~Trouble, Revealed~

Killian knew he should be listening to the queen of this land, but he couldn't help from glancing toward the door the staff used, wondering about Swan. He wondered if he'd scared her off. Perhaps his request to the Queen had gotten back to her, or the sword play scared her off. He smiled at the memory. She'd made him feel like a child again, not an easy feat having lived over three centuries. He shook the pleasantries from his mind, settling his thoughts. Perhaps true for another woman, but this one didn't seem skittish in the slightest. His hook was proof of that. She barely acknowledged it, but she hadn't ignored it either. A curious woman.

He started to wonder if everything was alright in her family, Regina did say her mother was looking for her. He started to worry about her family, silently wishing them all well. Surely everyone was fine. It was more likely that dinner was different, either she worked elsewhere in the castle, or perhaps she had the night off. He would worry if he didn't see her tomorrow, either.

He turned back into the conversation for a moment. "... then my daughter…" he rightfully didn't give a damn about a princess, nodding absentmindedly. He noticed Regina stifling a laugh out of the corner of his eyes, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He had only agreed to attend the ball to have an excuse to stay, and see Swan. Her interest in him seemed to waver, from that request one minute to playing like children the next. He knew she enjoyed it as much as he had. Her eyes had betrayed her in that.

But if her feelings landed on the former, he knew he'd have to leave. He'd have to find a way to right his ship. Perhaps he could investigate the rumors of his crocodile being in Misthaven. He sighed at the thought. Something in him had changed over the last twenty years, and vengeance simply didn't seem nearly as important as it once did, perhaps fading along with his memories of Milah.

No, if made to leave here, he would likely go pillage and plunder until he either dies, or was satisfied in his wealth to retire. Though he already had plenty of wealth, accumulated over the years, there was nothing wrong with accumulating more. Either way, he was ready to live out his years, normally. Eventually finding a place to settle down. The only thing he knew for sure, was he couldn't give up his ship. He wondered if he could convince a strong minded kitchen maid to join him.

His eyes had made their way back in the direction of the kitchen entry, causing him to curse himself. He really needed to calm his mind. She was rather confident in her request, though she had remained vague. Even though he knew her meaning, he would absolutely work around that. Pirates loved loopholes.

"I can't wait for Charming to arrive home-" The Queen was saying.

Wait. Prince Charming? That would make this Snow White. He realized he really hadn't been paying attention. He took a sideways glance at Regina, wondering what could have possibly changed since he'd been in the Enchanted Forest last. He remembered the Evil Queen and her hatred for the woman sitting next to him. Quite an interesting turn of events must have happened to lead these two into peaceful meals at the same table.

His eyes shifted back to the kitchen entry. Damnit, Hook!

The Queen stood, saying something about her daughter, and Killian stood out of habit, creating a domino effect. Smee and the other man stood as well, Roland? He assumed the latter was after the Princess' hand, and last to stand was Regina who was rolling her eyes, sighing deeply at this show. Finally tearing his eyes away from the direction of the kitchen, they landed on golden curls and a beautiful angel in a humble blue dress, walking the length of the table toward him.

Her eyes glanced at him momentarily, a mischievous smirk in them, though her lips were perfectly polite.

A smile threatened his lips before confusion hit him. Why was she over here? Why was she dressed like that? Was she going to join the dinner table? Would the queen allow that?

One of his questions was answered when a staff member pulled out a chair for her. The rest of his questions crumpled completely when the Queen, Queen Snow White, spoke.

"Captain, I'm sure you remember my daughter, Emma Swan. Emma, you haven't met Roland yet, have you?"

Time stood still as realization hit him. She was the bloody princess? She played him, and she had done so beautifully. And her mother knew about it, she knew about all of it. The Queen must have convinced Emma to expose herself after his inquiry…

Oh bloody hell, her father was Prince Charming. Not that he didn't have a healthy respect for the former bandit who managed to outsmart The Evil Queen at every turn, but it was always the father a man needed to worry about.

Trouble, indeed.

He finally asked himself, could he, a pirate, truly court her, a princess? Snow White had seemed amused at his request, not angered by it. But could he really make a princess happy? Would he be worthy of her title? Bloody hell, he had not thought this through. Killian Jones, Pirate King? What were the worlds coming to? There was no talking her from her castle, her duties...

He shook his head, reminding himself that it could very well be over before it starts. She did tell him to back off… In so many words. But did she really want that? He was entirely happy to find out. Damn the titles, damn the improbability of any of it. He was never the kind of man to shy away from what he wanted, and what he wanted was a clever, witty princess who already planted herself into every damn thought of his. He would stay as long as it took for him to be sure she felt nothing for him.

It was that moment when the truth hit him like a ton of stones. He was falling in love with a royal. Fate was a cruel, twisted thing. But he couldn't help the smirk playing on his lips as they all sat back down, time resuming its normality. Bloody minx had bested him.

He could get used to that.