Chapter 5: We have an Accord

"What do you mean you lost him?" Sir Henry watched from his hiding spot behind a stone column as his uncle spoke with the Captain who had burst into his room.

"I saw him on the staircase during the dance, I went after him, and he vanished from sight."

"Dammit." The King cursed. "The good news is that the diamond is still in the place it was left. So, he was unable to take what he came for."

"If he was unable to claim his prize, he will return. He will need shelter in town, my men and I will remain in port, seek information at the tavern. He may have won this round, but I do not intend to lose the game." The Captain said confidently.

"See to it that you don't. We can't afford any distractions."

"Was your sister able to choose a husband tonight?"

He groaned. "She did not. I do not understand the hesitancy of women. The Duke would make a fine husband, yet she continues to search the realm for something that she may never find."

"What is it that eludes the Princess?" He asked.

"What every woman wants of course, true love."

"And she has not found this with your friend the Duke?" He questioned with a laugh.

"I had thought she might, his Grace is a good man, he would make an excellent husband but my sister…"

"What do you speak of your sister?" The men turned toward the approaching voice, the Captain's heart stopping as the blonde woman came into view. "It is unkind to talk about a woman behind her back." Killian felt his mouth standing agape and tried to will it to close. The woman from his dance earlier was Princess Emma?

"I was simply saying that my sister was the star of the ball this evening." The King said with a knowing glance to the other man.

"You have not yet introduced me to your guest." She mused, turning toward him, and offering him her hand. Killian took it gently, bringing it to his lips to press a kiss against her knuckles.

"Captain Killian Jones." He announced, though he knew quite well that she was aware of his name as he had given it to her earlier.

"Captain Jones." She touched the tip of her finger to her chin. "No, I don't believe I've heard of you." She said without a care in the world.

Killian smirked as she stepped away from him, a slight grin pressed to her mouth. "I must take my leave." He said suddenly. "I have urgent business to attend to." The King returned his nod. "It was a pleasure to meet you Princess Emma." He bowed in her direction. "Until we meet again."

He slipped from the room, taking one last glance over his shoulder at the blonde woman that had his heart in his throat.

"Sister, tell me you've interrupted me to announce your decision to marry the Duke."

"I have made a decision." She paused. "I have decided that I will not marry the Duke." She announced without fanfare.

"Sister." He chided. "Why not? Did he not please you tonight?"

"He was pleasant, I suppose, but I met many men tonight. Perhaps one of them is…"

"Not the true love thing again! Emma, I told you, it is time that Henry has a man in his life."

"He has many men in his life. You, William…"

"His jester does not count as a man in his life."

"He most certainly does. He's the best friend Henry has ever had."

The King sat down unceremoniously on his throne. "Sister, I want to ensure you are taken care of. This means you must marry."

She sighed. "I will. I promise." She spun around in her dress. "There was a man tonight that I danced with…" She bit her lip.

"A man, what man?"

"A man." She restated. "He was handsome, and charming, and very intriguing."

"Well, you must decide soon, or else I'm going to accept the Duke's offer."

Princess Emma rolled her eyes, excusing herself from the room. There was no way she was going to marry the Duke, not when there was a chance for adventure and intrigue in figuring out who Captain Killian Jones was and what his business was in her realm.

Henry was pleased with the way the party had turned out. Even though his mother spent most of her evening talking to Graham, he couldn't ignore the way that Killian's eyes seemed to find her from across the room after returning from the basement. His mother had even lifted the ban on his visits with their neighbor and Henry found himself splitting his time between building Legos with Will and stopping in to provide a treat to Smee after dinner.

However, when he knocked this evening, he was met by another man at the door. "Evening, lad. If you're selling something, I don't live here."

Henry narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. "Who are you? You aren't Killian?"

The man appeared surprised to hear Killian's name. "I'm Liam, who might you be?"

"I'm Henry, Killian's friend."

"Are you now?" He said with a laugh. "Well in that case, please do come in." The man stepped away from the door and Henry bounded into the apartment. "Brother, you have a friend here to see you."

Henry turned toward the man. "You're Killian's big brother. Wow, it's great to meet you."

"You seem to know about me, and yet I know nothing about you." He seemed to question his brother as he entered the room.

"Henry, here to see Smee?" Killian interrupted. "Liam, this is my neighbor, Henry."

Henry held the treat up high for the dog, rewarding him when he sat as he was supposed to. "Are you a Captain too?"

"Liam's in the Navy. He's a Lieutenant onboard the USS Delaware, it's a submarine."

Henry's eyes grew wide. "You mean you go under the water?"

"Aye, you never know what's lurking beneath." Liam responded with an eerie grin.

"That's really cool. Did you ever go in a submarine?" He turned toward Killian.

"I prefer to Captain my ship above the water."

"So, Henry, do you live next door with your mom and dad?" Liam asked.

"I live with my mom; my dad lives across town."

The man glanced at his brother. "Is that so?"

"Speaking of your mom, isn't it your dinner time kid?" Killian scolded. "I don't want her coming over here yelling at me again." He laughed.

"We're having tacos tonight." He stood up and patted the dog on the head. "It was nice meeting you, Liam. See you tomorrow, Killian."

"Talk to you later, kid."

Killian closed the door behind Henry and turned to see his brother staring at him with a smirk on his face. "What?"

"So, you're hanging out with a ten-year-old now?"

"He's eleven, and he's a nice kid."

"Are you sleeping with his mom?"

"God, Liam, of course not." He exclaimed. "Why do you accuse me of sleeping with every woman I meet?"

"Don't you?" He laughed.

"No." He argued, walking back into the kitchen to finish dinner.

"Are you still seeing Belle?"

"She's around, yes." He knew where this conversation was leading.

"Interesting, it's been what, six months? That's some sort of record for you."

Killian groaned. "I know where you're going with this. She's not my girlfriend. I meant what I said that night, I'm not interested in a relationship."

"Interested or not, you're already in one. So, if you don't actually want to be with this woman, you need to end things before she gets hurt."

"No one is getting hurt; we're just having a little fun. That's all."

"Suit yourself, brother. But one of these days, you're going to have to break that promise or you're going to end up alone."

"And he works underwater all day!" Henry exclaimed excitedly.

"How chu u wrk under watur?" Will spat, his mouth full of food.

"Would you not speak with your mouth full! How old are you?" Emma scolded the man.

"Sorry, Ems, how does he work under water?"

Henry laughed, reaching across the table to grab a slice of bread. "He's a Lieutenant on a submarine. Isn't that cool?"

"That's very cool. I had no idea he had a brother."

"I did, he told me about him before. He lives in Maine, where Killian used to live before he had to move."

Emma chuckled, sharing a glance with Will. "He told you all of that."

"He tells me loads of things when we hang out. The other day, he was doing his laundry and singing. He said it's a sailor thing to sing when you're sad or melon collies." He scrunched up his nose as he said the word.

"Melancholy." Emma corrected.

"You guys should invite him to your happy hour tomorrow night. He doesn't seem to have a lot of friends around here, except for Belle, of course." He paused then sat up straighter. "Or me."

"That's a bloody good idea, kid. The more the merrier."

"What did I tell you about using that word around Henry." Emma whispered.

"His eleven not six! Would you rather I used the F word?" Will groaned.

"Fruit?" Henry responded, looking at her with a confused glance.

"No." Emma said shortly.

"Oh, that word." Henry laughed. "I don't think you should use that word. My friend Roland said it in class the other day and our teacher sent him to the office, he didn't come back to class for an hour."

Emma watched the boys on the other side of the table making jokes and laughing throughout dinner, it made her heart settle seeing Henry smiling. She had hoped that he would get past his initial disappointment from his father bailing on him for a month so he could go chase some ass in Barbados.

While she had been wary of him disturbing and bothering the neighbor, her son seemed quite taken with the man. Ever since the barbeque Henry had lost himself in his writing, spending all of his time jotting down notes in the notebook that he thought he was hiding from her.

She would never read any of it without his permission, but her teacher had told her that he was a talented writer with a very creative mind, so she tried to give him his space to allow his imagination to grow.

As long as he was happy, Emma was content to give him the wings he needed to fly.

"So, do you want me to invite Jones, or would you prefer to drop by yourself." Will wiggled his eyebrows at her and she slapped him on the shoulder.

"What's are you trying to say?"

"Just saying, he's an attractive man, a fact that hasn't escaped your attention."

"I have Graham, I don't need an attractive man." She bit her lip. "I'm not saying that Graham isn't attractive. He is. Very. God why do you always get me so worked up?"

"That's what I thought." He stepped into the hall and headed to his door. "I'll let you invite him. Would hate for you to miss a chance to stare into those baby blue eyes."

"I hate you." He turned around and gestured toward her shirt.

"Maybe open a button or two, ya sexy git."

Emma extended her middle finger toward her friend as he closed the door in her face. Turning she looked down the hall and exhaled loudly. Before she could head toward his door, it opened and a man stepped into the hall, turning right toward her.

He was tall with lighter hair than Killian's, and he didn't carry that same devil-may-care attitude that her neighbor seemed to have at all times. Emma cursed under her breath as he approached, and she stood rooted in her place like a statue.

"Evening." He said with a smile.

"Hello, you must be Liam. My son hasn't stopped talking about the man who works under the water since he got home."

The man's grin grew wide on his face. "Henry, right?"

"That's him, about this high…" She held her hand up in front of her. "Loads of questions."

He laughed. "He is very inquisitive."

"I'm Emma." She held out her hand and he took it with a firm handshake.

"It's nice to meet you Emma. Glad to see my little brother has some friendly faces around him."

"Well, we are one big happy family here at Skyline Apartments." She internally cursed herself for sounding like a complete idiot.

"It was very nice to meet you, Emma. I'm sure we'll see each other again." He raised his eyebrow and then nodded at her as he headed to the elevator.

Emma waited until the elevator doors closed before turning down the hall toward Killian's door. Standing in front of it, she brushed her fingers through her hair, stopping at the collar of her shirt. Without thinking she undid the top button, pushing her chest out.

What the hell was she doing? She didn't come here to flirt with the man, she had a boyfriend!

For the hell of it she unbuttoned the second button, shaking her head in disbelieve at herself and knocked on the door.

The door opened quickly, "Did you forget something?" He paused, his eyes trailing from her face down her body before snapping back up to meet her eyes. "Uh sorry, Swan. Henry's not here."

"No, yes, I mean, I know." She said with a slight fluster. "I'm here to ask if you wanted to go to a bar. Tomorrow." The smirk on his face started to grow. "I mean for happy hour, with my friends, not like you and me or a date or anything like that because I have a Grant…Graham." The words spilled out of her mouth as she reached up to grab a lock of her hair, spinning it between her fingers.

"Are you asking me out, Swan?" He teased.

"To happy hour, Jones. You can bring Brittany."

"Belle." He stated with an arrogant chuckle.

"Sure, bring her too. 7pm, Howl at the Moon on High Street." Turning quickly, she walked away, she was sure her face was a special color of red. As she got to her door, she turned the handle but sadly realized the door was locked. She glanced back toward Killian's apartment and saw him leaning against his door watching her in amusement.

"Door's locked." She said absentmindedly, knocking on the door. When Henry didn't answer she turned and knocked on Will's door. "Just gonna check on Will." She hollered toward Killian who was currently staring at her with apparent glee. The door opened and Will looked at her with a grin.

"Back so soon? My God did you take off the whole shirt." Emma shoved him backward into the apartment and slammed the door shut behind her, leaning against the door and banging her head backwards. "So…"

"Don't say anything." She warned with her finger in his face.

Killian climbed the plank of the Jolly Roger, exhausted and feeling slightly defeated by this Baelfire man. As soon as he approached the ladder, he heard a noise behind him. Turning he saw his first mate standing behind him.

"You left early."

"I tried to find you. What happened tonight?"

Killian stared at his boots. "He was there. I saw him. And lost him." He growled.

"Did he get the diamond?"

"No. But he won't leave without it."

"So, we're staying."

"Aye, I will not let this Swan Thief best me. Tomorrow I will go into town and inquire about this Baelfire man." He turned toward his quarters. "Get some sleep, French. Tomorrow we play a new game."

"Aye Captain."

He closed his cabin door with a thud, kicking the ladder at the end of his bunk. He had not been beat in a long time. Yet this man got away from him. He wouldn't leave until he had this Baelfire in irons.

He heard a creak outside his door and reached for his cutlass. Blowing out the candle at his desk, he creeped toward his door, hiding in the shadows.

The door squeaked as it slowly slid against the wooden planks, a dark figure stepped into the room, peering into the expanse of his cabin. Killian stepped forward, wrapping an arm around the neck of the intruder, and putting his blade to their neck. "It's bad form to enter a man's room uninvited."

"Don't hurt me." The woman squealed and Killian dropped his resolve for a second, long enough for the lass to turn on her heels, a dagger sticking into his side.

"Well played, love." He growled, whipping his arm forward and grabbing the dagger from her hand, spinning her in his arms until he had her pinned to his desk. Reaching up he grabbed the hood from her cloak and yanked it from her head. The moonlight shone on her face, a smirk growing across his lips. "You're a long way from the castle, Princess."

"I was just curious." She said softly.

"Curiosity is dangerous for someone of your stature." He removed the blade, releasing her from his grasp. "Does your brother know you strayed from the castle?"

"My brother spends far too much time worrying about my affairs." She complained.

"How can I be of service, M'lady?" He said with a mocking bow.

"What is your business with the King?" She asked.

"I told you earlier, it's confidential." He pulled the bottle from his cabinet, pouring a glass of rum for himself and his curious companion. Pushing the glass toward her, he took a swig of the warm liquid. Watching as she eyed the glass, her fingertips sliding around the tip.

"Is it in regard to the Duke?" She mused, taking the glass in her hand, and smelling the liquid it held inside.

"I'm as uninterested in the affairs of the Duke as it appears the lady is." He narrowed his eyes, watching her put the glass to her lips. His brow raised as she hesitated with the drink. Sensing this, she tilted the glass, swallowing the liquid inside. As soon as it reached her throat she began sputtering and coughing. The Captain laughed, taking the glass from her hands.

Putting her hand over her mouth, she coughed once more, then lifted her chin. "And the King was not trying to convince you to offer your own hand?"

Killian chuckled. "I have no need for a wife?"

"He's hired you for something." She said angrily. "I want to know what it is."

"Are you quite certain you can handle it?"

"I'm not a child."

"No, you most certainly are not." He said, stepping closer to her, his hand reaching out to run his fingers through her golden locks. Her breath hitched in her throat, but she didn't move from her spot. "Baelfire." He whispered.

"What did you say?" She gasped.

"Your brother believes a man named Baelfire to be the notorious Swan Thief. He asked me to stop him from stealing the jewel of Arendelle. A diamond I believe." He left out the part about knowing the man's connection to the Princess.

She blinked. "It can't be." She stepped away from him. "He's not been seen in years."

"I can assure you; I saw him with my own eyes tonight. At the castle."

Her eyes grew wide. "Henry." She turned toward the door. "I have to get back to the castle."

Reaching forward he grabbed her by the arm. "Princess." She turned toward him, a frantic look in her eyes. "This man terrifies you?"

"He can't get near Henry."

"I will find this Baelfire, love. I won't let him near you or your boy." He said earnestly. She didn't flinch at his words, but her expression softened.

"Meet me tomorrow morning, behind the Thirsty Lion." She turned to leave before spinning back to him. "But say nothing of this to the King."

"We have an accord, Princess Emma."

"Call me Swan." She smiled, pulling the hair clip from her tresses, and pressing it into his hand and scurrying up the ladder as she retreated from his sight.

"Swan." He whispered into the shadows, holding his palm up to the moonlight, the silver swan hairpiece glistening in its glow.

From the shadows of the deck, a figure watched the woman retreat from the Jolly Roger. Slipping into the darkness, he covered himself with a large canvas tarp. He was unsure what business his mother had with the Captain, or if any of this had to do with the man that was being hunted outside the castle, but Henry was determined to find out.