Blueeyeddevil06, thank you for being my beta and catching my grammar errors. There is always a lot.

I send my beta crazy texts out of the blue, and without missing a beat, she replies. One day I texted, "What if Regina adopts Billy?" another one was, "Guess what's Sophie's last name?!" She also keeps me on track. I've called her with crazy ideas for the story, and she will let me know when I'm going down a rabbit trail. My story is so much better because of her.

Thank you to my readers. I'm humbled by the number of you there are. It's exciting to see that so many are reading my story.

To all of you who are reviewing, hopefully, you know how much it means to me. I try to let you know in my replies to you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. They are all so encouraging.

SEQUAL: There will be one. I've planned on having one since around the time I wrote chapter ten. Any loose ends or odd things that didn't quite fit this story were put in to set it up. I hope that you will enjoy it.

Billy had been washed and scrubbed and put in the nicest clothes he'd ever had in his life. Regina… mom had taken one look at him and smiled. She declared that he looked older dressed like that, and he instantly liked his new clothes.

Henry and dad joined them, and they both commented on how he looked like a grown man. He was delighted, especially when he noticed Henry was dressed like him. He had quickly realized he loved having an older brother.

His new family was something that didn't take any time for him to adjust to. What would take time for him was that he was told he'd be sitting at the same table as the Queen and King. He was nervous that they wouldn't like him.

"What's bothering you?" Henry asked.

"What if Queen Snow and King David don't like me?" He asked as he pulled at his shirt cuff.

Henry's response was to laugh. "Sorry, but that's not possible. You saved Emma. You're already a hero. When mom told them she was adopting you, Snow cried tears of joy."

"Oh." He wasn't sure how to phrase his next question. "Um, what if I forget my manners?"

"You can always watch the people around you and see what they're doing. But, no one will say anything to you if you make a mistake. I don't know if you noticed, but no one likes to upset mom." He winked at Billy.

"Will the other kids like me?" He was worried that they would pick on him for not knowing everything they did.

Henry shook his head. "You're the only kid invited. I'm the second youngest that will be at the dinner. Queen Snow and King David included you because of your bravery. They said that anyone who can be as resourceful and as brave as you deserves to be included with the adults."

Billy blushed. "They like me that much?"

"Yes. Now, let's go to dinner. When you see how boring they could be, you may not appreciate being invited." Henry joked. Then he added, "Although at the last one, Killian punched someone and made a mess, so this might be fun after all."

Dinner was a shock to Billy. Henry had warned him that it could be boring, but that wasn't the case for him. The colors, the decorations, and the food astounded him. It was incredible. He even remembered most of his manners.

Yet, all that didn't hold a candle to Queen Snow's announcement. It sent his mind reeling, and he couldn't stop smiling.

Snow stood after dinner and said, "I'd like to make two announcements." She looked at Regina and smiled at her. "I hope you don't mind me making one for you."

"This is your time," Regina replied. "We can make mine later."

Snow just shook her head. "Both are a joy to me." She then turned to everyone looking at her. King David was now standing with her. "My first announcement is that David and I are expecting a child. And, you will have a new prince or princess to welcome in six months." She smiled as everyone applauded. She teared up, wiped at them, and continued, "And I'm excited to announce to those of you that may not have heard, I have a new step-brother, Billy." She paused for applause again. "He is the very same Billy that rescued Emma from being turned over to The Dark One. Regina, Robin, and Henry have fallen in love with him and made them part of their family."

Billy tried not to make a scene. He snapped his mouth closed but didn't realize his eyes were huge. In being adopted by Regina and Robin, it never once occurred to him that Queen Snow would consider him her step-brother.

He looked at Henry and whispered. "What just happened?"

"Did you not realize that you're now Emma's uncle?" Henry tried not to laugh. He knew what he was doing. It was apparent that Billy was shocked that he was now related to royalty. He liked being a big brother and being able to give Billy a hard time.

"I think I need to sit down," Billy whispered back.

"You are sitting down."

"Oh…" He paused and said. "This is so cool."

"True. It also means you're related to The Dark One. Mom's half-sister is married to his son."

Billy looked him in the eyes and said, "I won't be pointing out that family connection to people."

Henry burst out laughing. He really liked Billy.

Emma sat in her father's study the next morning. She was sitting on the couch and watching him finish up signing some documents.

"Done." He announced. He got up and joined her on the couch. "I noticed your swan necklace. It's lovely."

"Killian picked it out for me in Agrabah. He saw the swan note I sent to you, then noticed this necklace in a shop."

"He calls you Swan now too."

"Yes, it was originally to hide my identity. If the crew slipped and mentioned Swan, it would be much different than mentioning Emma. Once we were married, Swan Jones kept my identity a complete secret."

"I wish I had been at your wedding."

Emma tried to hide her blush. She married Killian naked in bed. She really didn't want her father present for that. "We can have a party to celebrate." She sighed. "I did want you to walk me down the aisle, but I don't hate that I missed all of the planning for a big ceremony."

"I try to remember that I know plenty of fathers who walked their daughters down the aisle, and they hate their sons-in-law. Of the two, I'd rather have you elope with Killian."

"He was so worried that you wouldn't like him."

David sighed, "I wanted to hate him. He took my baby girl from me."

"He couldn't. When he first fell in love with me, he considered kidnapping me and running away with me. He didn't think you and mom would accept him."

"I'm sure the crew wouldn't have been pleased to be on the run from us."

"Actually, it was their idea. They all accepted me quickly, and they were pirates used to taking what they wanted." She smiled. "He had a hard time with the idea because he respected you and mom so much. In the end, he decided that he would come home with me."

"You should know that I like him. I hate that I like him, but I do."

"I knew you would, daddy. He's a wonderful husband. I knew you couldn't hate someone so good to me."

"He doesn't deserve you, but he knows that too." He sighed. "You're right, though. He didn't take you from me. It's just hard not to be the man you love the most."

"I have enough love in my heart that you'll realize that my love for you hasn't diminished. I just have more love in my life."

He hugged her. "I love you, baby girl."

"I love you too, daddy."

Killian looked at Tinkerbell, "Why are you following me?"

"Because I want to see your ship again!" She said, flying along next to him fairy-sized.

"And why are you so small right now?"

"So you can't intentionally lose me in the crowd!" She replied, smiling at him. "I know you don't want me here."

"And you're coming anyway because…?"

"I feel like it." She gave him a smug look that didn't register because he wouldn't look at her. "Why are you so cranky?"

"I don't like leaving Emma's side when The Dark One is still out there." He growled.

"Ha! You just don't like leaving her side. The Dark One is just an excuse you use to keep her near you. You're clingy." She laughed when his only response was to grumble.

"Ah! There's the HMS Cygnet." She announced. "I love the name. It's so romantic." She sighed happily.

Killian was trying to think about everything he wanted to talk to his crew about, and she was a distraction. The worst part of it was that she was right. He was clingy with Emma. He wondered if she minded.

He then turned his focus back to his ship. He walked onboard, and his crew snapped to attention perfectly. He was dressed in his Captain's uniform, and he saw they were all wearing their Misthaven Naval uniforms and were in perfect order. "At ease, sailors." He nodded when they all scrambled to go back to their duties.

Old Tom walked up to him. "Welcome aboard, Captain."

"Lieutenant, she's in perfect order, it seems. Good job. Are you about to send them on leave for a few weeks?"

"Aye, Captain. They're looking forward to some time off. I've paid them the remainder of their earnings from being pirates. They're looking forward to more of the same heroes' welcome they've received so far." He lowered his voice. "Mac's been chatting with the blacksmith's daughter, and when her father caught them talking, he shook Mac's hand. They're not used to being welcomed suitors."

"Let me guess, she's beautiful, has black hair and green eyes."

"You've seen her?"

"No, but you have to admit he has a type."

"Yes, but this one isn't batshit crazy. She's actually charming."

Killian chuckled, "Remember when that one lass stabbed him? She claimed she was just trying to get his attention."

"To be fair, she did get his attention." Old Tom burst out laughing. He then changed the subject. "How's Billy? We miss him, but we're all happy he has a family."

"After last night's dinner, he's in shock. When Queen Snow called him her new step-brother, he almost fainted. You should have seen his face." Killian smiled. "Emma and I are both so happy for him. He fits right in that family."

"I'm glad to hear it. It couldn't happen to a better kid."

They spent the rest of the morning going over everything that would need to be finalized before the crew went on shore leave.

When it was time to go, Tinkerbell joined Killian. "And what were you doing?" He asked.

"Meeting the crew. I talked to every single one of them."

"I assume you had a reason for that."

She nodded and walked next to him back to the palace. "You aren't the only one who worries about her. I wanted to meet the men who helped take such good care of her." She looked up at him. "I wanted to thank them for being everything I hoped they would be when I told King David and Queen Snow that you were the only one who could rescue Emma."

"Thank you. I don't know if I can ever express how glad I am that I was captured that day."

"You married Emma. Trust me. We all know how grateful you are."