A/N: SURPRISE! I'm not dead, and neither is this poor neglected fic.
Hey there, so this is only a year behind schedule... so sorry for leaving this hanging so long, but it's been a long fought battle against the real world. I'm not completely past it yet, but I'm working on dealing, and getting past the issues. I can make no guarantees as to the regularity of posting for the remaining chapters, but I can promise they are coming.
I just want to say that I am immensely grateful to everyone that left comments (even though I've kinda neglected those too) and reached out to me during this time, AND I'm no less appreciative of every single person that takes the time to read my stories.
So without further ado, I truly hope you enjoy this chapter.
CHAPTER THREE
Emma had closed herself off in her cabin after her enlightening conversation with the eternally insufferable Mr. Jones, and his nonchalance. Having readied herself for bed she is pacing her cabin in nothing but her nightgown, carrying the book she had hoped would distract her from the insufferable Mr. Jones. She mutters to herself mockingly, "I was about to be hanged. It seemed like a good idea at the time." Letting her agitation get the better of her, Emma growls, "The NERVE!" Looking in the mirror above her sink she realizes that the porthole window has come open. Setting her book down on the edge of the sink, she storms over to the window, deciding to let out some of her frustration by slamming it shut.
After slamming the window shut, she thinks she hears something, but turning in the direction of the "noise" she doesn't see anything. Huffing out a frustrated breath, trying to calm herself, Emma turns back to face the adjoining wall to Mr. Jones' room glaring at a spot just to the side of the mirror above the sink as she thinks to herself, this man is driving me crazy, he has me thinking I'm hearing things now. Despite blaming the supposed phantom noise on her current agitated state, she can't shake the feeling that something just isn't right. Something feels off.
Making her way back to the sink, Emma mutters to herself, "Fine! If it was just a kiss to him, then it was just a kiss for me. It wasn't that good of a kiss anyway." Reaching for her book, she accidentally knocks it to the floor instead. She sighs out an agitated "of course" as she bends to pick it up. When she stands back up after retrieving the book, she is startled to see a menacing looking man in all black, with a hook for a hand, has somehow made his way into her private room. Who are you and what the fuck are you doing in my room? It's only as he starts toward her that she realizes she didn't say that out loud.
"Where is the map?" he barks out. The unknown man continues to stalk towards her brandishing the hook at the end of his right arm, barking out again, "Where is the map?"
Having been backed against the sink behind her and the intruder still making steps towards her, Emma points in the direction of the table in the middle of the roomstuttering out, "It's- It's… there." At this moment, Emma is torn between wanting to scratch his eyes out, and hoping that he will just take the map and leave her alone.
He halts his steps towards her as he turns to the side to grab up the map from where Emma had laid it out. "And the key? Where is the key?" he demands turning back to face her.
"The key? What key?" Confusion and panic color her tone as she wracks her brain trying to remember seeing a key.
"Emma!" Killian bursts into the room, drawing his guns as he crosses the threshold, startling both Emma and the hooked man. How did he even know anything was wrong? Did he hear the man's voice through our joined wall? Before the intruder can get his bearings over the sudden intrusion, Killian starts shooting.
"Swan, I need you to get behind me. Now." Emma makes her way toward Killian as quickly as she can manage while skirting out of arm's reach of her would be attacker. As she makes it to Killian's side, one of the bullets finds its mark, burrowing into the intruder's shoulder.
"Let's get you out of here, lass." Emma makes her way out of the room as Killian backs out shooting off a couple more rounds to cover their exit, in case the wounded man decides to make another move.
After they've almost made it halfway down the hall, Emma turns as if to head back to her cabin crying out, "The map! The map! I forgot the map!"
Gripping Emma by the shoulders and turning her back around as he tucks her into his side, keeping them moving towards the exit, Killian assures her, "Relax. I'm the map. It's alI up here." He points to his head with the hand not currently holding on to her, as he hurries her along.
"Oh, that's comforting," Emma quips with equal parts sarcasm and uncertainty.
They finally make it to the main deck, and as soon as they've cleared the doors leading from the cabin corridors, they have to dodge shots from gunmen shrouded in the same black clothing as the hooked man. They fight their way across the burning ship to the railing separating them from the river, with Killian trading shots to cover their trek across the deck. Pulling up short once they've reached the railing, Killian thrusts his weapons duffle into Emma's arms and says, "Hold on to this." He gives her an assessing look as he inquires, "Can you swim?"
Bewildered by this whole situation, Emma clips out a brusque, "Of course I can swim, if the occasion calls for it."
"Trust me. It calls for it." With a wink, Killian picks her up bridal style, and launches her over the railing into the water below.
Before he can jump, following in his swan's wake, Blackbeard rushes him in a panic, shouting, "Jones! Jones! What are we going to do?"
"Wait here! I'll go get help!"
Killian silently laughs to himself as Blackbeard nods his head in agreement and calls out, "Right!"
Not giving Blackbeard the chance to realize that he's just agreed to wait on the flaming ship for Killian to bring back help, he launches himself over the railing landing in the water below. As his head crests the water's surface, he hears the slower man's shout of frustrated realization. Not slowing in the least to see if Blackbeard follows him into the water, Killian makes waves to catch up to his swan to relieve her of having to drag his miniature armory in her wake.
As they all make their way slowly out of the water, and up onto the riverbank, Killian looks back to see that August and Blackbeard are on his and Emma's heels.
Seemingly at her wits end, Emma cries out, "We've lost everything! All of our tools, alI the equipment! All my clothes!" As she lists that last item, Emma glances down at the state of herself in a now nearly transparent white sleeping gown.
Killian notes her discomfort as a blush creeps across her features. "August, since you've managed to keep yours, be a good lad, and let your sister have your coat."
Gently Killian reaches out to grasp Emma's shoulders, making sure to look her in the eyes, as he tries to reassure her by saying, "Relax lass. There is a small bedouin village up ahead, we will stop there for rest and to get supplies. Everything we need is right in front of us."
Emma gives Killian an appreciative smile for his pep talk, as well as for him helping to secure August's coat around her shoulders.
Killian and Emma are snapped out of the moment by Arthur's distant shout. "Jones! Hey! Jones! It looks to me like I've got alI the horses!"
Killian doesn't miss a beat, yelling back,"Hey, Arthur! Looks to me like you're on the wrong side of the river!" Killian is certain that his grin can be seen by Arthur, forcing the man to pause and realize, as he looks around, that Killian is correct. Killian can practically hear the curses falling from Arthur's lips as he stomps his foot and storms down the riverbank toward his companions.
Emma has tried sneaking looks at Jones since they had the moment on the riverbank, only to find that he is already looking at her. As soon as their eyes meet they both quickly look away, but Emma looks back in time to see him rubbing a patch of skin behind his ear, which she has presumed to be some kind of nervous tick.
Twenty minutes into their trek to the village, Emma can no longer keep her thoughts to herself.
"Alright Jones, out with it. What has you wound so tight?"
"We need to have a conversation, but I'm not sure how you're going to react to it."
"That sounds perfectly ominous. Just say whatever it is, and we will figure out how to deal with it after we're all privy."
"Well. The village we're headed to, it operates under its own unique customs and traditions. It is a Bedouin society I had some dealings with three years ago on my way to Cairo from Hamunaptra. Although they are a nomadic people, they're always camped near the river this time of year. They're quite hospitable and will happily assist us for the night, however, if you are seen as unmarried and to his liking, you could be acquired as the tribal elder's ninth wife. So, it might be best to ensure your continued freedom if you and August were to pretend to be married."
"What?! She is my sister Jones, I can't act as though she is my wife. You do it."
"What?! August, you would rather I pretend to be married to Jones for your delicate sensibilities?" Though she is secretly delighted by the idea, Emma still can't believe her brother's flippant attitude towards the matter.
"I would be more than happy to be your husband Ms. Nolan, for a night, or longer if you wished it." Blackbeard voiced his offer with an utterly lewd and sinister look on his face.
"The decision is up to you Swan, you have your pick of suitors. With whom do you desire to share your marital bed tonight?" The smarmy ass has the audacity to wink at her after what he has just said to her.
Emma assesses her two marital prospects, and though there is no contest, she wants to make Jones sweat a bit before she finally answers with, "I guess you'll be acceptable for a night, Jones. But don't get any ideas."
"I promise Swan, I am always a gentleman, your honor will remain intact, if you wish it to be." Killian waggles his eyebrows at her playfully.
"Fine. But you better stay on your side of the tent, and keep your hands to yourself."
Early the next morning, Killian is trying to decide whether to laugh or be frustrated with August's attempts at haggling for camels. When August seems to have finally hit his limit, shouting at the camel jockey, "I only want four! Four! I only want four, not a whole bloody herd! Jones! Ohh! Can you believe the cheek?"
"Would you just pay the man already, August?"
His comment only seems to make the man even more indignant. Letting out a frustrated huff, August acquiesces so their group can finally start making tracks towards their goal.
"Oh, for heaven's sake," August grumbles, not quite under his breath as he snatches his wallet from his pocket. "I can't believe the price of these fleabags."
"You probably could've got 'em for free. All you had to do was give him your sister." Killian hadn't even noticed Blackbeard's approach until the other man spoke, and after hearing what he had to say, Killian would have much rathered he'd just kept his thoughts to himself.
"Yes. Awfully tempting. Isn't it?"
Emma was making her way towards the men as they were bantering, and Killian finally got a good look at the clothes that were given to her from the women of the village, no doubt to encourage the attentions of her husband. Only after the air returned to his lungs was he finally able to answer August's halfhearted quip. "Awfully."
The group makes their way out into the desert with their newly acquired camels and equipment, with nothing to pass the arduous hours but idle chit chat and getting lost to the depths of their own minds. As the sun has finally set and Killian is the only one still awake to ensure they stay true to their course, he can no longer keep his mind from wandering to the amazing woman currently asleep on his shoulder and their exciting morning. Exciting, and just a bit uncomfortable, but waking up to a beautiful woman in your arms will do that to a man, though he had tried to hide his discomfort, it quickly became noticed by the all too observant Swan. She had cast aspersions on his gentlemanly code, when it had not even been a conscious effort on his part, betrayed by his traitorous body. Bad form, all around. Though despite the traitorous revelation, his Swan had not tried to pull away from him and untangle their limbs for some time as they had bantered back and forth. Not, until August had made his presence known outside their tent, in the form of complaints about them wasting the day lying about. After August left in a snit, Killian couldn't resist one final quip before departing the tent, about how he and his gentlemanly honor were intact, seeing as how she had been the one to make her way across the tent to snuggle with him.
Killian chuckled quietly to himself at that last thought, and how another parallel could be drawn with their current situation, with how his Swan had brought her camel closer to his before falling asleep and using his shoulder as a pillow, once again. Not that he was going to complain.
A/N: I want to send all my love to HollyeLeigh, Ilovemesomekillianjones, and Kmomof4 for all of the endless conversations, love, faith, and support with this story, and my real life woes.
Comments help feed the muse.