Emma was worried. Although she did not like to admit it, Emma Swan, Princess of Atlantia, Heir to the Seven Seas, was worried. And scared. It had been weeks since she last saw Killian, but no one had seen him since. She had asked around, and some of the guards had asked the humans on the shore. One of them had seen Killian, and he recalled him buying supplies for an inland journey. That was all Emma had to go on. Although they had not spoken about meeting soon, she assumed that it was implied in the time they had spent together when she had ran away. Her old fears of abandonment were creeping in again, and Emma did not like it. For every second she spent away from Killian she had to admit that she missed him. And missing someone meant you cared for them. And Emma realised – though she refused to admit it – that she didn't just care for Killian. His ship had been found, but Killian had not been on it. The crew hadn't seen him since their mutiny, and although they seemed to regret their actions, their new captain named Blackbeard was very quick to drive the merman interrogating them away. Emma tried to concentrate on learning her Royal Duties – something she had decided to pick up herself on her own schedule – but it was difficult, to say the least. Luckily, her parents took time out of most of their days to do something with her, and she slowly but surely started to get used to having parents. After her magic outburst, they had also hired a very kind merwitch to teach her to control this newfound power. However, most of her magic seemed to have disappeared, as if it had only been there for those couple of hours with Killian and then vanished.

"Is something wrong, Emma?" A voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts. Her mother stood in front of her, looking worried. "You were frowning."

"Oh," Emma replied. "It's nothing, I was just- lost in thought, I guess. Why are you here?" The Queen almost never came to the seating area of the library, since she preferred to read outside.

"I wanted to fetch you. There is a guest for you, waiting in the throne room!"

/ / /

Lying in bed, Killian still could barely believe what had happened that day. Only this morning he had awoken from his make-shift shelter on the forest floor and prepared himself to go to the most dangerous place he knew, aside from Neverland. Now, he was lying in one of the guest bedrooms in the house of his biggest enemy as a welcomed guest. He had met up with someone he never thought he would see again and the Dark One turned out to be married. He groaned as he turned around in his bed, and he cursed the day he fell off his ship and got rescued by Emma. Suddenly, he heard a voice in his room.

"Now dearie, speak the truth. Are you here to kill me?" Killian jumped out of bed and looked right in the face of the man he so despised.

"No, Crocodile. For once, that was not my goal," he simply replied. The Dark One looked at him curiously.

"You're speaking the truth. How quaint."

"Now that Belle is asleep, are you going to kill me?"

"Even though it may surprise you to hear it, no. Actually, I am going to give that magical wristband and wave you out tomorrow. I might even be so kind as to teleport you to the Enchanted Forest's main seaport."

"I know you, Crocodile. You only give things if you get something in return. What is it you want? My ship? A magic bean? My first-born child?"

Rumpelstiltskin giggled. "Nothing of the sort, dearie. Unless you have a firstborn child you want to get rid of?"

Killian shot him an angry stare.

"What I want is quite simple. I want you to never return here again. As long as Belle lives, I want you to let go of your vengeance and let me and my wife live in peace. That is my deal."

Killian raised his eyebrows. "What's the catch?"

"There is none. Don't ever come near me or my wife again, and the wristband and your freedom are yours."

"Belle said she wanted to see me more often."

"She will get over it."

Killian huffed. "Fine. You will give me the wristband and I will leave tomorrow, never to return. But I am not responsible for Belle's actions."

And so he did. After a drawn-out goodbye and some tears on Belle's side, Rumpelstiltskin kept his promise and teleported him to the busy streets of the Enchanted Forest's main harbour. Of course, Killian landed in a pile of rotten fish, on purpose no doubt. After quietly cursing, he climbed out of the pile and started walking, not even bothering to wipe himself off. It would wash out in the sea anyway. It didn't take him long to reach the cove where he met Ariel. He figured that having a tail would take some getting used to, and he was not planning on doing that in view of the entire harbour.

/ / /

Emma followed her mother, surprised. Queen Snow seemed extraordinarily excited, and it was nothing for her to keep a secret. The previous two visits they had had were well-prepared, and she had been briefed extensively on who the guests were, why they were visiting and how to behave. This impromptu visit was very strange. She wondered who it could be. Maybe Ruby had returned from her trip. No, that would not count as a visitor. Who else could it be? Had someone shown up and claimed to be her best friend from before? Was it an ex? A sudden horror overtook her. What if it was Neal, claiming to be her boyfriend?

"Who is it, mom?" she asked again, but to no avail.

"You will see!" was the only answer she got. They turned and after greeting the stationed guards Snow White opened the small door that led to the back of the throne room. Emma followed her, still wondering who their guest might be.

/ / /

Turned out his hunch had been correct. Swimming was not that difficult, but steering was. Without Ariel's help - given through wheezing laughs as Killian swam smack-dab into the seafloor on multiple occasions - he was sure he would still be practising a month from now. Having only one rather than two lower limbs was surprisingly difficult, and breathing underwater was strange, to say the least. And, without her help, he would never have been able to reach the castle. But the struggles had been worth it, Killian considered, as he saw the blonde mermaid appear behind one of the thrones in front of him. She looked around, confused, and ready to ask her mother next to her something when her eye fell on him. He had never once in his life saw a princess, or anyone for that matter, look this surprised in his entire life. He had to admit, the change was quite drastic. Instead of a human pair of legs, he now sported a long, black, shining tail with waving thin fins, and instead of his usual captain's coat, he was now only wearing a white, see-through shirt. He was struggling to float whilst staying upwards, and he spread his arms a little to regain his balance. Suddenly, a force hit him and he was toppled upside down. But after he felt familiar lips touch his mouth, he knew he really did not mind.

/ / /

Emma looked in total shock at the man – merman – in front of her. It was Killian, but it wasn't. It was Killian with a tail. And he looked incredibly handsome. "But- How?" she whispered, and her mother, still next to her, answered.

"He has a magical wristband, one of only two that exist! A very talented merwitch made them, a long time ago. It grants the wearer the ability to switch between a tail and legs." Emma nodded, but the words didn't fully register in her mind. Then, Killian opened his arms to gain balance and Emma sped towards him, into his arms, pressing her lips on his. He was here, with her, as a merman. He was safe. He came back to her.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," he answered.

/ / /

Years and years later, many tales were told about the remarkable King and Queen of Atlantia. The Queen, everyone knew, was kidnapped as a child and not found until years later. The King, it was rumoured, used to be a human, a Pirate Captain, the most fearsome of the Seven Seas and beyond, until he met the princess and returned her to her parents. Their rule was long, kind and fruitful, and was known for the many good relationships built between man and merkind. And, rumour has it, when it storms on your birthday, you might just meet your own true love.