~Clever Snow~
Regina was right. Snow was waiting in Emma's room, sitting at the bench at the end of her bed. She didn't seem nearly as upset as Emma imagined she would be. Emma sat opposite her mother at the vanity, facing her.
"This day has been strange for the mere fact that I haven't seen you as much as I'd like. I've grown quite accustomed to our talks during mealtime, and this ploy for this man has taken that from us." Emma opened her mouth to speak, but her mother held up her hands. "You do know I invited him to the ball?" Emma groaned. "Stop it. He agreed to stay with us just for that, though now I see that was an excuse to talk to the kitchen maid, not dance with a princess. He is rather taken with you."
Emma sighed. "That damn ball again, really mother?"
"Emma Swan! Language."
"Well, it's true. I feel like you'll use any excuse to throw an available man at me. That's not how it worked for you and dad."
"No, just extreme, incredibly random circumstances… not to mention, the right man." Emma couldn't deny that. "Why are you so determined to keep this part of yourself hidden from him?"
Emma thought for a minute before answering. She thought about lying, but knew her mother would see straight through it. "He would see me differently." She finally spoke. "And I don't know why that bothers me. Yes I do, he's completely maddening."
"Oh, is that all?" Snow asked, a knowing smile.
"Well, he's also clever, flirty, caring, grand, a complete scoundrel, yet somehow always a gentleman… not to mention, he's a pirate. I hate myself for it, but I find that I…" she sighed, not wanting to admit it out loud. She squeezed her eyes tightly. "I enjoy his company."
"I fail to see the problem." Snow shrugged gracefully.
"He sent me a note after lunch inviting me to his ship."
Snow was gleefully surprised. "Did you go?"
"Only to tell him to stop."
"Well, was he a gentleman?"
Emma couldn't hold back the smile this time. "He wanted to repay me for saving his life by teaching me how to use a sword."
Snow's mouth opened in surprise, a pleasant smile in her eyes. "Well, what happened?"
Emma proceeded to fill her mother in. The banter, his surprising treatment of her, the fight, Regina showing up, all of it. She could always talk to her mother. She enjoyed their talks.
"Honey, I hate to upset you, but he sounds like he might be an equal match for you. Why are you so against him?"
"Did-did you hear the part where I said pirate? Not a prince, not a duke, no land, no titles. No formal training or leading experience."
"The Captain has no leading experience?"
"He isn't cut out for ruling! Nor is he meant to stay in one place. He will leave, sooner rather than later. Some grand adventure will call, and he will not fail in answering it."
Snow White, master of matters of the heart, didn't miss a beat. "And you want to make the most of the time he's here, and you think lying will get you what you want? Honey, you can't build a relationship-"
"Between a pirate and a princess?" She interjected sarcastically. Her mother frowned at her and she sighed. "I know what you were going to say, mama, I do. Can't build a relationship on lies… But I don't see the point in building anything… with him. I just want to enjoy the banter, the stupidity of it all, before he sails away." She motioned with her arms and hands in an animated way to get her point across.
"Let me ask you this." There was a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Which would you regret more… Taking the leap, and seeing what happens? Or play it safe and eventually watch him sail away?"
Emma didn't want to think about that. She quickly brought up a different excuse. "Does either really matter? I know he would never stay to court me. I'll just… pick someone from the ball and marry someone pre-approved, and live a perfect royal life."
"Actually… Emma… I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But after lunch, he asked me where he could find your parents. When pressed, he admitted he wanted their blessing in courting you." Emma's mouth gaped open. "I told him I would see what I could do."
That was why he wanted to see her after lunch. He wanted to speak to her about a courtship. She hadn't even given him the opportunity. What would he have said?
"He… Wait, you would agree to his courtship?"
Snow chuckled. "I'll remind you that I, former outlaw thank you very much, married a shepherd."
"No one is talking about marriage, mother." Emma buried her face in her hands.
"Um, all of your excuses basically lead to 'won't end in marriage'. Besides, marriage is after the courtship, honey."
"He doesn't even know me!" She looked back up, elbows bent and palms facing up. "We've barely spoken."
"Sometimes it takes less than that." Snow chuckled, softer this time. "You just have to decide if he's who you truly want. And you need to know, I will endorse whomever you choose." She stood, pausing. "Well, within reason. I'd definitely pause if you were interested in that one stable boy…" She shook her head. "You know who I'm talking about. Now, if you hurry, you can get to your sword practice before he makes you work for the tardy. And I expect you fully dressed for dinner, at the table, with the rest of us. It's time you show that pirate who you really are. Properly this time." Snow paused again on her way out, looking back with a mischievous smile. "Can you imagine the look on his face when he realizes?"
Emma sat for a few moments, collecting her thoughts. This day of pretending had been entertaining, if nothing else. She had enjoyed her work in the kitchen. The people there were a welcome change, and so was the hard work. She would definitely consider adding kitchen duties to a day she didn't have studies. But day to day, this scheme cut into her carefully cultivated schedule which she had to shuffle around just to fit in physical training. It just wasn't stable. She sighed, realizing her mother was right.
She quickly dressed and hurried to meet the swordmaster, who pushed her slightly harder than normal. He warned her that any future delays in their practice would not be tolerated, and she only mildly listened to that. It was just swords, afterall.
When he had finally let her go, she had just enough time to change for dinner. She suddenly wondered why she had to change for everything, why not have one outfit for one whole day and be done with it? It's just how things are done, she could hear her mother say. The way things are done could absolutely change.
She stared at her reflection. Her favorite blue overdress. Her most comfortable chemise. Something she wore frequently. Simple, yet appropriate. She didn't want to over do it. It was only dinner. Should she apply makeup? No, she never wore makeup, unless it was some formal event where it was expected of her. What was going on in her brain?
She shook her head. That didn't stop the butterflies, or her hesitance to walk out of her bedroom doors. Damnit, Emma. She steeled her nerves, and headed toward the dining room.
