CS Genre: Lieutenant Duckling

Dear Killian,

You have no idea how excited I am every time one of your letters arrives for me. Graham laughed at me after handing me your last one, telling me he thought I squealed loud enough for you to hear me all the way in Camelot. I can't help myself though, because I MISS you! Even now, more than seven months later, I still find myself looking for you to make a comment or share a laugh or feel your arms around me at least ten times a day.

Who would have known a year could last such an interminably long time? When you get home, I'm not letting you out of my sight for a good three weeks. At least.

Camelot does sound like a lovely place, and I would love to visit it with you one day! Perhaps I can talk Mama and Papa into sending me on a diplomatic mission to Queen Guinevere…and of course I would need the escort of Papa's bravest and strongest navy men. You know, despite being a princess, I've never been outside of the Enchanted Forest—save for my visits to Elsa in Arendelle. I know Mama and Papa are afraid for my safety, but what's the use of being royalty if I'm never able to go out and see the world?

Life has continued as normal here at home. Mama wants to have a grand ball for my eighteenth birthday in a few months, and so I've been forced into more dancing lessons. I'd far prefer you as my tutor to my parents' choice. Would you believe Mama recruited Grumpy (GRUMPY!) to teach me the various dances of the royal court? It's torture!

Mama gave me some interesting news yesterday, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It seems the Dark One himself is coming for a visit—along with his newly-returned son. Mama says the Dark One only wishes to make a visit of state, but I'm not sure. I can't help but remember all the tales about the terrible things he used to do back before Grandma Regina decided to turn from her vengeance.

But their visit will only last a fortnight, and it's bound to be entertaining if nothing else. From all accounts, the Dark One's antics are never dull.

I must go; preparations are being made for the important visit, and Mama wants to train me so that I'm prepared to receive important visitors when it's my turn to take the crown.

I miss you, I look forward to your return and I…well, I care for you an extraordinary amount. Take care of yourself and return to me soon!

Your own,

Swan Princess

Killian smiled as he read his Swan's words, loving the way her joy and zest for life came through so clearly even just through the written word. Perhaps he was merely seeing what he wished to see, but if he wasn't mistaken his princess was saying more with her farewell than met the eye. If he was not mistaken, he was dangerously close to winning Emma's heart.

As he stood at the ship's railing and the salty sea air rifled through his hair, Killian reread his letter by the light of the large full moon on the horizon. As he continued with his reading this time through, a feeling of foreboding…almost of dread…came over him. There was something about Swan casually relating the Dark One's visit that didn't sit well with him. Like everyone in this land, he'd heard many, many stories of the terrors the Dark One inflicted during his long, long life. They were the sort of tales soldiers told around the campfire when they wanted to cause a fright among their companions.

Though he'd never had the misfortune of meeting this Rumplestiltskin in the flesh, the thought of the woman he loved being face to face with such a dangerous man didn't set at all well. Why was he really planning to visit the Charmings' court? Was he planning to make one of his infamous deals with them? Killian knew King David and Queen Snow were far too wise to be taken in by the Dark One's manipulations again, but the whole situation still gave him pause…

And what of this son the Dark One was bringing with him? Would he be like his father? Were his motives pure in accompanying his father, or did he have something nefarious in mind?

As the moon crept behind a cloud, Killian sighed and folded his letter, placing it within his naval coat, close to his heart, he sighed. There was nothing he could do about the situation from here in Camelot. He must simply trust that Emma knew how to take care of herself—and that her parents would move heaven and earth to keep her from harm.

~l~d~l~d~l~d~l~d~l~d~

"I don't want to pry if you don't want to talk about it, but I can't help but wonder…What exactly is your story?" Emma asked as she sat on the picnic blanket Baelfire—Neal—had spread for the two of them in the castle's courtyard.

It was the last full day of the Stiltskin's visit to the Enchanted Forest palace, and Emma found that she'd enjoyed their stay far more than she'd expected to. While Rumplestiltskin looked frightening with his golden, scaly skin and his lizard-like eyes, he'd been nothing but cordial while in their household.

Everyone knew the stories. Rumple had lost his son through a portal more than a century ago, and he dedicated every moment of his life afterwards trying to do two things: maintain his power, and find his son. Emma had read the storybook; she knew that Rumplestiltskin had been responsible for the terrible curse Grandma Regina had almost cast. He was certainly not someone to let your guard down around. He could be utterly ruthless when crossed.

Still, he'd shown no malevolence toward the Charmings and their household while present.

And Emma found that she genuinely like Baelfire—or Neal Cassidy, or whatever he wanted to be called. He was several years older than her, but he seemed to enjoy spending time with her, asking about her life, accompanying her as she took food to the poor residents of the village, telling her bits and pieces of his life while away from his Papa.

He was an amusing companion, but Emma still found herself missing Killian. Neal could potentially become a dear friend, but Killian…well Killian was like a piece of her very self, as necessary to her as air.

"No worries, Em," Neal said, leaning back on his elbows and looking up at the tree leaves above them. "It's not something I can't bring myself to talk about or anything. I'll tell you my story if you want."

As the afternoon faded into twilight, Neal told Emma about the tragic—but adventurous life he'd lived. When his father became the Dark One, he changed. In an attempt to get his Papa back, Neal had obtained a magic bean that would take them to a land without magic, but at the last moment, Rumple had refused to come through the portal with him. After a short stint with a family in the Land Without Magic, he'd found himself in the nightmare-ish realm of Neverland.

Emma listened with baited breath as Neal explained how he'd finally, finally found a way off of Neverland—and actually managed to escape.

"And you went back to the Land Without Magic?" Emma asked.

"Yeah."

"What's that like? How do they get by without any magic?"

"Well," Neal said, staring into the horizon, "it's a far different place than here, that's for sure. They don't have magic, but they've discovered something called 'electricity' that lets them turn on lights without fire. They also get around in these things called 'cars' that are these, I don't know how to describe them, they're like horseless carriages. They also have indoor plumbing—so you can get all the hot or cold water you want just by turning a knob."

"Wow!" Emma said, "it sounds like a wondrous land, why did you ever leave?"

Neal's brow furrowed and a frown turned down his mouth. "I…I got in some trouble, Em. I'd swiped a number of watches from a jeweler, and the authorities had a warrant out on me. I was about to be sent to jail; I had to do something."

Emma frowned. "You were a thief?"

"Yeah," he said, raising a hand as though to ward off her objectives, "but Em, hear me out. I'd…I'd been stealing all my life in the Land Without Magic. Had too; it was the only way I could get by, unless I wanted to end up in the system. Then I got the job at the jewelry store, and…I don't know. The idiot who ran the store left the counter of watches unlocked at the end of the night. He was just begging to be robbed."

Emma's frown deepened.

"I messed up, okay?" Neal said, shooting her a pleading look. "Wish I could go back and undo it, but I can't."

Emma was silent for a moment, but then nodded, deliberately smoothing out her features. She supposed everyone did things they weren't proud of. It wasn't really her place to judge a man she barely knew. "But there's one thing I don't understand, Neal."

"Yeah, what's that?"

"How did you even get back here?" Emma asked. "If the land didn't have magic, how in any realm did you find a way to open a portal?"

Neal grinned fondly. "I didn't come over to the Land Without Magic alone. I brought Tinkerbelle with me, and she had a little bit of pixie dust left. Hadn't been able to use it for years, after she lost her wings, but when she saw me so frantic to get away, she managed to make it work to create a portal. I wanted her to come through with me, but she'd built up a life for herself there and she didn't want to leave."

"And…you weren't upset about coming back and coming face to face with your father again?"

Neal shrugged. "Yeah, I was, but it was better than ending up in the slammer. And Em, he's different now. He seems to really be trying; wants to see me happy."

"And are you?" Emma asked.

Neal turned slowly toward her, until he was lying on his side, his head pillowed on his hand. Emma felt an unpleasant thrill go through her when she saw the look in his eyes. That was the same look Killian had given her that day they'd had their fateful picnic. That was the look of a man thoroughly smitten.

While the look had confused her when it had adorned Killian's face…her heart had beaten a bit faster, her joy had spiked at the thought he might feel more for her than merely the friendship they'd enjoyed for years.

When it came to Neal, however, the look only filled her with dread. She would like to be Neal's friend, but that's all she ever wanted from him.

Finally Neal spoke, and Emma winced at the gravely sound of his voice. "Yeah, Em, I am, but you know what would make me even happier?"

Don't say it! Please don't say it!

"I…I don't know," Emma said, getting to her feet, and reaching for the picnic basket, "but we'd best get going back. Don't want to miss dinner."

Neal quickly got to his own feet and stilled her with a hand to her shoulder. "We've got time. There's something I have to say, and since Dad and I are leaving tomorrow, I'm running out of time to say it."

Please don't!

"Neal…" she said drawing out the name, hoping he got the message.

"Just hear me out Em," he continued. "I'm crazy about you. You've made me happier than I've been in ages. I was…I was hoping maybe you'd let me court you."

Emma felt her stomach plummet. Apparently there was no way to avoid this conversation.

"Neal," she said, taking a little step back. "I'm…I'm flattered by your interest, but I'm sorry. I can't accept. I can't court you."

His jaw dropped. "But why not? You think the son of the Dark One isn't good enough for you? Can't forgive my mistakes in the Land Without Magic? Knew I shouldn't have told you about that!"

"No!" Emma said quickly, "it's nothing like that. It's just…Neal, I've enjoyed spending time with you throughout the past fortnight, but I simply don't have those kinds of feelings for you."

"Maybe not yet," Neal pleaded. "But maybe you just need to give it a chance! Maybe you just don't know what those kinds of feelings feel like. Maybe I could persuade you to fall for me?"

"I'm sorry Neal," Emma said again, "but I know my feelings. I…I know what it feels like to love someone. You're a great guy, but I'm sure I won't ever feel that way for you."

Neal looked at her sadly for another moment, but then finally dropped his eyes, slowly nodding.

"I really am sorry, Neal," Emma said.

"Hey," he said, "no need to apologize. I get it. If you don't have feelings for me, you don't have feelings for me. How 'bout we head back to the castle for that dinner your mom's been planning all week?"

~l~d~l~d~l~d~l~d~l~d~

Things were a bit awkward between Emma and Neal that evening, and all in all, she was glad when he and his papa left the next morning. To his credit, Neal bid her a cordial farewell in the morning, acting almost as though nothing of the afternoon before had happened. Emma was incredibly grateful. She'd never been in a situation where she had to turn down a suitor's advances before, and she found that she didn't enjoy it at all.

With the Stiltskins heading back toward the Dark Castle, Emma breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how…awkward things might have ended up, it looked like they were over—and had gone as well as could be expected.

That's what Emma believed, that is, until the night a week later when the Dark One himself appeared in all his dark glory in the Charmings' dining room.

Emma and her parents had been enjoying a lovely family dinner, all seated together at one end of the long, magnificent dining room table, talking and laughing, and basking in the family time they had together, when suddenly black smoke filled the dining room.

When it cleared, Rumplestiltskin stood at the head of the table. Surprised, Charming quickly got to his feet, drawing his sword as he did so, but Rumplestiltskin sent the sword flying with a lazy flick of his fingers.

"I demand to know the meaning of this," Snow White said, coming to stand beside her husband. "Please do us the courtesy of giving word before you come to our home!"

Rumple giggled. "Why would I do that? I'm the Dark One. It's not like you can stop me."

Charming stepped forward, arms crossed. "Maybe not, but we can and will fight you. Now, please answer my wife's question. What is the meaning of this?"

"The meaning, dearies," Rumple said, moving until he was standing directly in front of Emma, "is that my son is not happy."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Charming said, "but it doesn't explain why you'd barge into my castle."

Rumple clicked his tongue. "Barge? I did not barge. I made quite an elegant entrance."

"Just answer the question!" Snow insisted with a roll of her eyes.

"Very well," Rumple said, and then pointed one, scaly finger in Emma's direction. "I'd wager your little princess knows a fair bit about what's bothering my lad. She's to blame after all. She turned down my Bae's plea that she allow him to court her."

Snow looked quickly at her daughter. "You didn't tell us he asked to court you, honey."

Emma felt her face flame and something akin to shame fill her. "I'm sorry Mama. It was awkward; I…I just didn't want to keep thinking about it. I'm sorry, but I can't court Balefire. I don't love him. Please don't force me."

Snow stepped up and gave her daughter a hug. "Nonsense Emma, I wasn't scolding you. I was just surprised. Of course you're free to court whoever you like."

David stepped up to her other side. "And no one will be forcing you to court or marry any man you don't wish to."

"About that," Rumple said with a nasty grin, "I beg to differ. You see, my son is sad, and we can't have that. Last time my son was less than content he left me, and that is not going to happen again. There is, fortunately, a simple solution. We must simply ensure my son rises from the doldrums and becomes my happy, loving Baelfire once more."

"What are you saying?" Charming asked angrily.

"What I'm saying, dearie," Rumple said deliberately, "is that your daughter will accept my son's courtship and his hand in marriage. Prepare yourself for a wedding! In two months' time, I'll return to collect Emma and take her back to my castle where she'll be wed to my son."

There was a shocked silence in the dining room for another beat in time before Rumple spoke again. "And don't even think about trying to stop me. Trust me, you don't want to know what will happen to you and your entire kingdom if the blushing bride isn't ready to go upon my return."

Notes:

-Happy Friday! It's been a long week for me and I am soooooo ready for the weekend!

-We're coming to the climax of this little story very, very soon. As you saw, Rumple didn't take Emma rejecting his son very well at all, and has decided to strong-arm her into doing his bidding. Don't worry, though! Emma's hardly going to meekly stand for a bully to dictate her life for her—nor will she be alone. She'll have her parents, Killian, and her grandma Regina backing her.

-Up next: the penultimate chapter of The Swan Princess. Emma takes refuge with her powerful grandmother, Regina, who's magic may be able to stave off the Dark One long enough for them to come up with a plan. Charming calls his navy home to prepare for a potential war with the Dark One, and a certain soon-to-be lieutenant shows he's willing to move heaven and earth to save his Swan Princess from a fate she didn't choose. But will any of their efforts be enough to stop an immortal and all powerful Dark One?