Chapter 6: The Princess and the Pirate

"So, Belle, my son says that you work at the library."

"She has access to the restricted section." Will chimed in and Emma was amused with his sudden obsession over the woman.

"Well, the restricted section is part of my job, but hardly the full extent of what I do."

"How long have you two been together?" Emma inquired.

"Oh well, Killian and I don't really keep track of…" She stammered before he interrupted.

"Six months." Killian added to the conversation causing the woman beside him to look up suddenly. He shrugged at his date and turned his attention to Graham. "And what of you lovely people? How long have you been together?"

"The same actually." Graham chimed in cheerfully. "Though I've known Emma for years. As you know, her brother and I were friends back in high school, college roommates, all the cliché's. After turning me down on multiple occasions, Emma finally accepted an invitation to dinner."

"Wore the ole girl down, did ya?" Killian mused, seemingly proud of his dry wit, but from his immediate reaction she could see that Belle had promptly kicked him under the table.

"I think the bloody count was something like 393 invitations before she said yes." Will laughed, Ruby quickly joining in the merriment before Emma glared in their direction.

"That kind of determination deserves a drink." Killian pushed a shot glass toward Graham.

"Oh, I shouldn't, I'm on duty." Emma fought the urge to roll her eyes, but Graham took his job very seriously.

"I didn't realize you were a cop." Belle stated with enthusiasm.

"Security Guard. I work for Providence House."

"He watches old people play cards and eat cottage cheese." Emma did her own kicking under the table as she stomped on Will's foot. "Oi." He complained, sitting up in his seat with a pout on his face.

"At least he has a job." Emma growled.

"I have a job, ya bleeding minx." Will stammered.

"Walking Henry to school and volunteering as the crossing guard, do not exactly count as jobs!" Emma said with a roll of her eyes.

"I do that stuff for fun." He laughed. "I make all my real cash with me streaming channel."

Emma groaned loudly. "Explain to me how a grown adult can get paid anything for playing video games." Ruby complained.

"What game do you stream? Are you on twitch?" Emma's eyes darted to the quiet girl beside Killian.

"Aye. Sea of Thieves."

"What's your username?"

"Knaveofyourheart."

Emma stared between the two of them, catching Killian's eye for a moment. "Belle streams weekly from the library, apparently it's quite a popular channel."

"I'm Bellereadsbooks, I read live every Friday afternoon." Her cheeks blushed a crimson shade of red as Will reacted with a large grin at her admission.

"And what do you do Killian?" Graham interrupted.

"I'm a Captain for Boston Harbor tours. I have the glorious privilege of providing tourists with the history of the Boston tea party at least 4 times a day."

Emma took a swig of her beer, watching the man sitting across from her explain his day-to-day duties onboard his ship. She tried not to stare, but his voice kept drawing her.

"How did you get a job doing that?" Will asked.

"I used to be a Captain in the Navy. Once I retired I missed the ocean, this was the closest I could get to continuing my affair with her."

"That's hot." Ruby chimed in, obviously after one too many shots. Killian simply chuckled and sipped his beer.

"Did you two meet on one of these harbor cruises?" Graham continued, ignoring Ruby's inappropriate flirting.

Killian glanced at Belle, "Actually no, we met at a bar. She kicked my arse in pool, actually." He leaned in to plant a light kiss on the girl's forehead and Emma felt an odd sensation in her stomach.

"If only your cocky attitude was as good as your pool playing abilities." She teased, nudging him with her shoulder.

"You wound me, love."

"Why are all the hot ones taken?" Ruby whined in the bathroom an hour later.

"Who?"

"Killian, I mean come on, tell me those blue eyes and tight ass don't make you wet your pants just a little."

"Ruby!"

"I'd fuck him."

"He has a girlfriend."

"I said I'd fuck him, not marry him." She winked.

"You're impossible." Emma ran her hands under the water as the door opened and Belle entered the bathroom. Emma sent a warning glance in Ruby's direction.

"It's so warm out there." The woman said, fanning herself with her hand.

"Yeah, drunk horny men put off a different kind of heat." Ruby said with a drunken slur. Emma gave Belle an apologetic glance.

"Thanks so much for inviting us tonight. We never go out with friends."

Emma smiled. "No problem, I'm glad you could come on such short notice."

The woman stepped into the stall and Emma grabbed her friend by the arm and yanked her out of the bathroom. "Why are we running?" Ruby complained.

"I don't like small talk."

"You mean you don't want to have to talk to the woman of the man you've been eye fucking all night?"

"I have not been doing any eye fucking!" She denied with a whisper at the end and her friend rolled her eyes as they walked back to the table.

Emma purposely avoided Killian's gaze the rest of the evening, not that she felt like she was staring at him too much previously but knowing that Ruby was watching her, she suddenly felt self-conscience about how often she met his eyes. And she definitely didn't want to explain to Ruby that every time his blue eyes met hers, the smirk that turned up on his lips made her stomach do flips.

"Suddenly we've been dating for six months?" Belle huffed as she slid onto the back of his bike.

"Has it not been six months?" He shrugged, pulling his helmet over his head, he felt her arms wrap around his waist as the bike whirred to life ending any further chance for conversation.

He didn't know why he felt the need to answer the question tonight, it had always been awkward when people questioned his and Belle's relationship. He knew that she hated answering the question, he thought maybe he was just saving her from the same old response, trying to explain that they didn't have a relationship, they were simply…

Simply what?

Killian didn't exactly know what they were doing. It wasn't as simple as just fucking. They hung out, he helped around her apartment, he brought her lunch at the library.

Maybe his brother was right. Maybe someone was going to get hurt the longer they continued whatever this was.

After dropping Belle off, he drove back to his place, lost in thought as the elevator doors opened to his floor.

"Killian!"

He looked up to see the boy running toward him. "Evening, lad."

"Guess what?"

He put his hand to his chin and stared toward the ceiling. "Hmm, let's see…" He paused. "Your teacher grew three arms and school got cancelled."

The boy giggled. "No."

"A leprechaun gave you a pot of gold."

"No, but that would be cool."

"I give up!"

"My teacher picked my poem as the winner for the literacy fair." He practically squealed with excitement.

"Great job kid!"

"I get to read it, on stage at the fair. You'll come won't you?"

Killian stared at the boy for a moment, an odd sensation of pride and something he couldn't place washing over him. "When would this be taking place?"

"Tomorrow night at my school. Please tell me you'll come." He practically begged.

"I wouldn't miss it." He said with a smile.

"Yay!" Henry jumped up and down in front of him before running back down the hall toward his door. "I'm supposed to be getting ready for bed. Talk to you later." The boy disappeared into his apartment and Killian couldn't help the smile that grew on his face.

Henry scurried from the deck of the ship as the morning light began to touch the wooden planks of the Jolly Roger, slipping behind a stack of crates sitting on the docks. He watched as Captain Jones emerged from the bowels of the ship, strutting across the deck to the helm where a woman in man's clothing stood waiting to accept his orders.

Henry strained to hear the conversation but was too far away to make out the voices over the breeze across the waters. He hunched down behind the crates as the Captain made his way down the plank, peering around as if waiting for someone who may be lurking around the corner to jump out and attack.

When the man's back was to him, he left his hiding spot, following the man through the streets of the town until he reached the destination that his mother had directed him to the night previous. The man looked around, searching his surroundings to ensure he had no unwanted attention before he disappeared down the alley behind the bar.

Henry quickly followed the man, ducking behind a barrel when he heard voices.

"You came." He heard his mother's voice further down the alley.

"I was merely curious as to the information you could provide, even though I am fairly certain I can capture this Swan Thief without your assistance."

"So, you let him escape on purpose last night?" She mused.

"Merely an inconvenience, M'lady." He heard his mother laugh sarcastically.

"I overheard my brother talking last night about one of the guards not showing up for duty. He assumed it to be because of drink. But I know Leroy, and even though he likes to drink, he would never abandon his post."

"You think this guard, this Leroy, has something to do with Baelfire?"

Henry strained to listen as their voices got softer. His mother's voice was almost at a whisper as she spoke.

"A long time ago, when Baelfire and I were…"

"Enjoying each other's company?" The man interrupted.

"In a manner, yes. Leroy was assigned as my detail. One day he caught us together and I begged him not to report the information back to the King. I swore to him that when the time was right, I would tell the King myself about my affair with Baelfire. He provided a way into the castle so that we could be together without being caught, a secret passageway."

"You think he's using this secret passageway to get into the castle now?"

"Well, it's pretty suspicious that he got in the castle last night, the same night that Leroy suddenly abandons his post."

"Where is this passageway?"

"It's starts in Leroy's home. It's a tunnel that leads into the castle's dungeon."

"Bloody hell woman, why didn't you just tell me this last night?"

"And let you have all the glory? No. If you're going to capture Baelfire, I want to be there!"

"I don't think that's a good idea, Princess."

"I told you not to call me that."

"Fine, Swan." He said, his tone dripping with acid. "I'm not taking a Princess on a mission to capture a dangerous thief." He said angrily.

"I'm going with you!" She demanded angrily.

"How do I know that you aren't in league with this Swan Thief? Maybe you are playing your own con, sweetheart. You were after all involved with this man in the past. Maybe you still care about him."

"I loathe him! I want nothing more than to see him hang from the gallows for what he did to me. To our son."

Henry slipped and fell forward into the dirt in front of the barrel. Killian sprung forward, drawing his cutlass, and ripping him from the ground, the cold steel of the blade pressed against his throat.

"Wait, stop." Princess Emma screamed. "Don't hurt him."

Killian looked into the man's eyes, recognizing the young lad from the night before.

"He's my son."

Emma watched her son in the front seat of her bug, his nervous energy bubbling all around him.

"Are you excited?"

"Yeah. Do you think dad got my message about it?"

"I'm sure he did, kiddo."

"He didn't call me back." He frowned.

"I'm sure he's just busy and as soon as he gets time, he'll call." Emma hated lying for Neal. It made her so angry that he didn't put his son first in anything.

"I just wanted him to hear my poem."

"I'm sorry, Henry."

"It's ok, I'm gonna go inside." He pushed the door opened and slumped over as he walked into the building. Emma pulled away from the building and found the first parking spot she could get, locking her door and heading into the building to find a seat.

As soon as she entered the auditorium and located the seating area she found herself stunned. Sitting near the front of the stage in his black leather jacket, looking around uncomfortably was Killian Jones.

Tentatively she walked toward her neighbor, ignoring the pounding of her heart in her chest. "Killian?"

He turned toward her, a smile forming on his face. "Swan."

"What are you doing here?"

"The lad invited me last night. He seemed rather excited about the performance so I couldn't really say no."

"I'm sure he'll be very excited that you actually came."

"I told him I would come; I wouldn't disappoint him by not keeping my word."

Emma exhaled with a hard sigh. "Sadly, that hasn't been a common occurrence in his life."

Their eyes met; he opened his mouth to say something when they were interrupted by a squeal of a microphone.

"Good evening and thank you for coming, we have a very special evening planned for you. So, sit back and enjoy as our very talented students share their work with you."

Emma sat through each performance waiting anxiously for Henry's turn, trying to focus her attention on each child that spoke instead of on the man sitting next to her. However, the more she tried to ignore him, the more she noticed the way his body seemed to gravitate toward hers, his leg lightly brushing against hers each time he shifted in his seat.

"And next we have the winner of the poetry contest, Henry Swan."

Emma brought her attention back to the stage, clapping her hands as she heard Killian whistle beside her.

"Hi, my name is Henry Swan, and this is my poem, titled The Princess and The Pirate."

The Princess sits in her castle waiting for true love to find her

Her hair painted golden by the shimmering sunlight as time stands still

The lonely Pirate travels across the sea singing a mournful song of loss

The planks of his ship his only refuge from the sting of his broken heart

How will the Pirate ever find the affection he desires

If he lingers in the solitude he has created?

How will the princess claim the belonging she desperately craves

If she cannot trust the words uttered in the darkness of her mind?

The Princess and the Pirate met at a crossroad

Bringing with them the hope of a new beginning

Would love blossom beneath the spring of a new connection

Or would the two be cursed to repeat the mistakes that brought them here

Time ticked forward

Hope sprang renewed

The Princess and the Pirate

True love's fairytale

Emma sat stunned in her seat, nervously glancing at the man seated beside her with an equally dazed look on his face. She shook off the familiarness of the poem, wondering where her son had gotten the idea to write it in the first place. She knew he had a grand imagination, but she had expected a poem about Star Wars or a dog, not about a woman and a sailor in love.

Especially not about a sailor who sings songs about being sad, songs that her son had just told her about.

She was imagining it. Henry would never.

She shook her head, as if removing them from her brain and laughing quietly to herself. She felt the man beside her lean closer. The hair on the back of her neck stood tall when she felt his breath against her ear.

"The lad is very talented. Quite the imagination, makes me wonder where his inspiration comes from." Emma's breath hitched, she turned toward him, his sky-blue eyes staring back at her.

"Uh huh." Her teeth nipped at her bottom lip; her body frozen by the trance he seemed to have her locked in. She chuckled nervously. "I have no idea where he gets this stuff from."

The lights came up and she moved quickly away from Killian, standing up from her seat to look for Henry. He came running up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She hugged him tightly. "You were so good up there."

"Thanks Mom!" Pausing for a heartbeat, he turned away from her, launching himself toward Killian and to her surprise, wrapping his arms around him. Emma stood, her mouth agape, watching the display in front of her. Henry had hugged Will many times, he was always hugging David, but they were family. Killian was by all intents, just a neighbor, someone they hadn't even known that long.

In fact, as Emma stood there trying to think back, she couldn't remember a single time she had seen him hug Graham.

"I can't believe you came. Did you see me up there? That was really scary, there are so many people here tonight."

"Aye, lad, you were very brave."

"Did you like my poem?" He asked anxiously.

"It was very…" His eyes met Emma's. "Creative. What got you thinking about pirates?"

"I love fairytales, mom reads them to me all the time. I think Pirates are cool."

"Me too, lad." He winked at the boy.

"Plus, you're a pirate, so I wanted to write about you." He exclaimed.

"Me?"

"Yeah all those songs you sing, like a sailor, but cooler."

Emma saw a blush spring on his cheeks, his jaw clenched for a moment before his smile returned and he glanced nervously at Emma. "Well, it's an honor lad that you wanted to include me in your tale."

"I'm starving, can we eat?" Henry announced, thankfully changing the subject.

Emma laughed. "Boys are always hungry."

"Thank you again for inviting me, Henry." Killian said with a smile as he turned to the exit.

"You're not coming?" The boy frowned.

"I wouldn't want to…" He started just as Emma had spoken.

"Henry, I'm sure that Killian has more important things…"

"There's this pizza place on the water, and you can see the sailboats. It's mom's favorite because she likes to sit on the patio and listen to the seagulls." Henry gushed, spilling details that Emma felt suddenly exposed by.

Emma could feel his eyes on her, her face warming the longer he stared. "I uh…"

"Please mom, can he come?"

"That's up to him, we don't want to keep him from Belle or…"

A small smirk formed on his face before he turned toward Henry. "I'd be honored to come with you."

"Can I ride on the bike?"

"Absolutely not." Emma barked out quickly.

"Some other time, lad." He winked and Emma quickly gave him the address so that he could meet them there. Her heart was pounding rapidly in her chest. "See you there."

Emma nodded absentmindedly, watching him head to the exit, her eyes drifting down and resting on his ass, his jeans hugging every curve of his…

"Mom? Did you hear me."

She jumped. "What? Sorry, I got distracted."

"Are we leaving? I'm starving."