Chapter 28: Nothing But The Truth

It wasn't weird between them. That's what she kept telling herself. The truth was it wasn't weird as in awkward between them they were getting along and traveling extremely well together. However, it was tense. Not tense bad, not tense angry, but tense…sexual. She couldn't deny the sexual charge between the two of them now. He was smiling more at her, real smiles, not devilish or mischievous but genuine smiles. He was having conversations with her, about his surroundings, about his time here. He didn't travel down a dark road like he had previously so many times, he was light on his feet, he was more relaxed. It was throwing her off because she liked it. She liked how comfortable they were around each other now. She liked that he shared his experiences with her and wasn't walking around a raging tornado anymore. She liked this version of Killian (she couldn't even mentally call him Hook now).

The journey to Tiger Lily would take a few days, she had been told. They had headed out upon waking up the morning after Killian's confession. They only packed what they needed. The path to Tiger Lily wouldn't be easy Killian had said. They would cross through jungle, desert and then finally a swamp land where Tiger Lily resided.

"So, not that I don't trust you now but what exactly is your plan once we get to Tiger Lily?" She asked, not making a big deal out of telling Killian she trusted him now even though it was a big deal.

Killian raised his eyebrows in surprise but quickly recovered, obviously knowing that she didn't want to make a big deal out of the revelation. "I'm going to try to talk to her. I know it sounds like a terrible plan but maybe I can explain the situation to her and how wrong I was to use her for so many years and she will be understanding."

"Is she an understanding person?" Emma asked.

Killian looked uncomfortable, "No, not that I've ever seen, but again I wasn't paying much attention to anyone or anything when I was with her so maybe I misjudged her?"

"Okay, and if the talk to her plan backfires, what's your backup plan?"

"I know where she stores her most valuable treasures, that much I did pay attention to. She stores them in a locked box next to her bed. So I'm sure that is where she would put the ring that Peter is looking for. The problem is she keeps the key around her neck on a necklace at all times. However, she used to take it off when we were uh in the moment occasionally." Killian replied slightly awkwardly.

Emma tried not to react to that comment, she tried not to think about Killian having sex multiple times with another woman. She shouldn't care, first off because it was years ago and second off because she was still engaged! She could at least admit that she didn't like the thought.

"What will you do after we kill Rumpelstiltskin?" Emma asked, changing the subject.

"I've been consumed with this quest for so long, I haven't really put much thought into what will happen after. Also, I love your optimism saying when we kill him not if." Killian replied.

"Well, you have time to think about it now. So, what will it be? Maintain the pirate life and endure never-ending battles? Come back to Neverland and never grow old with Tiger Lily? Find a wife and create a bunch of mini Captain Hooks?" Emma said teasingly but was also very curious of his answer. She didn't know when it changed, but somehow over the course of the last few days she started to care about his thoughts and what he was feeling. She was in very dangerous territory, and she knew that, but she somehow didn't know how or necessarily even want to stop the treacherous path she was on with Killian.

They walked in silence a bit and Emma could tell he was internally processing the question. She was envious, however, she had a path set out for her: marry Neil, rule the kingdom, produce some heirs, etc. She didn't have the luxury of contemplating her future, of deciding if she wanted to stay or go elsewhere.

"I honestly don't know where I will end up, but I'd love to just travel the seas. Without purpose, just for the sake of loving the sea." He finally replied wistfully.

Emma smiled at him, "That sounds amazing."

"What about you? Will you follow the path laid out before you? Marry your fiance, have children, rule the kingdom until the end of your days?" He asked.

At the mention of Neil, Emma internally winced. She needed to tell him the truth.

"When we successfully kill Rumplestiltskin I will not marry Prince Neil." Emma replied, mustering up the courage to speak the truth about her relationship with her fiance finally.

Killian merely raised his eyebrows at her in response. He could have made many insulting 'I called it' comments to her, but he didn't and because of that she knew that she was making the right decision finally telling him her truth.

"I'll say it before you do, you were right. There is no passion between Neil and I. I tried, I really did but I couldn't ignite a flame that had no spark. My parents betrothed me to him because I couldn't find true love on my own. Another task that I did try very hard to succeed at. No matter who I dated I just knew he wasn't the one for me. Maybe my internal chemistry is off and it's just not possible for me to connect to a man like how my parents connect. It's a blessing and a curse to be a child of true love. It's a blessing because you see how it's possible, how two people can be passionately in love for a lifetime, how two people can be soulmates and connect on the deepest level possible. But it's a curse for those same reasons, because once you see it, you can't unsee it, you can't unwant it when you are exposed to it your entire life. And I couldn't find that in a man. So many had great potential, so many like Neil are kind and good hearted, but they didn't touch my soul, they didn't create sparks, I didn't burn passionately for them. So they set me up with Neil, hoping I would learn to love him, to truly love him." Emma paused, shocked but not upset that she was pouring her heart out.

"If you don't love him, maybe the next suitor will be better, maybe the next one you will connect with." Killian said holding Emma's gaze.

"There's not enough time to try again," Emma said finally, sharing the beginning of her secret.

"You aren't that old love, and I will openly admit that you are beautifully attractive so your looks have nowhere near started to fade" He joked and complimented her at the same time.

Emma felt herself blush. "When I was three years old King Midas' wife Regina snuck into my bedroom at night and put a deadly curse upon me. My parents woke up the next morning and found me unconscious with a heartbeat that was slowing down. They called every doctor in the land to come and try to help save me but no one could help and the curse was killing me. That is when Rumpelstiltskin appeared and made a deal with my parents. He would save my life but I had to marry my true love by my twenty-fifth birthday or I would be stripped of my title, banished from the kingdom and the kingdom would automatically be given to King Midas. It seemed like a good deal at the time to save my life, and I'm sure no matter how it plays out my parents will never say they regretted it. Somehow Rumpelstiltskin must have known I wouldn't easily fall in love, he must have somehow foresaw my inability to connect. That is why I am aligned to killing him. To break the deal that my parents made so we don't get banished from our kingdom."

During the time she was talking they had entered the jungle, the temperature immediately increased and the trees were thick. The path grew more narrow so the space between them narrowed as well. They were not touching but they were within an arm's reach of each other.

A hissing noise came from the left of them. In a matter of seconds Emma found herself in Killian's arms behind a tree. Her front was pressed lightly against the tree and Killian was pressed against her back looking over her shoulder.

"It's a python snake," Killian said softly in her right ear. "They can't hear the best but they can sense movement, so we are going to have to be very still until it passes." Emma was trying to focus on his words, but all she could think about was the nearness of his body. She couldn't help the small shiver that ran the course of her body as his breath was hot on her skin. She had to use all of her self-control to not lean back into him, to not push her ass into him and see if he was as affected as she was by the closeness.

"Also, you can't blame yourself for not finding true love. Connection isn't something you can force to happen. You deserve to wait for the right person, a person who completes you, who gets you and loves you for who you are. A person who you yearn to be near, who completes your heart and your soul. Someone whose passion ignites your body and mind. Who lights your body up with just a single touch. You deserve that and nothing less. Just because you haven't found that in twenty-four years doesn't mean that you won't. I bet the lucky bastard is out there just waiting for you to find him." Emma closed her eyes and couldn't help but wonder if maybe she already had.

Okay- it's been YEARS, I know YEARS. Moving and having two babies the last couple of years probably isn't a good reason but that's the truth. I logged on and saw some reviews were still coming in years after I hadn't updated this story. It motivated me. I mapped out the rest of it and it's all in my head waiting to be written. I'm so glad to be back to writing. I said I was going to finish this story and I absolutely will. Thank you all so much for sticking with me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Next chapter will be Tiger Lily! Let me know what you think and THANK YOU for your patience!