CS Genre: Lieutenant Duckling
The day dawned dark and dreary. It had been storming for a solid three days, but it looked like the worst of it was finally past. Killian sat up in his bunk, put his head in his hands and sighed in relief.
The storms, while not serious, had made the Jewel of the Realm sway and pitch so violently that even the most stalwart of the sailors were turning a bit green. Killian gingerly took a sip of water, waited a beat to see how his stomach would take it and then nodded in satisfaction. He hadn't been so seasick since his first journey with Papa when he was a wee lad.
There was a quick, tentative knock on the door, and then Liam stepped in, his brows furrowed in obvious worry. "Safe to enter, little brother?"
Killian groaned. "Younger brother!" he croaked out.
Liam gave him a tight smile and stepped into the captain's quarters, shutting the door firmly behind him. It was quite something, being here in the captain's quarters! It was rather unheard of, a naval captain giving his bed to a common enlisted man, but as soon as it was clear Killian was quite sick, their captain had surrendered his room quite readily.
"I'm needed at the helm, my lads," he'd said in his deep, gravelly voice, "and besides, in a matter of a few months this chamber will belong to Captain Liam Jones anyway."
It was an unexpected boon, and one the Jones brothers were certainly not going to turn down.
Killian made a quick quip about the ship pitching around as though it was being guided by the hand of a rather rambunctious tot, but then chanced a look at his brother's eyes. He looked…troubled was far too mild a word for it.
"Liam…what's the matter?" Killian asked in a small voice.
"We're being called back to the Enchanted Forest," Liam said without preamble, sitting heavily beside Killian on the bed.
Killian's heart leapt. "We're being sent back? But…that's a good thing, isn't it? We've both been longing for home for weeks now."
"I'm afraid…" Liam said, cleared his throat and then tried again. "I'm afraid the circumstances around our return are rather unfortunate. The king is amassing his full force to prepare for war."
"War!" Killian said, getting quickly to his feet, then closing his eyes and willing the nausea away as his head began to spin. "What the bloody hell happened while we were away? King David and Queen Snow have no enemies!"
"It would seem they've acquired one," Liam said grimly. "I'm not privy to all the details, but it seem the Dark One's visit to the castle ended rather badly…and now he's threatening violence."
"Emma," Killian said, beginning to pace. "Is Emma well?"
"As I said," Liam said with a shrug, "I'm not privy to the details. But it seems a letter arrived for you along with the order to return."
Killian fairly snatched the missive from his brother's hand, desperately praying the paper would contain words of comfort.
When he saw it had been written in the hand of the queen rather than that of his Swan Princess, his heart sank. Something dreadful had occurred. Something truly, truly dreadful.
For a moment, Killian merely stared at the unopened letter, irrationally hoping that if he didn't read it its contents couldn't be true, but at long last he turned it over, slid one finger under the flap until he'd broken the wax seal, and then pulled out the paper from within.
Killian,
I'm afraid I have some rather shocking news to relate. The Dark One's visit was not the uneventful visit of state I had hoped. It seems his son, Baelfire—Neal—has developed a certain…fondness for our Emma. When she gently told him his feelings are unrequited, he appeared to take the news well—disappointed but gracious.
Just a week later, the Dark One returned and insisted his son's heartbreak was not to be borne. In short, he's demanded Emma wed his son in two weeks' time.
Naturally her father and I will not force her to wed a man she does not love, but I fear our refusal will set off a war with the Dark One. We've sent Emma to stay with my step-mother, Regina while we attempt to craft a plan, we're hoping, of course, Regina's magic will be sufficient to deter Rumplestiltskin.
Killian, I write to you because I am frightened, frightened for my daughter. I know how much you love her, and if I might say as much, I think your feelings are far from unrequited. Because of your love, I know you'll do all you can to protect my little girl. If the situation is agreeable to you, the navy will let you disembark at the dock nearest Regina's castle, and there you'll go to protect my Emma.
Please be careful Killian! The Dark One is not someone to trifle with. I couldn't bear it if something were to happen to you as well as Emma.
Yours,
Queen Snow White.
Killian crushed the letter in his fist, swearing fluently and beginning to pace the cabin.
"Bad news, brother?" Liam asked.
"The worst," Killian said grimly. "Come, we must persuade to captain to get this journey underway. It's been a full week since this letter was written, and we don't have a moment to lose! If that bloody Crocodile thinks he's going to take my love away against her will, he'll have to go through me first!"
~l~d~l~d~l~d~l~d~l~d~
"Teach me magic!" Emma demanded, bursting into her grandmother's sitting room.
"I beg your pardon!" the queen mother said haughtily, placing her tiny baby girl in a bassinet.
"Teach me magic," Emma repeated. "It's been thirteen days since Rumplestiltskin made his threat, and I can't just sit here like some stupid damsel in distress. I want to fight! I want to save myself!"
"Emma, magic isn't something that can be simply taught," Regina said, crossing her arms. "You need to be born or cursed with it."
"I was born with it!" Emma continued. "I'm the product of True Love, and that gave me pure white magic! You saw yourself what happened at my twelfth birthday party! I didn't like the color of the dress my mother wanted me to wear—it was pink—and I managed to magic it blue. You, yourself told me I have the potential to be great. Please, please teach me! I can't simply let the Dark One force me into marriage, and I can't sit by while those I love fight—and probably die—for me!"
Regina looked at her impassively for a moment, and then took her seat once more, gesturing for Emma to do the same. "Emma, the Dark One has the strongest, darkest magic of any being in any realm. Do you really believe a young woman who's been learning for only a day has any hope of defeating him?"
Emma crossed her arms and put on her most stubborn look. "Maybe, maybe not, but I'm not going down without a fight!"
Regina sighed, reached over to rock little Henrie's bassinet until the baby went back to sleep, and then shot Emma a resigned look. "Alright, Princess. I'll teach you, but just…don't get your hopes up."
The afternoon passed pleasantly enough, with Emma soaking up her grandmothers magic lessons like a sponge, and Grandpa Robin looking on proudly.
After Grandma Regina had accepted Mama's offer of grace, she'd remembered how Tinkerbelle's pixie dust had led her to a man with a lion tattoo in a tavern. Curious, she'd returned to the village in which the tavern was situated, and she found her soulmate once again. Robin of Locksley was a widower with a very young son. It seems his wife, Marian had passed away suddenly after a brief but rather fast moving illness.
Things hadn't been all rainbow stickers and unicorn kisses at first for the pair. They'd bickered as though it were their profession, swearing up, down and center that they utterly despised each other, but in the end, they'd discovered that the passionate hatred they felt for each other was actually something else entirely. Love. True, abiding love.
They'd been wed the next year in a lovely ceremony in the heart of the forest with Friar Tuck presiding.
Emma didn't remember any of this, of course, as she wasn't born until two years after the forest wedding, but she'd grown up hearing the tale, reading it in her storybook. As it happened, the queen mother's love story was almost as well-known as that of the king and queen.
But Regina's and Robin's happily-ever-after wasn't finished when they said I do. In a very rash moment several years before her wedding, Regina had taken a potion of infertility in an attempt to foil her mother, Cora's plans for her life.
As could be expected, once Regina was wed to her soulmate, she came to greatly regret her impulsive action and began actively looking for a way to reverse the potion she'd taken.
It was a year and a half ago that Regina had succeeded at her task, finally finding the ingredients she needed to make an antidote. Nine months later, nearly to the day, she'd given birth to a lovely baby girl who she and Robin had agreed to name Henrietta after her father. Roland, now a twenty-two year old man who'd just wed Princess Ella and Prince Thomas's daughter, Alexandra, had promptly shortened his sister's name to simply 'Henrie', and the nickname had stuck.
Emma trained with Regina until sunset broke over the castle. By the time their training came to an end, Emma could produce a fireball and had become reasonably adept at blasting things out of her way. Would it be enough to keep the Dark One at bay?
Combined with Regina's magic, she could only hope the answer was yes.
The family had just settled down to dinner, when there was a disturbance in the entrance hall. Concerned, both Emma and Regina got to their feet, fireballs at the ready.
But when the dining room door opened, it wasn't an enemy, but a very concerned soon-to-be-Lieutenant Killian Jones who burst through the door.
Emma stood slack-jawed for a heartbeat, hardly able to believe her eyes, and then she ran—almost flew—across the rush-covered stone floor and launched herself into Killian's arms, pushing him out the door—and away from prying eyes—in the process.
He braced himself for impact, and then held her close, smiling as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. She pulled back, peppering his cheeks with kisses, smiling as he chuckled at her enthusiasm.
"Killian, how are you here?" she asked, between kisses.
"Well, Swan, I got a letter from your…"
"Never mind, I don't care how. I'm just glad you're here," Emma said breathlessly, pushing herself to her tiptoes and fusing her mouth to his. Killian responded almost immediately, wrapping her more firmly in his arms, tilting his head to deepen the kiss, taking all she had to give and giving her the same in return.
Emma had no idea how long the kiss lasted—it could have been minutes; it could have been hours. Kissing Killian was so overwhelming, so all-consuming that mundane things like time simply ceased to matter. But at long last, she broke away, breathing deeply as she smiled almost shyly into his eyes.
"Killian," she said, reaching up to wipe a tear from his cheek, feeling him do the same for her. "I love you. I just…I needed you to know."
His smile bloomed over his entire face, and Emma returned the smile, loving the little crinkles in the corners of his eyes. "Swan, you have no idea how very much I've longed to hear that, and I love you too. To the very depths of my heart."
And with that he leaned down and took her lips once more. This kiss was slower, deeper, infinitely more tender, and when it came to an end, Killian merely rested his forehead against hers.
"I know about the Dark One," he said hoarsely. "Your parents sent me here to help protect you. I swear to you, Swan, on my very life, he won't touch you. You'll be forced to marry a man you don't wish to only over my dead body."
"Don't even suggest that," Emma said quickly, cupping his cheek, feeling the scrape of his scruff against her palm. "I can't lose you, do you hear me Killian Jones? I cannot lose you."
He smiled. "I'm sure it won't come to that, love," Killian said. "Between my sword, your Grandfather Robin's bow, your Grandmother Regina's magic, and the entire force of your parents' army and navy, the Dark One won't stand a chance."
"Well, I'm not just going to stand around and say 'woe is me', you know," Emma said. "Grandma's been teaching me magic, and you better believe I'm going to fight to save myself!"
Killian chuckled and then leaned down to peck her lips once more. "That's my Swan Princess!" he said. "I've yet to see you fail at anything you've put your mind to. Between all of us, I've no doubt we'll succeed at skinning our Crocodile."
~l~d~l~d~l~d~l~d~l~d~
All through the next day, the entire castle was on edge. Even little Henrie fussed far more than normal, no doubt sensing the tension among the adults around her.
Today was the day Rumplestiltskin was slated to come for Emma. What was worse, storms at sea had delayed the Charmings and their soldiers, meaning they would almost definitely arrive too late to lend their aid in the showdown.
But when night fell with no sign of the sparkly golden imp, Emma and Killian breathed a sigh of relief and started to hope the Dark One's threats had been nothing more than bluster.
Their relief was short lived.
When night had fallen fully and the servants began their end-of-the-evening tasks, Killian sat with Emma beside one of the magnificent great hall fires. Turning toward her, he cupped her cheeks in his hands and leaned forward to give her a quick kiss.
"It looks as though the Dark One has seen fit to show you mercy, love."
Suddenly there was a swirl of purple smoke, and when it cleared there was the Dark One in all his sparkly glory.
"I wouldn't count on it, dearie!" He said, with a little giggle that set Killian's teeth on edge. "Mercy's not really my thing."
Killian was on his feet in an instant shouting loudly in his shock and dismay. Before he even had a chance to draw his sword, Regina was there, alerted by his shout, standing protectively in front of both Emma and Killian.
"Funny," she said with barely controlled rage, "I don't remember inviting you to my castle, Rumple."
Rumple giggled again, plucked a grape out of the fruit bowl on the end table, popped it in his mouth, and then seated himself with a flourish—in the most luxuriant seat in the house. "Today's the day I collect my son's bride. She's here. The invitation was kind of implied."
"I am no one's bride," Emma said firmly, "at least not until I choose to be. Your son knows full well how things stand between us. I was quite clear when I told him I'd value his friendship, but that's all that could ever exist between us."
Rumple steepled his hands and smirked at her over the top of them. "Oh, but there's where you're wrong, dearie. My son wants you, and you he shall have."
"Think carefully, Dark One," Regina said, forming a fireball in her hand. "If you come into my home and threaten to kidnap my granddaughter, I'm going to be rather offended, and you don't want to see where that will lead you."
When Rumple merely continued to smirk, Regina sent her fireball through the air, but Rumple was too fast for her. In an instant, he was out of his chair, smile wiped from his face. With one lazy flick of his wrist the fireball disappeared. With a second, he sent Regina flying until she crashed into the stonework around the fireplace. She slunk to the ground unconscious.
"Now," Rumple said nastily, "I grow tired of the delay. You, Princess Emma, belong to me—or rather to my son Bae—It's time I take what belongs to me."
Killian felt his blood boil, and he surged forward until his sword was pointed at the Dark One's throat. "Emma is not a possession to be passed from one person to another! She stays right here until she damn well chooses to leave!"
Rumple looked on Killian with a sneer. "And just who might you be, pirate?"
"I am no pirate!"
Rumple giggled yet again. "Oh but I think you are. What else should I call a man who steals what belongs to another man?"
Killian felt a surge of protectiveness run through his veins. "You take her against her will only over my dead body!"
"That can be arranged," Rumple said, smiling nastily. "Maybe I'll start by relieving you of that hand waving a sword at me?"
"No!" Emma shouted, pushing Killian out of the way, raising her hands protectively. "Don't touch him! It's me you want."
The next few moments were pure chaos. Emma shot a surge of magic at Rumple, which did nothing more than push him back a step. Killian got to his feet, preparing to charge, but with a wave of magic, Rumple froze him in place. Killian watched in horror as Rumple then extended his hand, choking Emma and lifting her off her feet with nothing but the force of his magic.
"Now, dearie," Rumple said, "you have one more chance. Think very, very carefully. Either you agree to come with me willingly, be a good girl, and marry my son, or I rip out your heart and force you."
"Never!" Emma choked out with what little breath she could muster around Rumple's hold.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," Rumple said with a shrug.
He shot his hand out, clearly prepared to carry out his threat when there was a disturbance at the great hall door.
"Let her go!" a man shouted as he sprinted into the room. "Let them both go or I swear, Papa, you'll never see me again!"
~l~d~l~d~l~d~l~d~l~d
Emma took deep shuddering breaths as Rumple finally released her and she fell to the ground. She massaged her bruised windpipe, and then felt Killian's strong arms around her, lifting her to her feet, looking concernedly into her eyes.
"Swan! Are you alright love?" he asked.
"Yes," she croaked, cupping his cheek in one hand, "I'm fine Killian."
Together they turned back to the other two men.
"Bae!" Rumple said. "What are you doing here son?"
"Apparently keeping you from your same old crap," Neal said, eyes narrowed. "You're unbelievable, you know that? I keep thinking you've changed, but you never will. When will you get it through your thick skull thatI don't want a single, damn thing you get for me by murdering or strong arming people?"
"Please!" Rumple begged. "I just wanted to make you happy, Bae! She refused you!"
"And that was her right!" Neal thundered, getting in his father's face. "I have half a mind to just leave, wash my hands of you and this whole damn land."
"No, Bae!" Rumple said, taking hold of his son's shoulder. "I can change! I can change!"
Neal took a step back and then pulled a small pouch out of his pocket. "You can change, Papa?" he asked. "Prove it."
"Anything!"
"You know what this is?" Neal asked, shaking the pouch. "Pixie dust. Enough to make just one more portal. I'm heading back to the Land Without Magic. This is your chance to make up for the last time. Come with me. We'll make a life for ourselves. Maybe look up Tink. Find some quiet place where we can just be a family."
"But Bae," Neal said, eyes wild, "I…I can't. I'll be powerless! I know nothing about that world!"
"I'll teach you all you need to know," Neal said, "but I swear to you Papa. This is your last chance. You either come with me where you can't ever hurt anyone again, or I go alone. And you know what happens if you make the same choice as last time? You never see me again, you understand me? Never."
For several moments there was silence. Emma could see the conflict on Rumplestiltskin's face, the warring inside between his love of power and his love of his son. She held her breath, inwardly praying he'd choose Bae, praying they'd soon be free of the ever-present threat of the Dark One.
Finally, Rumple's shoulders dropped and he nodded slowly. "Very well, Bae. We'll go to your Land Without Magic."
A smile broke out across Neal's face, and he clapped his father on the shoulder. "Papa!"
Evidently feeling it best to act before the Dark One had a chance to change his mind, Neal tossed the last handful of pixie dust onto the great room floor, and a swirling, green portal opened up before them.
"Neal," Emma said, just before the Stiltskin's took their leap.
He turned toward her. "Yeah, Em?"
"Thank you."
He smiled gently once more. "Hey, no problem. Look, I hope you find your happy ending, even if it isn't with me."
Without another word, Neal took hold of his father's hand, and together they jumped through the portal and into their own fresh start. Whether or not that fresh start would lead to a happy ending was anyone's guess, but they'd taken that first step.
As the portal closed around the Dark One and his son, Emma turned back toward the man she loved. "Killian," she said, "we're free!"
He picked her up, twirled her around, and then leaned up to capture her lips in a searing kiss.
"I suppose this means you survived the showdown with the Dark One," came a dry voice from behind him.
Emma looked back to see Grandma Regina getting gingerly to her feet, rubbing at her head with a grimace.
"More than survived," Emma said with a laugh, "we won!"
Regina nodded firmly, and then clutched at her head once more. "I wouldn't have expected any less from a granddaughter of mine."
Notes:
-Well there you have it! All that's left is a fluffy epilogue. Are you surprised I found a way to give EVERYONE their happy endings? This is, after all, Fluffy Fridays; happy endings are the name of the game!
-This was an extremely long chapter for Fluffy Fridays, but I really, really wanted to get through the whole climactic scene this week.
-Up next: The conclusion of The Swan Princess. The Charmings hold a ball jointly in honor of Emma's 18th birthday and the Jones brothers' promotions….Let's just say Emma and Killian will find this ball far more enjoyable—and life-changing—than their first one!