.

"I wasn't too hard on him, was I?" David joked, looking down at Mary Margret with a playful smile.

"You did fine," Mary Margret decreed.


Henry, Ava and Nicholas were making their way back to their seats with plates full of treats from the dessert table while having a friendly argument about the unexpected turnout of a comic book that had just come out last week. Halfway back to their table, however, Ava stopped short upon noticing the solitary figure standing against the wall.

"Guys, look!" she exclaimed. "It's Grace!"

Stalling only long enough to set their plates down, the three friends quickly crossed the room to join Grace, with Ava greeting her with a hug.

"Hey, Grace!" Henry greeted. How've you been?"

"We haven't seen much of you in a few days," Nicholas added.

"I'm alright," Grace stated with an offhanded shrug. "Been….busy, that's all."

"Are you here by yourself?" Ava asked.

"Yeah, my other parents are here." To emphasize her words, Grace pointed to her cursed parents who were standing nearby.

"Didn't…your dad come?" Henry wondered, concern filling his tone.

"No, I….I don't think he wanted to come. But he took me out for lunch earlier today. And he gave me this." With that, Grace held up the locket that she was currently wearing so her friends could get a better look at it.

"That's so pretty!" Ava complemented.

"Papa said it belonged to my mother."

"Wow, that's really nice," Nicholas stated. "I wish we could have something that belonged to our mother."

"What about you, though, Henry?" Grace said in what was an obvious attempt to change the subject. "Is it nice having your grandfather back?"

"I don't know," Henry admitted slowly. "He hasn't exactly stopped by to spend quality time with me since he's been back."

"He's probably just taking the time to get reacquainted with Belle," Nicholas suggested.

The moment he said this, two things happened at once. Ava quickly slapped her brother's arm, giving him a sudden glare of warning. Almost simultaneously, Grace's face fell.

"Grace?" Henry asked, concern for her evident in his expression and tone.

"I'm sorry," Grace sniffed, wiping her nose. "I…I just miss her."

"Well, why don't we try to go see her tomorrow?" Henry suggested. "I'm sure Belle misses you, too."

"Then why hasn't she came by to see me?" Grace pointed out. "Or even made a phone call? She knows my other parents' number."

"Adults can be funny sometimes," Henry observed. "Do you remember how it took your dad a while to approach you after the curse ended? It was because he was afraid you would hate him for leaving you. Maybe….Belle's also afraid you wouldn't want to see her, too."

"You think so?" Grace asked.

"Maybe. I don't know. Either way, it won't hurt to go see her yourself. That way, she'll know that you still want to see her. In fact, we'll all go."

"Thanks, Henry," Grace said, the smile returning to her face. "I'm glad I still have all of you."


Emma was unable to not stare at the dinner plate the server had set in front of her, trying to fully process what she was seeing.

"What is that?" she intoned, lightly touching the roasted bird lying in the middle of the plate. "Did they cook a baby turkey?"

"It's a Cornish game hen," Killian explained, managing to expertly tear off a chunk of the meat with his fork. "Not a common food offering, but perhaps the cooks were aiming for a touch of nostalgia. Especially since mutton and pheasant are in short supply in this small town." Briefly, Killian took the time to taste it, chewing slowly. "Hmm. Could have been a bit more liberal with the basil, but they did a fine job overall."

"You're talking like you're some sort of expert," Emma smirked.

"I've crashed my share of balls," Killian commented with an offhanded shrug. "Best way to infiltrate castles in order to gain access to their treasure holds."

"And I'm sure the chance to seduce a hapless maiden was a perk," Emma quipped. Killian visibly stiffened upon hearing that, and for a moment, Emma worried that she had gone too far with that one. But she relaxed when she saw Killian turn to direct a seductive glance at her, reassured that he wasn't angry at her comment.

"Aye, it's true I know my way around a woman," he teased. "But do you really want to compare notches in our bedposts? Is that a common subject of date conversation in this world?"

"I suppose not," Emma relented.

"Although," Killian continued, "if you're interested in hearing about some of my past exploits, there was the time when Robert Mullins accidentally married Siamese twins."

"How do you accidentally marry someone?" Emma exclaimed, nearly bursting out laughing.

"Well, it's an interesting….." Killian suddenly stopped talking without warning, paling slightly. Before Emma could ask what was wrong, she heard someone speaking behind her.

"Excuse me, but is it okay if I sit here? I need to rest for a moment." Looking over her shoulder, Emma saw Aurora standing there, looking a bit winded as she cradled her obvious baby bump.

"Oh, of course," Emma said, gesturing to the empty seat next to her. "I know the third trimester is not very pleasant."

"Thank you," Aurora sighed, nearly collapsing into the offered chair. "This ball is wonderful, but it's also exhausting."

Emma nodded in response, but her understanding smile faded a bit when she noticed Killian was looking downward, as if he was embarrassed about something. Before she could think of a covert way to ask him what was wrong, he glanced up at Aurora, a distinctive pinkish tint coloring his cheeks and ears.

"Good evening, your highness," he stated formally. "Have you been well?"

"I have," Aurora responded with equal formalness. "And I trust you'll be pleased to know my heart is back where it belongs now."

Immediately, Emma froze in stunned surprise, feeling a fresh wave of awkwardness. Why hadn't she realized it sooner? This was quite possibly the first time Aurora and Killian had been in close proximity to each other since that time back in the Enchanted Forest. When Killian was still just Captain Hook and had literally stolen Aurora's heart as part of a ploy to get himself and Cora into Storybrooke. Because of that revelation, she couldn't deny she wasn't the least bit surprised when Killian decided to step away from the table while making the excuse of needing to make a quick visit to the restroom.

"Aurora," Emma began after Killian had disappeared into the crowd. "I know it might be hard to believe. But believe me, he's not the same…."

"I already know," Aurora declared. "I won't deny I had a hard time believing it when your mother first told me that he was on our side now. And yes, I suppose it will be a while before I feel completely comfortable being around him. But from what I've seen and heard since Phillip and I found ourselves here in this strange town, he really does seem to be sincere. And I suppose, if you trust him, that's probably good enough for me. Considering how he wasn't able to fool you when our paths first crossed with his, I doubt he'd be able to fool you into falsely believing he could be trusted now.

"Besides," Aurora continued. "I suppose I should at least try to get used to his presence, considering he's to be your betrothed."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Emma sputtered. "My what? Nobody said anything about marriage!"

"But I thought he was given a seat on your family's Royal Council," Aurora pointed out. "And now you're attending what is, for all intents and purposes, a Royal Ball with him as your escort. Back in the Enchanted Forest, if the crown princess attended a Royal Ball with a member of her family's Royal Council as her escort, it was meant as a betrothal announcement."

"Are you saying…? Is that what everyone else here thinks, too?" Emma gaped, suddenly feeling anxious. "Why didn't….. Why did nobody say anything?!"

"Emma, are you….?"

Aurora didn't get a chance to finish her question. Without another word, Emma all but leapt up from the table and began to hurry out of the room.

As she reached the hallway that connected the main room of the convention center to the entrance, she nearly ran headlong into Killian.

"Emma, what is it?" Killian asked, immediately noticing her tangible distress.

"Why did nobody tell me?" Emma exclaimed. "I thought us coming here together was just going to be a date, not a marriage announcement."

"What?!" Killian cried, eyes widening. "Calm down, Swan. I'm not proposing."

"But that's what all of this means, isn't it?" Emma challenged. "Back in the Enchanted Forest, that was the protocol, right? Considering you're now on my parents' Royal Council?"

Killian sighed heavily, figuring out what had upset her so much.

"Nobody here expects you to follow that old tradition," he soothed. "They all know you weren't raised to understand those old protocols, so nobody is going to hold you to them."

"I…I just can't do this right now," Emma insisted shaking her head as she tried to maneuver around him. "I have to go."

"Emma, wait," Killian beseeched, reaching out to grasp her wrist.

"Hook, just let me go," Emma begged. Right away, Killian did as he was asked, though Emma wasn't sure if it was because she resorted to his old moniker or not. And she didn't take the opportunity to look back in order to gauge his expression for any clues on the matter. Instead, she nearly dashed out the doors and headed out into the night. If she had looked back, she would have seen Killian standing stock still in the middle of the hall, his hand still partially extended towards her, simply looking out in the direction she'd walked off in.


Emma wasn't sure how long she'd been walking, but she was starting to regret not bringing a coat. To try and keep warm, she began rubbing her hands over her arms in an effort to generate some heat. So when she found herself outside the Rabbit Hole, she didn't think twice about ducking inside. Besides, it would allow her to kill two birds with one stone. She really could go for a drink about now.

Upon entering the old bar, she quickly saw that there were a good number of patrons that night. It seemed that she wasn't the only one in town who wasn't at the Valentine's Day ball. Still, there was plenty room up at the bar, so she made her way over.

"Why if it isn't Sheriff Swan," the bartender announced upon seeing her. "Well, that's quite a fancy getup for a pub crawl."

"It's… kinda a long story," Emma muttered, feeling slightly self-conscious about her appearance. Especially in comparison to everyone else.

"I can imagine," the bartender chuckled. "So, what can I get you tonight?"

Before Emma could verbalize a drink request, a commotion erupted across the room, causing her to look over to see what was going on. From the looks of it, two men were getting dangerously close to throwing hands, but what really got her on guard was the fact that she recognized one of the men as a clearly intoxicated Jefferson. Immediately, she turned away from the bar and started hurrying over.

"Get out of my face, Scarlett!" Jefferson was shouting, shoving the other man back. Before this 'Scarlett' had a chance to react, Emma placed herself between them in an attempt to break up the fight.

"Jefferson, stop!" she instructed. "What are you doing? Are you asking to spend the night in the drunk tank?"

"That won't be necessary, Sheriff," a sheepish looking Dr. Whale announced, suddenly appearing at her side. "I'll take responsibility for him."

"Will you?" Emma asked, eyeing him questionably.

"Yes," Dr. Whale confirmed. "After all, it's really my fault he's in this state."

As he spoke, Dr. Whale began to physically usher Jefferson out of the bar. Out of concern for her friend's well-being than anything else, Emma followed after them, which allowed Dr. Whale to continue his explanation.

"Jefferson has been crashing with me since this whole mess with King Arthur began," he stated. "You know his place is out on the outskirts of town, so it's not the safest place to be at the moment. Since Jefferson and I go back a bit, I thought it was best that I invited him to stay with me. But tonight, he was feeling a bit down. I thought a trip to the bar might help lift his spirits a bit. Guess I was wrong, though. It only made him feel worse."

"Yeah, I can see that," Emma sighed, casting a sympathetic glance at Jefferson, who was staring morosely at his feet. "Just make sure he gets back to your place alright. And help him sleep it off."

"You won't hear any arguments from me," Dr. Whale stated. "Could you just… wait here with him for a bit while I bring the car around?"

"Yeah, I can do that," Emma agreed, leading Jefferson to sit down on the curb.

Once Dr. Whale left, Emma took the chance to look Jefferson over.

"Jefferson?" she began soothingly. "You think you're going to be okay now?"

For a few moments, Jefferson didn't respond, leaving Emma to wonder if he'd even heard her. But then he started to move, reaching into his coat pocket. As Emma watched, he extracted a flat box that looked as if it came from a jewelers. Wordlessly, he handed it over to Emma, who opened it in curiosity. Inside, there was a silver charm bracelet, with four tiny charms already affixed to the chain. Upon studying them, Emma saw the charms were of a book, a single rose, a teacup and a small silver heart with the letter 'B' engraved into it.

"I was going to give that to her tonight," Jefferson muttered, shaking his head. "I was going to prepare a special dinner for us. Beef bourguignon. And then, after dinner, I was going to give her that. And tell her that…that I….."

Jefferson didn't complete his statement. Instead he buried his face in his hands, barely stiffing a heartbreaking sob.

"I'm sorry," Emma soothed, not sure what else she could say.

"I shouldn't have waited," Jefferson decided. "I should have told her weeks ago."

"Do you think it would have made a difference?" Emma asked. "If you told Belle how your felt, do you think she wouldn't have left with Gold?"

"No, I don't think it would have changed what happened," Jefferson replied. "But it still would have been better if I hadn't waited."

"Wait," Emma shook her head in confusion. "Are you telling me that…even if you knew that Belle would end up going back to Gold in the end, you still would have told her that you…?"

"Yes," Jefferson insisted, wiping the tears from his eyes. "I would still have told her. Because that's what hurts the worse, Emma. The wasted opportunities."

Emma stared at him, completely mystified and at a loss for words. So she didn't notice Dr. Whale had returned with the car until he appeared in front of him.

"Come on, Jeff," Dr. Whale urged, crouching down to help Jefferson back to his feet. "Let's get you to bed so you can sleep this off, okay?"

Jefferson rose to his feet without a fuss and began to allow Dr. Whale to lead him to the waiting car. But as they walked past Emma, Jefferson reached out to briefly grasp her wrist, casting a pleading glance at her.

"Emma, take my advice," he said. "What you've got going on with Hook? Don't take any moment of it for granted. You might have all the time in the world, or it could all end tomorrow. So don't waste your time thinking about what the future has in store for you. Because if something does happen and you left something important unsaid, then that regret will stay with you, and never go away." Without another word, Jefferson turned and ducked into Dr. Whale's car, which drove off moments later, leaving Emma standing alone to contemplate what he'd told her.


Regina carefully balanced the platter of food in her hands as she made her way up to the roof where Robin and Little John were standing watch against any of Arthur's knights.

"How's everything looking?" she asked as she approached the two men.

"So far, nothing seems to be amiss," Little John announced. "Perhaps Arthur won't try anything tonight, after all."

"Well, it's probably best to err on the side of caution, I suppose," Regina decided. "Anyway, I brought you something to eat, in case you were hungry."

"How thoughtful," Robin commented. However, Regina immediately noticed his tone seemed rather short. And he didn't even bother sparing her a glance. Confused, she cast a questioning glance over at Little John, but he seemed just as perplexed as she was.

"Robin? Is something wrong?" Regina asked.

Robin didn't respond right away. Instead, he directed a pointed look at Little John, who seemed to get the message and stepped away, leaving the pair alone. But even after Little John had made himself scarce, Robin continued to look out at the surrounding town, seemingly ignoring Regina.

"Robin?" she promoted, cautiously reaching out to place a hand on his back. But before she even made contact, Robin finally spoke.

"When were you going to tell me?" he asked emotionlessly.

"Tell you…about what?" Regina blinked, racking her brains for ideas on what he was talking about.

"I had a rather…enlightening conversation with Tinkerbell a few hours ago," Robin began. "About how the two of you met. And a certain…favor she did for you. A favor involving helping you find somebody in particular."

With those words, Robin pulled back his sleeve, revealing the tattoo on his arm. Slowly, he turned to finally look at Regina, who was looking back at him with wide eyes.

"Yeah, that's right," Robin retorted. "You've known about my tattoo for a while now, haven't you? Guess I know now why you reacted the way you did when you first saw it all those months ago. You knew since then that I was apparently your long-lost soulmate. The one Tinkerbell tried to introduce you to years ago."

"That stupid fairy," Regina huffed. "Looks like she can't keep a secret, either."

"No, don't you dare blame her," Robin demanded. "The only reason she let it slip is because she thought I already knew. But I didn't. Because you didn't bother to tell me about it yourself."

"In case you'd forgotten," Regina argued, "we were a little busy at the time, trying to figure out how to stop my sister."

"That's a weak excuse, considering we dealt with Zelena months back," Robin pointed out. "What exactly was keeping you from telling me about this afterwards? Don't you think I had a right to know I was your supposed soulmate, as decreed by pixie dust?"

"And how was I supposed to bring that up?" Regina snapped, suddenly feeling defensive. "Especially after you found out I was responsible for Marian….."

Regina's words died in her throat when she saw the look of fury appearing on Robin's face.

"Yes, I remember all too well that you were responsible for that," he growled. "But…. I think I was slowly starting to forgive you for that. Because you seemed like you were actually sorry. And were trying to repent from the person you were. But…now? After finding out that you knew all this time that I was supposed to be your soulmate? How can I be sure of that anymore? Would you have even bothered to apologize for Marian if I wasn't the Man with the Lion Tattoo?"

Regina started to open her mouth, but immediately realized that she didn't know how to respond to that question. Because she honestly didn't know the answer. However, her silence seemed to confirm Robin's suspicions, for he once again turned away from her.

"I think you should go, Regina," he stated, sighing heavily. "I'd like to be alone right now." Regina didn't verbally respond, but when he saw the pillar of purple smoke appearing in the corner of his eye, Robin knew that she complied with his request.


Killian slowly shuffled up the gangplank to the Jolly Roger, draining his flask as he went. To think that the evening started so perfect, only to all come crashing down in the blink of an eye. At the moment, all he wanted to do was just collapse in bed and drown his sorrows with rum. So deep was his misery, he barely even noticed the few drops of moisture hitting his skin, a sign that it was starting to rain.

Once his feet hit the deck, he promptly made his way towards the ladder that led down to the Captain's Quarters. But upon reaching the final rung, he froze in place, nearly having to shake his head to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. Sure enough, Emma was there, sitting on the tabletop while carefully turning a glass paperweight over in her hands. She had been looking down when he'd first noticed her, but she soon glanced up at him.

For the longest time, the two simply stared at one another wordlessly, neither of them quite sure what to say, or who was going to break the silence. Finally, Killian cleared his throat and broke eye contact.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Swan?" he asked rather formally, heading over to the nearby chest where he stored his clothes.

"I'm sorry," Emma announced, cutting right to the chase. Upon hearing those words, Killian paused in mid-stride, but he did not turn back, so Emma pushed herself to keep talking. "I'm sorry for running out like that. I guess I just…."

"Panicked?" Killian promoted.

"Yeah, I panicked," Emma confirmed. "I guess, after hearing what Aurora said, it just came across as too much. I think I always find it weird, hearing about what the protocol was back in the Enchanted Forest. Especially knowing that, if my parents hadn't had to send me through that wardrobe, I would be expected to follow that protocol. And sometimes, I guess I wonder if they still want me to uphold it. So when Aurora started talking about how it would have been the….expectation that you and I were planning to….get married, just because you're now part of my parents' Royal Council, and we were attending what was meant to be a ball?

"Emma," Killian sighed. "Everyone in town knows you didn't grow up in the Enchanted Forest. So they can hardly expect you to know and follow the old customs. If they did, your parents would have explained them to you ahead of time."

"I know that now," Emma said with a sheepish grin. "I…I called them a little while ago. To explain why I left. So…I just want to tell you again, Killian. I'm sorry for running off like that. And ruining our date."

"Believe me, Swan, I understand," Killian stated. "You're not the only one who finds things to be a bit…daunting. When my brother passed, I swore I would never again serve another king as long as I lived. Now here I am, being given a chair amongst the Royal Council. I appreciate how it's a lot to take in.

"Still," he continued. "I appreciate that you came to apologize. And…." Killian's statement cut off when he started to turn back to face Emma and found that she had vacated her perch atop his table. She was now standing right in front of him, but with her head tilted downward so he couldn't gauge her expression. Her unexpected nearness was enough to make the words die in his throat.

"There's….something else I need to say," Emma announced. "After I left the ball, I…ran into Jefferson. There was something he said to me. And I wanted to make sure I didn't leave you with the wrong impression. When I ran out like that, it wasn't because….I don't want to be with you. I'm just not ready to think about getting married to anyone."

"Aye, I know," Killian confirmed with an understanding nod. "I give you my word, Swan, that I would never broach the subject unless I knew you were ready."

"I know you wouldn't," Emma sighed. "But… what I'm trying to say is… I'm going to try to stop worrying about what may or may not lie ahead of us. I'm going to try to start living in the here and now. And not let whatever fears I might still have stop me from living."

"I'm glad to hear it," Killian declared with a supportive smile. Although, his smile shifted a bit when Emma finally looked up at him, allowing him to see the resolved look in her eyes.

Without hesitation, Emma lifted herself on her tiptoes, initiating a soft kiss that Killian responded to with only a minimal pause. But after a moment or two, Emma's arms drifted up to wrap around his neck, pulling him even closer while her kisses became even more urgent and forceful. All at once, Killian pulled back with a soft gasp, realizing exactly what her intentions were.

"Emma," Killian whispered, his eyes darting across her face in search for any sign of hesitation or reluctance. "Are you absolutely certain?" In response, Emma simply gave him a gentle smile, lightly running her fingertips over the hairs at the nape of his neck.

"Yes, I'm completely sure," she confirmed, resuming their kiss in the next moment, paying no mind to how the rain outside the window was beginning to come down hard.


Belle woke up with a start, sitting up in the large bed, her eyes darting around the room. It was still dark outside, so it took her a while for her eyes to adjust. She was so high-strung, it took her a moment to realize tiny pinprick tears were clinging to the corners of her eyes. Letting out a choking sob, she wiped them away.

Another nightmare. She'd just had another nightmare. When were they going to end? She'd tried everything, from being careful of what she ate before bed to meditation. Yet, the nightmares still kept coming nearly every night. And they seemed to be getting even worse.

Fighting a shiver, she spared a glance at the other side of the bed, which was conspicuously empty. It was with a wave of moroseness that she realized that she wasn't the slightest bit surprised. It was incredibly rare that Mr. Gold would lie there through the night. Knowing him, he would be down in the basement now, working away at his old spinning wheel. And yet, even though she couldn't deny that she was used to this, the sight of the empty bed made her feel lonely.

It was with a weary sigh that Belle laid back in bed, hugging a spare pillow tightly against her body. Closing her eyes, she focused on ignoring how cold the other side of the bed was, pretending that the pillow was a warm body. Pretending that the blankets draped over her were a pair of strong, comforting arms holding her. The way….his arms did.

The moment her thoughts turned to him, Belle was unable to hold back a fresh wave of tears. She'd promised herself that she wouldn't think about him anymore. After all, she'd made her choice, and there was no going back from it. So what was the point of dwelling on it? All it did was make her miserable, and recall that last glimpse of him, kneeling on the ground and looking back up at her with those pained, agonized eyes.

What must he think of her now? Did he resent her for going back to Rumpelstiltskin the way she did? She knew she wouldn't blame him if he did. After all, her actions that day had effectively confirmed what he'd suspected; that she'd simply go back to Rumpelstiltskin, as if the months they'd spent together hadn't mattered to her. At the same time, Belle almost wished that were the case. She wished she could simply forget the time she'd spent with him. It would make everything so much easier. Make it easier for her to come to terms with being back with Rumple. Her True Love. That's what he was, after all. She should be happy that she was reunited with him. So why wasn't she?

Squeezing her eyes shut, Belle allowed the misery to overtake her, muffling her sobs with the pillow she was clinging to. For once, she was almost grateful that Mr. Gold wasn't in the room. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her tears.


"Are you cold?"

The whispered question prompted Emma to open her eyes, allowing her to see Killian looking back at her with what had to be the most tender smile she'd ever seen on his face.

"I'm alright," she replied, feeling the need to shake her head at the inquiry. As if she'd feel cold right now, what with Killian's body practically enveloping hers while emanating a comfortable warmth. Still, she couldn't deny that she wasn't appreciative of his concern. After all, the sound of the rain pelting against the window pane indicated that it wasn't very nice outside. And he undoubtedly knew more than most how drafty the Jolly Roger could get when it was pouring.

Letting out a long, contented sigh, Emma stretched out on the bed, feeling the muscles in her legs flexing as she moved. It was surprising how she didn't feel overcrowded lying in his bed like this. Given how small it looked at a glance, it seemed impossible for two people to share it without someone falling over the side. But while it was true there wasn't much legroom, she never once felt like her body was cramped. Somehow, it just worked.

She was drawn out of her thoughts when she felt Killian gently take a lock of her hair, which had previously been taken down from the braided bun she'd had it in during the ball. Silently, he ran his fingers over it, almost reverently.

"Your hair looks nice like this," he complemented after a while. "Like golden waves."

Unbidden, Emma felt the corners of her mouth turn up into a small smile. It was normally her first instinct to roll her eyes at such a line. But it was different hearing it come from Killian. Because from him, it sounded truly genuine and sincere. So she didn't have to think twice about reaching up to cup her hand around Killian's stubbled cheek and guide him towards her until he was close enough for her to initiate a kiss, one he immediately reciprocated. After a few moments, they broke the kiss but remained enveloped within each other's arms. With a jolt, Emma realized that she could easily get used to this.

"What is it?" Killian asked, suddenly noticing the look on Emma's face as she continued to look up at him. Emma didn't reply right away, taking the time to curl her hand around Killian's left wrist, bringing the heavily scarred stump up to her lips, smiling slightly upon feeling Killian shiver at the gesture.

"I was just thinking," Emma stated, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Perhaps…we can leave the hook on next time."

"Next time?" Killian repeated. "Are you saying….?"

"No," Emma replied, shaking her head. "I think we can say this will not be a one-time thing." Almost instantly, the pair broke out laughing.

"Seriously, Killian," Emma said once the laughter had subsided. "Thank you. This… really has been the best Valentine's Day I've had."

"I am to please, Emma," Killian vowed, placing a tender kiss to Emma's forehead.

At that moment, Emma let out a sudden yawn, which she barely was able to stifle.

"Sleep, Swan," Killian instructed, nestling down next to her. Emma responded by letting out a soft hum of agreement, allowing Killian to cradle her close to him. Even though she still felt that old fight-or-flight instinct kicking in, reminding her that she absolutely wasn't a cuddler, and never stayed through the night with a man, she found that she didn't care this time. Not in the slightest. At this exact moment, there was nowhere else she'd rather be.

As she drifted off to sleep, Emma distantly was aware of Killian whispering words into her ear.

"Cor meum tuum est sempiternum," he muttered softly.

"Hmmmm?" Emma hummed sleepily. However, if Killian was going to repeat his statement, or even translate his words, he never got the chance. Emma was out like a light within seconds.


AN:

Latin translation:

Cor meum tuum est sempiternum - My heart is yours forever