Dopey might not be a seasoned fighter or an expert swordsman but his observation skills are without reproach.
He nudges Killian's arm as they walk and Killian immediately sees what he means. There are two men standing alongside one of the many merchant booths, apparently trying to blend in, but Killian can tell from the way their eyes dart around that they aren't there to buy anything.
Standing straighter, Killian immediately moves his hand imperceptibly closer to his sword. The men make no move to approach them as they pass and Killian almost sighs in relief.
As they continue on, he darts a glance at Dopey whose eyes are scanning every face and it occurs to him that perhaps Dopey, with his keen skills of observation, knows more than people give him credit for. It also occurs to him that, without Ruby there to stifle him, now would be an opportune time to discern what the little dwarf knows.
There are so many questions. Things that he'd heard over the years, snippets of conversations that didn't make sense at the time but now all seem to be connected.
A prophecy. Emma's magic 'finally' developing. Snow eating that apple.
And Liam… He gulps painfully…
Liam… doing what he did.
Looking to the ground, he stops walking, clenching his jaw against the sudden rise of pain.
It only takes Dopey two steps before he turns and looks at him questioningly, the look quickly changing to concern when he takes in Killian's expression.
Without a word, Killian strides to a nearby alley and motions for Dopey to follow. Once they're out of earshot of the street, Killian stops and turns to the dwarf.
"I need some answers, my friend. And I think it's time I had them."
Dopey's concerned look turns puzzled until Killian asks his first question.
"You know what Ruby meant about Emma finally getting her magic, don't you?" he asks.
The dwarf's eyes widen only the slightest bit, just enough to indicate that he does know, but Killian doesn't give him a chance to confirm or deny anything before asking his next question.
"It has to do with the prophecy, doesn't it?"
Dopey's look changes to one of stunned surprise but he still doesn't confirm or deny anything, instead pointing a finger at Killian and then pointing to his own temple while lifting his shoulders in question.
"Yes, I know a little about it. Not much really. But I'm guessing you know the lot of it."
Dopey hesitantly nods his head.
"And Emma knows nothing?"
Another nod.
Killian takes that in before asking his next question, "It involves both of us, doesn't it?"
A very reluctant nod.
"And defeating the Evil Queen?"
This time, he doesn't exactly nod in response, he more tilts his head like the answer to that is obvious.
His suspicions confirmed, Killian leans back against the building behind him and looks up to the sky. Several deep breaths later, he looks back to Dopey. "Liam knew all of it, too, didn't he?" he asks in a choked voice.
Dopey's brow furrows in confusion and it occurs to Killian that the little dwarf hadn't known for sure that Liam was dead until now. Then the corners of his mouth turn down in sympathy as he confirms the question with another nod.
Killian's eyes sting and he closes them for a moment to keep the tears from forming. Taking a deep breath, he opens them again, trying to think of a question that Dopey can answer with a simple nod or shake of his head.
"Jefferson smuggled me out of the Evil Queen's dungeon after… well, after the Evil Queen took over. He said he didn't know everything, only that I needed to live. Does he know everything?"
Dopey shakes his head.
"But there is more to it, I assume?"
Dopey nods one last time.
"And obviously Regina knows. That's why she made my death such a public announcement," Killian says to himself. At Dopey's quizzical look, he adds, "Oh, she believes I'm dead. Or at least I think she does. She did, at the very least."
Dopey still looks confused but Killian doesn't answer the unspoken question, instead he just shakes his head. "I'll explain some other time, mate. Right now, we should get back to the business at hand."
As Killian starts back toward the street, Dopey's hand reaches out to stop him. One look at the dwarf is enough to tell him what he's worried about.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone what we've talked about. I have a feeling everything will reveal itself in due course. I just wanted to see if my suspicions were correct."
Dopey's shoulders sag with relief and he gives him a smile.
"So, let's go see to Ruby's list, shall we?"
It takes a while to find everything Ruby wants, but Killian manages to track down every item, his mouth already watering at the memory of the venison stew Granny used to make. After making their purchases, they employ a young boy to help load them into a cart to take them back to the dock. He sends Dopey along with the goods, telling him that he wants to take some more time to look around, just in case. Dopey doesn't want to go but Killian assures him he'll see him soon.
As soon as Dopey rounds the corner back to the docks, Killian ducks into the milliner shop and quickly looks around. When he finds it empty, he nods to Penny behind the counter who lifts her chin toward the back. Picking up on her cue, he heads to the door she indicated and opens it without knocking.
Jefferson stands immediately at his entrance, reaching for his dagger before he relaxes.
"Captain! I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon. How are things on the high seas? I trust the tides have been in your favor."
"They have indeed," Killian responds and closes the door behind him.
As soon as the door is closed, he steps forward and embraces his friend even as Jefferson says lowly, "What are you doing here, Killian? Our next scheduled drop isn't for two more weeks."
"I know, but something's come up and I was hoping we could take care of it tonight. I don't have a lot of time, mate. Things could start happening very quickly and I wanted to make sure you're fully armed in case I can't make it back for a while."
"Can't make it back for a while? Has something happened?"
"Yes, but I can't talk about it right now. I have to go. The Jolly Roger will be empty tonight. Tell your men to take half of what's in the hold. Only half. I'll need the rest this time."
"Of course. I'll make the arrangements."
"Is there any news here?" Killian asks.
"None, unless you count Grace's two new front teeth."
Killian claps him on the shoulder with a grin. "I trust she's as beautiful as ever?"
Jefferson smiles wide, "She's precocious and drives her mother to distraction."
"Ah, that sounds like my girl. Tell her I said 'hello.' I won't be able to see her this visit."
"I will."
"Also, I saw two men on my way into town. They didn't look like merchants or buyers. Any idea who they could be?"
"This is a port town, my friend. There are always strangers lurking about. But I wouldn't worry. No one will cross the infamous Captain Hook. By the way," he adds with an amused look, "I heard another story about you… Apparently there are three young ladies in Galloway who swear you're the size of a horse."
Killian rolls his eyes. "I've never even been there, Jeff. Although, they're not far wrong," he adds with a wink.
Jefferson chuckles and shakes his head.
"I should go. I took a risk coming here but I couldn't wait for our usual rendezvous. Give your beautiful wife a kiss from me… and don't forget to do it justice to my scandalous reputation."
"Absolutely," Jefferson replies, then adds, "And Killian… Be careful."
Killian nods and leaves.
As he makes his way back to the Jolly Roger, he keeps an eye out for the two men he'd seen earlier. He finds them lurking about in the square and silently creeps up behind them to hear what they're saying.
"Slim pickings around here," the first says as Killian watches him nonchalantly steal an orange from a cart and put it in his pocket. "I'll say," the other responds out of the corner of his mouth.
Killian lets out a relieved sigh. They're just common thieves and it occurs to Killian that he should have known that, and probably would have, if the situation wasn't so dire. Upon closer inspection, they're not even carrying swords, only a small dagger at one of their waists.
As he walks away, he shakes his head at himself for overreacting. But who could blame him? He's carrying the most precious cargo in the land and he knows the stakes of what they're doing. That's why he hadn't mentioned it to Jefferson. He trusts the man with his life, but Emma's? That's another matter entirely.
He'll do anything to keep her safe, so if he finds himself overreacting about some foolish thieves or keeping secrets from his friend, he's not going to berate himself for it. Her safety is the most important thing.
When he makes it back to the Jolly, the wagon is almost completely unpacked. He grabs the last bag of flour and heads up the gangplank to carry it to the galley. When he enters the room, Ruby and Emma are busy unpacking and putting things into their respective cabinets. He stops on the threshold and stares at Emma, struck with how easily this work comes to her. She looks completely natural as she pushes a box of potatoes under the table and wipes her hands on her dress, like she's been doing it for years, and it suddenly hits him that she has. When he steps into the room, her eyes shoot to him and for a moment he thinks she looks relieved. He lays the flour on the table, being careful not to puncture it with his hook and she steps forward to pick it up without a word then turns away to stow it in the cabinet.
It's so surreal, seeing her here working alongside Ruby like the two of them are equals instead of princess and servant. (Not that she ever really treated anyone like a servant, but she also never helped out in the kitchen, either.) And, now, seeing her do manual labor with such ease is a stark reminder that she's had to hide as well, leave everything behind and pretend to be someone else.
Making a decision, he turns to go, stopping only long enough to pay the boy who'd helped them with the cart before heading to his quarters. He goes directly to his locked chest and opens it with the key engraved into the base of his hook, fishing through the items until he finds what he's looking for.
He closes the chest, locks it and replaces his hook, then he stands and walks over to the bed. Carefully, he places the necklace and bracelet across the pillow and turns to leave, but before he can make it out the door, Emma walks in.
She looks startled to see him, but recovers quickly with a mumbled, "Excuse me," as she makes her way around him and grabs her shoes from the corner.
He takes a moment to marvel at the fact that she's apparently been walking around barefoot all day, and it's that hesitation that prevents his escape. Because just as he grabs the door handle, he hears a shocked gasp come from her and he can't seem to force himself to open the door, the temptation to look back to her nearly overwhelming. He doesn't look back, though, not until he hears the sound of her voice, soft and confused.
"Killian?"
He doesn't reply, but turns his head just far enough to see her out of the corner of his eyes, swallowing hard and increasing his grip on the door.
"How did you… Where did you find these?" she asks with quiet amazement, her voice floating across the room and settling around his heart.
Realizing he won't be able to avoid this conversation, he turns back to her, keeping his voice measured as he replies, "I came across them on a vessel shortly after… well, several years ago… and I thought you might like to have them back."
Her smile is nearly blinding as she picks up the swan pendant and stares at it.
They'd always been her favorite. They're simple and delicate, worth only a fraction of what some of her other jewelry had been, but she'd worn them nearly every day. When he'd found them on a merchant ship that had just visited Regina's kingdom, he'd nearly gone mad with rage. The Evil Queen was selling off Emma's personal possessions like they were nothing. It had taken everything in him not to order the entire crew dead but since they had surrendered without a fight, he'd settled for taking everything they had. He'd searched through every single piece himself to see if he could find anything else of hers but there was nothing… Not on that ship, anyway, but there had been a ring that Snow used to wear. He makes a silent vow to return it once she's awake.
Emma turns to face him but keeps her eyes on the pendant. "My mother gave these to me for my sixteenth birthday," she says with reverence. "Swans were always my favorite animal. When I was young I used to go out to the lake every day to feed them, even when it was pouring rain."
She swallows hard and looks up to him as she secures the necklace in place before slipping on the bracelet. Then she closes her eyes and grips at the pendant, taking a deep breath. When she opens them again, she's looking at him like she used to, the same way she looked at the lieutenant he once was, and his heart swells in his chest.
"Thank you," she whispers.
"It's my pleasure, Princess," he responds with a small bow.
He's just about to leave because suddenly his eyes are stinging and he doesn't want her to see how much he's moved by her happiness. But as he turns to go, Emma catches his hand, the action stopping him dead in his tracks.
He doesn't turn to look at her again, not trusting himself enough to keep from pulling her into his arms.
"These were in the chest you keep locked up, weren't they?" she asks.
He nods and clears his throat as he responds, "Yes."
"Perhaps one day you'll show me what else is in there?"
Her voice is gentle as she asks the question and he turns back to face her as hope flares through his body.
"Perhaps," he replies in a breathless voice and she smiles at him.
K&EK&EK&E
Emma sighs with happiness as she runs the brush through her hair, watching the glint of the swan pendant in the mirror as it twinkles in the candlelight.
It's getting dark outside and Ruby had come in a few minutes ago to tell her they'd be leaving soon.
The brunette's eyes had misted when she saw the jewelry and, when Emma had told her Killian had returned it to her, she'd smiled knowingly at Emma before turning to go.
He'd saved it for her. He'd kept it all these years, not because he'd thought he'd be able to give it back, but to have something of hers close to him.
Her Killian is still in there. He's brave and kind and he loves her, no matter how hard he's fighting against it. She could see him wavering when she'd smiled at him. She'd seen the panic in his eyes as he'd escaped through the hatch. And now, as she looks around the room, she doesn't see pilfered treasures anymore, she only sees a man's life work to avenge those he loved.
Looking back to the mirror, she takes in her reflection, wishing she had some better clothes with her, something more refined to wear to remind him of the woman he fell in love with. The swan necklace sparkles at her neck and she smiles as she closes her fingers around it.
It's been years since she's worn any type of jewelry. There was no point in it in Arendelle and while the tavern did well enough, it didn't lend to superfluous purchasing. Not that she cared, anyway. She'd never been one to flaunt diamonds and sapphires. There's really only a few pieces that she'd had that she'd been disappointed to lose, and now she has two of the three back. The only other piece had been the ring…
She'd wept uncontrollably when she'd realized she didn't have it. She'd taken it off before the ball because the announcement hadn't yet been made, instead wearing a jade ring and necklace set that matched her gown. She'd sold those several years ago to repair the roof on The Gold Mine, not caring one whit about parting with them. But the ring… She'd give anything to have it back.
She can remember perfectly the moment he gave it to her, his smile warm and happy as he slipped it on her finger…
.
It's a clear night, the stars above twinkling brightly as they wander through the garden, hand in hand. He picks a buttercup for her that she twists between the fingers of her free hand as they walk, telling him what she's been doing while he was away. He leads her to a bench and lays his jacket over her shoulders to ward off the cool night air as she leans back into his chest. He tells her about his most recent voyage, a three-month assignment to patrol the waters to the northeast where the most interesting thing that happened was Liam spilling his dinner all over his uniform.
When she asks why he spilled it, Killian wriggles behind her and replies, "It was my fault. I told him something that… took him by surprise. He turned around too quickly to look at me and knocked the plate."
Emma laughs lightly. "What did you tell him that got the ever-composed Captain Jones so flustered?" she asks.
"Well, uh… It was, um…" he stutters, pulling his hand away from hers.
She knows what he's doing before she even turns to look at him. Sure enough, he's scratching behind his ear the way he does when he's nervous and her brow wrinkles in confusion even as she has to hide a smile at his tell-tale sign.
"Killian," she says as she reaches up to stop him from scratching himself raw. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to – "
"It's not that I don't want to, I just… Well, it's kind of…"
He trails off and huffs out a breath before meeting her eyes, twisting in the seat so they're facing each other. Reaching forward with his hand, he twines his fingers with hers, giving her a look so serious that her amusement dies in its wake.
"I told him he needs to find a new navigator," he tells her, solemnly.
"What?! Why?" she asks in pure astonishment, "You love being your brother's lieutenant. Surely my father hasn't assigned you to another ship, has he?"
"No, I haven't been assigned to another ship. I… I'm not going to be assigned to a ship at all. I…"
"You've resigned your commission? But you love the navy! I know it's hard sometimes and I know I complain about you being gone, but I'd never ask you to give up the sea. It's your life – "
"You're my life, Emma. I want us to be together. I'll still be an officer, just not in the navy. Your father and I… we talked about it and he's… very happy…"
"He's happy that you're leaving the navy? But you're in line for Captain! He told me so. He's commissioned a new ship built and he was going to ask you to Captain it. I can't believe he's happythat you – "
"He's happy about the reasonI want to leave the navy," he cuts her off.
She shakes her head in confusion, completely uncomprehending. What on earth could be important enough to him that he would want to leave the navy?
"Bloody hell, I've made a complete mess of this. I… Give me a moment, love," he says just before shooting to his feet and taking a step away from the bench, raising his eyes to the heavens as if asking for divine help.
Nerves eat at her throat as she watches him, wondering what he's keeping from her. She wrings her hands together in her lap while she waits, her eyes trained on him as he looks to the ground and shakes his head. Pulling something from his pocket, he studies it for a moment before he turns back to her. When he does, his eyes meet hers with melting tenderness and a shy smile that she hasn't seen from him for a long time and her heart nearly stops.
"I know I'm not of noble blood, but I love you with everything I have," he says softly, "and I'll never comprehend why the universe blessed me enough to have you love me back. I don't have much but what I do have will always be yours, my heart, my body and my soul."
Emma's breath catches as his form blurs in front of her. Now she knows why he's leaving the navy and she smiles encouragingly at him as he sinks to one knee in front of her.
"I will always do my best by you, darling. I will strive every day to be worthy of your love."
"You will always be worthy of my love," she tells him, cupping his cheek in her hand and eagerly lifting the other in anticipation of what he's going to say next.
His smile brightens at her words, the shyness dissipating as he takes her outstretched hand and shows her the ring. "It's not much…"
"It's perfect," she replies.
"It was my mother's," he tells her as he studies the ring for another moment. When he lifts his eyes to hers, they are full of adoration and disbelief, like he can't believe she's real or that she's his.
When the silence stretches and he just continues to stare at her in awe, she gives him a gentle smile. "Killian, ask me."
Straightening his shoulders, he draws a deep breath and smiles back. "Emma, Princess of Misthaven, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Yes," she replies, leaning forward to kiss him with all the joy surging through her.
When they break apart, he slips the ring on her finger, his chest expanding as he takes a deep breath and runs his thumb over the modest diamond. Then his eyes lift to hers and he brings his hands up to frame her face as a relieved chuckle escapes, his breath expelling in a relieved puff of air just before he kisses her again.
"You didn't think I was going to turn you down, did you?" she asks with a chuckle of her own, her forehead resting against his.
"No, I just… I'm still so amazed sometimes that you love me."
She brushes her lips against his and tightens her arms around his neck.
"I know what you mean," she replies.
.
Emma is still smiling from the memory as she makes her way to deck, breathing a sigh of happiness as she approaches the others.
"You go with the Princess, browse the merchants," Killian is saying to Ruby, "Dopey and I will head to the tavern and see if we can learn anything there."
"You trust us to go alone? What if someone recognizes her?"
Killian chuckles lightly. "I didn't see any black knights this afternoon and we've managed to time this little visit at the full moon. Between her skill with a sword and your remarkable talents, I'd be more inclined to ask the two of you for protection, not the other way around."
Ruby smiles at that and so does Emma. Killian always did respect her sword fighting skills.
"Well, then, why don't we all go to the tavern together?" Ruby asks. "It's surely the best place for news – "
"No," he cuts her off, "Dopey and I will go to the tavern."
Ruby nearly sputters with indignation at the interruption and Emma feels the same.
"Why?" Ruby asks.
Killian rolls his eyes as if the answer to that is obvious, "Because, Captain Hook doesn't enter a tavern with female company."
Ruby doesn't respond but her eyes light up and comprehension crosses her features. It takes another second for Emma to get it, but as the full meaning of his words sink in, she gasps loudly and everyone turns to face her.
"He only leaves with female company," she says without thinking, her voice hard even to her own ears.
Her eyes meet Killian's across the deck and she sees regret flicker in them. He obviously didn't know she was standing there and she thinks for a second that he looks ashamed but it does nothing to soften her anger. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knows she's being unfair but she can't stop the feeling of betrayal that rockets through her. So she stares him down until his features harden and he turns back to Ruby.
"Exactly," he confirms. "And Captain Hook can learn more from…" he trails off, stumbling over the words.
"Willing females?" Emma supplies.
"Yes," he grounds out as he clenches his jaw, still looking at Ruby, "He can learn more from 'willing females' if they think they might… get something in return."
For some reason, Ruby suddenly seems amused, biting at her lip to keep from smiling.
"Fine," she says, reaching up to straighten Killian's collar. "Go get 'em, Captain."
Killian rolls his eyes even as Emma's widen in indignation. Whose side is she on, anyway?
Killian turns to go but stops abruptly at Ruby's next words.
"We'll see you there."
He whirls on her. "Excuse me?"
"We'll see you there," she repeats matter-of-factly.
When he looks at her like she's lost her mind, she crosses her arms over her chest and gives him an amused smirk. "Just where do you think those 'willing females' get their information?" she asks. "They get it from… 'eager men.'"
Killian looks like he might actually explode.
"Emma and I will bend the ears of the sailors while you talk to the ladies. If there is anything to learn, one of us will find it out."
Killian clenches his fist and towers over Ruby for a moment but Ruby doesn't back down.
"Fine," he replies in clipped voice, "We'll see you there."
Casting a quick glance Emma's way, he pivots on the spot and starts toward the dock, Dopey close behind.
As soon as he's out of earshot, Emma turns on Ruby, her voice sharp as she asks, "What do you think you're doing?"
"We're going to the tavern," she replies as though the answer is obvious.
"I don't want to go to the tavern. I don't want to see…"
She trails off as images of women sidling up to Killian flash in her head, women freely offering information in those sickly voices while offering him countless other things by letting their hands wander down his chest… pushing their breasts into his arm…
Ruby's voice cuts through her thoughts, "I know you don't, but he won't want to see you with other men, either."
"Ruby…" Emma says in a warning tone.
Ruby gives her an exasperated look. "He's not going to do anything with them."
"How do you know? He's Captain Hook! You've heard the stories. You told me a few of them!"
"He might be Captain Hook, but he's also Killian Jones. The man who loves you…"
"Not anymore," Emma interrupts.
"… the man you love," Ruby goes on ignoring her interruption, "And if you think for one second that man is going to 'have his way' with another woman now that he knows you're alive…"
Ruby trails off and Emma drops her eyes to the deck.
"How many do you think there have been?" Emma asks in a small voice, finally admitting her biggest fear to her friend.
Ruby gives her a look of sympathy, "I don't know, sweetie. But it doesn't matter. Killian Jones has ever only had eyes for one woman. And that woman is you."
Emma shakes her head. "That might have been true once, but not now. He's barely looked at me since I woke up."
"Because he was hurt, Emma. He sat by your bedside for almost forty-eight hours straight watching over you. He was nearly inconsolable… and the first thing you do when you wake up is call him out for being a pirate?"
The confirmation of hearing her own thoughts being said back to her nearly breaks her and her voice cracks as she replies, "I know. I keep messing up, Ruby. I want him back but I keep saying all the wrong things. Everything is so different now. He's so different and every time I think things are going to get better, I say something stupid."
"He is different now," Ruby replies, "We all are. And if you truly want him back, you're going to have to accept him for who he is, not who he was."
"Captain Hook."
"Yes, Captain Hook. But also the man who carried you out of Arendelle. The man who kept your swan necklace all these years. The man your father sent to find you."
Emma considers that for a moment before asking, "And you think this will help? Going to this tavern and pretending to…"
"I don't know, but it certainly can't hurt, can it? I mean the two of you are barely speaking. This might at least force the issue."
Emma isn't sure that forcing the issue is the best idea but Ruby's right, what can it hurt?
"What am I supposed to do?" she asks, weakly.
Ruby rolls her eyes. "Come on, Emma. You've been working in a tavern long enough to know what to do. You've seen me and Gwen…"
"Yes, but…"
"Trust me, you'll be fine. Just flirt a little, bat your eyes. It's really not that different than being at court. Men are pretty much the same no matter their station, so you flatter them and act like you care about what they're saying."
"But…"
"Don't tell me you never had to sit next to some boring diplomat and not pretend to be completely enraptured by whatever it was he was talking about."
"Well, yes, but I didn't have to pretend to…"
"So you just lay it on a little thicker," Ruby says as though it's the easiest thing in the world, "You might even find it liberating."
Emma doesn't think so but she still relents, trusting that Ruby knows what's she's talking about.
"Okay, fine. Let's go."