Short chapter... but what everyone has been waiting for, I think. ;)
Two days.
It's been two days and she still hasn't awoken.
Two days of sitting at her bedside, talking in a low voice he only prays she can hear. Two days of holding her hand, running his thumb along the pulse in her wrist to assure himself her heart is still beating. Two days of watching the woman he loves lie completely still, while he sits, feeling more helpless than he's ever felt in his life.
He's only left her side when absolutely necessary. Like yesterday, when he'd had to pilot the ship into port to drop off Leroy. He'd been itching to get back to her every second and then, just as the gangplank had lowered, Granny had alighted on deck and insisted on staying as well. He'd nearly lost his mind waiting while the two of them argued over it. In the end, Granny had won by pointing out that they'd all starve if she wasn't around to feed them.
And now, here he is again at the helm, his eyes completely unfocused as he waits for Ruby to appear and tell him he can come back down. She'd practically shoved him out of the room a little while ago, telling him to get some fresh air while she changed Emma's sodden clothes for fresh ones. He'd wanted to offer to help but he didn't think Ruby would have liked that idea so he'd agreed, albeit reluctantly, to wait above deck while she attended to the task.
A cool wind whips around him, the sky above him gray as a storm brews in the distance. Instinct alone makes him turn the wheel west to avoid it, his thoughts not on the sea but on the woman below.
She has magic. Powerful magic.
Magic so powerful that she'd knocked out a dozen black knights with one thrust of her hands.
His lungs squeeze in his chest as he remembers the moment the light had shot out from her palms. It had looked like lighting radiating from her fingers but… not. It had been as bright as lightning, aye, but it hadn't been jagged, more curved, almost like waves in the air. He'd felt it just before it released, a split second of heat in his chest when her hands started to glow. Her body had tensed beside him as if she were just as surprised as he, which he supposes she was. According to Ruby, it was the first time she'd ever done something like this.
Thank the heavens above for Ruby. He doesn't know how he would have survived these last days without her. Her presence has proved to be a soothing balm, somehow managing to keep him from losing his sanity over the distress of Emma's continued unconscious state. And she's an amazing cook, as well – much better than any other he's had for the last several years.
And Dopey… Well, Dopey has taken to sailing with surprising ease and there is definitely something to be said about a sailor who follows orders without question, always with a smile on his face. The little dwarf is the best first mate he's ever had.
Speaking of his new first mate, suddenly Dopey is at his side, tugging frantically at his sleeve. He turns to find the dwarf giving him a huge smile, excitedly pointing toward the hatch to his quarters then lifting both of his fists next to his head and opening his hands to spread his fingers while popping his eyes wide.
His message couldn't be clearer: Emma is awake.
Killian runs to the hatch and nearly tears the door off its hinges in his haste. When he lands on the floor of his cabin, it takes his eyes a moment to adjust to the dim light but after one step Emma's form comes into focus and his breath catches in his lungs.
She's sitting up on the side of the bed but bent over with her eyes on the floor and leaning heavily on Ruby who is struggling to keep her upright while also pushing her hair out of her face.
"Where are we?" she's asking in a weak voice, "Is Granny alright?"
"Yes, she's fine. Don't worry, we made it out. We're on a ship."
Then Emma's head lifts and her hand grips at Ruby's shoulder as she asks with urgency, "Killian. I saw Killian. Where is he?"
"I'm here, Princess," he says.
Her eyes shoot to him and a dreamy expression crosses her features.
"Killian," she sighs on a breath as she tries to stand and immediately stumbles.
He rushes forward and catches her, lifting her into his chest and crushing her to him. "I've got you, love. I've got you. You're going to be fine."
Her hands are caught between them, her palm pressed against his heart and he feels a crackle of energy race through his veins. When she lifts her head, he moves his hand up to support the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her silky hair.
"You're real," she whispers in disbelief, her eyes wide and soft.
He smiles, a tender emotion flooding through him as he leans forward and presses his forehead to hers.
"Aye, darling. I'm real."
She closes her eyes and hums, her fingers digging into his chest and he swears his entire body warms from her touch.
"It wasn't a dream," she says.
"It wasn't a dream," he echoes.
He eases her back to the edge of the bed, still supporting her neck, closing his eyes as well and rubbing his nose against hers. Breathing a deep and satisfied sigh, he stills, almost afraid to move for fear that he'll wake and find it is all a dream.
When her hands shift against his chest, his breath catches and sparks shoot through his veins. The next thing he knows, light is filtering through his closed eyelids and he opens them to see her palms glowing against his chest.
Emma gasps in surprise, pulling her hands away, and the glow fades. His body cools as soon as the light is gone and Emma slumps again.
He doesn't know what makes him do it but he catches her right hand in his and presses it back over his heart. The glow immediately returns and Emma sighs as if in relief. This time she keeps it pressed to him, her eyes focused on it as she grips at his fingers to keep their hands together.
The warmth is back, coursing through his veins and prickling at his skin. It's an odd feeling but it doesn't hurt. It feels more like that moment when you come in from the cold and shiver when the warmth hits you, only without the shivering.
The light brightens enough to illuminate the whole room and Emma's breathing gets stronger. She lifts her other hand, places it on top of the two that are linked and closes her eyes while taking a deep breath in through her nose. The glow seeps into her skin and travels up her arm, moving through her until her entire body shimmers. When it reaches her neck, she tilts her head back in a gesture that reminds him of someone basking in the sun. Her grip tightens on his for several heartbeats before the light starts to fade and she opens her eyes. He would swear her eyes are actually blazing for that instant, but then she blinks and the light is gone.
Neither of them speak as their eyes hold, both of them shocked by the experience. It's not until Ruby speaks up from across the room that they break apart.
"Emma? Are you okay?" she asks tentatively.
She looks over to Ruby and then back to him without responding as she pushes on his chest to give her some space. Moving her right hand up to his shoulder, she attempts to stand again.
He reaches out to steady her but this time there's no need. Her feet hit the ground and she pushes up without so much as a single wobble, standing straight and steady in front of him. He stays by her side as she takes a few careful steps and then she smiles and looks to him with amazement.
"I'm fine," she says. Then turning to Ruby, adds, "No weakness at all. I feel like I could climb a mountain."
Ruby rushes forward and embraces her with a relieved chuckle. "It's your magic, Emma! You're finally unlocking your magic!"
Dopey, who Killian hadn't even noticed was there, barrels across the room and wraps his arms around both women.
Emma lets out a grunt at the force of Dopey's hug and looks at Ruby.
"'Finally?' What do you mean 'finally'?" she asks in confusion.
Alarm crosses Ruby's face and she takes several steps back, stammering, "I…uh…"
Dopey immediately takes advantage of having Emma to himself and wraps his arms around her entirely while hopping up and down in merriment.
Emma hugs the dwarf back with a little difficulty because of the way he's hopping but keeps her eyes on Ruby, confusion still evident on her face as she waits for Ruby to continue.
When she doesn't, Emma prods her, "Ruby, what do you mean 'finally'?"
"It's just that… It's uncommon for magic to manifest itself in someone your age…" the brunette evades, "Mine started when I came of age... on the first full moon after my eighteenth birthday. But you're almost twenty-eight now… It's just… unusual."
"Unusual..." Emma repeats suspiciously, her eyes narrowing on her friend and causing Ruby to avert her gaze.
Dopey still has his arms around Emma's waist but he's stopped moving, his eyes darting between the two women with an uneasy expression.
"I should go get dinner started," Ruby says after a beat. "You must be starving. We haven't been able to get much food into you for the past few days."
"Ruby," Emma says with a warning in her voice, releasing the dwarf and straightening to her full height.
Ruby looks back to her with a guilt-ridden expression but doesn't speak.
"What's going on?" Emma asks.
"I… I can't, Emma. We're on our way to see your father. He'll explain everything but I… I can't say anything else."
Before Emma can comment further, Ruby escapes through the door.
Emma's eyes go straight to Dopey who fidgets nervously.
"Dopey," Emma says in the same warning tone.
Dopey just shrugs his shoulders and backs away.
"Dopey, I know you know what she meant," she adds, planting her hands on her hips and staring him down.
Dopey gives her a sheepish look, darting a glance to Killian while shifting on his feet, and god help him, he doesn't know why he suddenly finds this situation so amusing but he does. It's obvious they're keeping something from Emma and she's determined to find out what (and he has to admit, he's curious, too) but as she towers over the dwarf like a schoolmarm trying to find out who stole the last cookie, he has to suppress the urge to chuckle.
The stare-down doesn't last long before Dopey decides his best course of action is to run. The little dwarf practically trips over his own feet as he rushes from the room and Killian is pushed one step closer to laughter.
As the door falls shut, Emma lets out a frustrated sound then turns to him.
"Do you know what she's talking about?" she demands, then noticing the smile he can't seem to stop, adds, "You think this is funny?"
The sharp edge to her voice sobers him but his voice still shows a trace of amusement when he replies, "Darling, I think your friends have done everything they can to keep you safe. If part of that includes keeping secrets, then that's what they'll do until they're sure it's the right time to tell you."
Emma rolls her eyes and huffs out a breath. "You're right," she admits, "You'd think I'd be used to it by now. Every friend I have seems to be keeping secrets from me."
His amusement fades entirely as she clenches her fists and shakes her head. He wants to tell her not to worry, that they'll work it out but he suddenly can't speak.
His princess is whole and in front of him at last. She's awake. She's healthy. She's standing there in one of his old white navy shirts and a pair of trousers that sag at her waist, her hair hanging in a wild tangle down her back.
She's never looked more beautiful.
Killian's chest tightens as he looks at her. It's been nearly six weeks since the King had found him, six weeks of joy at knowing she was alive mixed with terror that he wouldn't reach her in time.
But now she's here and she's safe… After six weeks of searching and finding and worrying, she's here with him.
When she raises her head and looks at him, it only takes three strides to have her in his arms, the force of emotion and relief wrenching a groan from his chest as he pulls her in.
Wordlessly, she takes his face in her hands and meets his lips with hers for a long overdue kiss, one that he's dreamed of for years. And it doesn't disappoint. Her mouth is pliant and welcoming, her body strong but soft. After all the years of dreaming of her, all the mourning he'd gone through, she's finally in his arms again.
She tastes exactly the same, the flavor of her taking him back to beautiful meadows and castle corridors where they'd stolen kisses and talked of the future. A future that he thought he'd lost. When her hand delves into the hair on the back of his head and guides it to the right, he gladly complies, kissing her long and deep.
The moan she makes spurs him on and he moves his hand to the middle of her back to squeeze her closer. The thin shirt she's wearing does nothing to keep him from feeling the heat of her skin under his palm as he moves it up her spine until his hand is tangled in the hair at the base of her neck.
Only the need for oxygen breaks the kiss and he realizes with satisfaction that she's just as out of breath as he is. She's clinging to him, one hand still in his hair and the other gripping tight to his collar as she pants against his lips.
"Killian," she whispers, her voice full of awe and disbelief as her nails scratch along his scalp. "I still can't believe you're here."
"I'm here, love. I promise, it's me." He opens his eyes, moving his hand up to cup her cheek as he studies her face, his thumb tracing the contours of it as she smiles up at him. "I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you, too," she replies and nuzzles her nose against his. "I thought you were dead. They told me you were dead," she adds in a rough voice, squeezing her eyes shut and grinding their foreheads together.
"I thought the same of you," he croaks out, his voice clogged with emotion, remembering with utter clarity the moment he'd been told of her death. "It nearly killed me."
From the way her hand tightens on his neck, he realizes she must be remembering the same thing about him, her grip turning desperate. Her fingers dig into his neck and he recognizes her action for what it is, an offer of comfort for both of them, to ease the pain they'd both endured for so many years. At the same time, her touch also speaks of reassurance, that she's here, that they're together, and that that pain is now over.
There's no need for words. Words wouldn't be enough, anyway, as the emotion he feels has no name and any attempt to explain it would surely fall short. So he just returns her near desperate touch by tightening his arm on her back and holding completely still, their breaths mingling together as they heal each other in silence. He has no idea how much time passes before her body shudders and he opens his eyes just enough to see a tear tracking down her cheek. He kisses it away and she sniffles, leaning back to look at him with emotion swimming in her eyes. When she eases her grip on his head, he eases his as well and she smiles at him through her tears.
"You cut your hair," she whispers, running her fingers through it as if to relish the change.
"Aye, I did," he replies, "And yours is exactly the same. You haven't changed a bit. You're still the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on."
Her smile widens as she takes a step back. "Well, I'm not exactly dressed for a ball but you..."
Her eyes rake down him and her brow wrinkles, her smile faltering as she takes in his attire. He's wearing his full-length black leather coat that screams 'pirate' and her eyes never leave it as she steps completely out of his arms.
Casually, he moves his left arm to behind his back.
He stands stock still as she makes her appraisal, watching her eyes study him from the tips of his hair to the toes of his boots. Looking confused, she continues to back away slowly until she runs into his desk.
"You're…" she starts and stops, shaking her head in a way that has dread tightening in his stomach.
Then her eyes leave him and she's looking around the room, her gaze darting from the shelves to the windows to the door and back.
When her eyes land on him again, they're wide in disbelief and incredulity and he does his best to prepare himself for whatever she's about to say.
But nothing could have prepared him for the way her eyes harden, the way her body tenses as realization crosses her features. Nothing could have prepared him for the venom in her voice as she nearly spits the words at him.
"You're a… a pirate!"