A/N - I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. It gave me a lot of trouble. I found it difficult to get into the right head space after all that angst in the finale. It might seem very dry, but it was important to me that Snow and Liam have this conversation. Hopefully some of you will still enjoy it. I promise Emma and Killian will be back in the next chapter. I can't get over how many people are following this. The reviews have been so wonderful and the reviewers, so generous.
Snow would cherish always, the sight of Killian's thunderstruck expression when he understood that, he too, was going to be gifted several sets of new clothes. Not because she was happy that he had previously had so little in his life, but because she was lucky enough to be able to ensure he never lacked for anything again. All Killian had ever worn was Liam's threadbare cast offs, and they had already passed through several owners. Granny had given them the cleanest set of clothes they'd ever owned; however, those had been second hand due to lack of choice within the village.
Neither boy had ever been in an establishment that carried such fine clothes as the one to which the Queen had brought them. Both boys had been on their best behaviour, but they were acutely aware that, had they not been accompanied by the Queen, the owner, Milton, would have tossed them out as soon as look at them.
It was because Killian was so excited about new clothes that Snow had Milton begin the clothes buying and tailoring process with the younger Jones. Milton had several assistants, but Snow wanted each boy to have the undivided attention of the master, himself, just to make them feel as special as she thought they deserved. As Milton led Killian into the fitting room, Snow gestured for Liam to join her.
"Liam, come sit with me while Killian is being fitted," Snow said as she tapped the chair next to her. She saw the young man hesitate. "Really, sit."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Liam said, and sat as instructed.
"I'm glad we have a quiet moment, just the two of us. Before anything I want to ask that you and Killian just call me, 'Snow'. I know it must go against the grain for you, but I see how well mannered you are. I know that using my name would not, in any way, diminish the respect you both have for the Crown. Do you think you could do that?" She smiled as she took his hand. He was shaking.
"I would hope to meet any request the Crown makes of me. I know Killian would feel the same, Your . . ., Snow," Liam said, wearing a small shy smile.
"There you go. And look, you weren't struck down by lightning!" Snow said with a small chuckle. "David and I are so very happy that you and Killian are here. The courage and fortitude that you two have demonstrated would be extraordinary in men three times your ages. You belong here with us, not at the bottom of a mine," Snow said, squeezing his hand a little to emphasize how seriously she meant her praise. "And Granny would also agree. I know you loved staying with her and Ruby, but the fact is that here at the castle, you will have so much more freedom to choose, so many more options for your future."
"I thought I was to be squire to His Highness?" Liam asked.
"If you're calling me, 'Snow', you can call him, 'David'," Snow informed Liam with a wink. "For now, yes, you'll be his squire. But that is mostly to keep you occupied while you learn the ways of court and, it will give you the opportunity to experience different things until you decide what you want. You have already proved that you possess qualities far beyond those expected of a simple squire. The cleverness of using that barrow to get Emma and Killian down . . . ," Snow paused to shake her head in wonder. "That was something special."
Liam's cheeks pinked up considerably. He hadn't been thinking about looking clever, he'd only wanted his brother and the princess safe. It was the first time Snow had seen the elder Jones blush; she thought him adorable.
"There is something in particular I wanted to discuss with you. Neither you nor Killian has said anything specific but it doesn't take as much cleverness as you have to understand that you've had a hard life. I can also see that you have weathered it with more grace than most. My father used to tell me that pressure creates diamonds. You and Killian . . . you shine."
Liam was obviously uncomfortable at the mention of the difficulties life had thrown at himself and his brother. Snow didn't want to push him too far, but there were things she wanted him to hear and to understand.
"Killian is such a wonderful boy. I suspect that is wholly due to you. You've not only protected him . . . ," she stopped when she saw Liam's eyes well up with tears.
"But I haven't! I tried but I failed. I almost lost him in that shipwreck. The waves were so high and he's so little, and you heard what he said about the mine. That was my fault. He's all I have and I, I couldn't keep him safe," Liam words cut Snow deeply. She had no idea he was so close to breaking. Letting go of his hand, Snow gently pulled the distressed boy into her arms and hugged him tightly. To her surprise, Liam threw his arms around her waist and held on for dear life; all his usual reserve had completely deserted him.
"Oh, Liam, sweetheart, no, no, no! You haven't failed him at all. Killian's safe and he's right in there and he's just perfectly alright. You are so lucky to have each other. The way you care about each other and support each other, it's a wonderful, wonderful thing, and it's so special and precious. I'd have given anything to have an older brother like you when I was Killian's age," Snow said quietly into Liam's ear.
Liam gave one huge sob that made his shoulders heave. Having released some of the stress he had been carrying for so long, his tears dried and the tension in his brows cleared.
"You seem to forget that you are still young, yourself! You're only ten, Liam, yet you've carried the responsibility for both of you, magnificently. I wanted to be certain you understood how much I admire what you've achieved, because I don't want you to think that what I am about to offer you is because the job you've done has, in any way, been lacking. Alright?"
Liam nodded, but he was clearly worried about what was coming.
"David and I would like to make you and Killian, our wards. Not of the Crown, but our own personal wards."
"I am not sure what that means," Liam admitted.
"For a start, you wouldn't have to worry so much. We will help you in every way. We would be your legal guardians. We would take care of you. Keep you fed and watered and put a roof over your head. Protect you from harm wherever possible," Snow laughed at Liam's confused expression. He looked like he wanted to be outraged but didn't dare. "Goodness, I sound like I'm talking about livestock! No wonder you look horrified. No, Liam, we are not going to treat you like the cattle, or even the chickens. Expect to be fed . . . a lot! You are both so thin and you still have a lot of growing to do. I demand that you make a good attempt at eating us out of house and home."
"What would be expected of Killian?" Liam asked, nervously. He still wasn't entirely certain he understood what the Queen was offering, and he was cautious with entrusting Killian to anyone in any capacity. Life had taught him that people lied, even those who appeared kindly. Still, he felt nothing but sincerity from Snow and believed her genuine in her concern.
"Ah yes, Killian. I would hope that he will continue as he has begun. It has been so hard on Emma not having anyone her own age to play with." She paused as a thought clearly popped into her head. "Milton?" She called out. The tailor poked his head through the door. In his arms he held several shirts and two bolts of cloth. Clearly he had moved on from the measuring and was giving Killian a few things to try on. "Please ensure that Killian has at least three very thick pairs of trousers and five very hard wearing shirts, as well as two winter weight cloaks."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The tailor nodded and disappeared back to the fitting room.
Snow resumed her discussion with Liam. "He'll go through them in no time. Emma is very hard on her clothes and, since she and Killian will be spending so much time together, I don't imagine his clothes will fare any better." Liam's shock at Snow's words was very clear. "What, Liam? You look surprised."
"You are going to allow Killian to spend time with the Princess?" Liam asked; eyes wide.
Snow regarded Liam very carefully. She opened and closed her mouth a few times as she discarded several versions of what she wanted to say. After a minute or two she began.
"I want both of you to spend as much time with Emma as you can manage. Despite the years I was on the run when King George usurped my rule, my childhood was full of love and joy. I had everything I could ever want. But I grew up feeling very full of my own importance. Ask Johanna. She'll tell you I was quite the spoiled, ungrateful brat," Snow said. Liam didn't speak but he shook his head in denial at such a description of the kind soul he saw before him.
"Absolutely true. I got worse and worse until my mother gave me a dressing down for speaking harshly to Johanna. That's when I began to see I was not the sort of person that made my mother proud and started to change my ways. I lost her very shortly after that. She'd have loved you and Killian. So polite and respectful, even after all you've been through. David and I have tried hard to ensure Emma grows up with the right attitude. Killian is already setting her a good example."
"But the chickens. It was Killian that caused Her Highness to . . ," Liam began to protest but Snow cut in.
"Don't be so sure. Emma loves all creatures. She was just as likely to let them out so she could cuddle them. Instead, she did it to try and make Killian feel better. She wasn't even thinking of herself. That is the sort of generosity of spirit I want to foster in my daughter and the future ruler of Misthaven. We just need to work on her respect for other people's belongings," Snow said, and bumped Liam's shoulder, companionably. "But I don't want you to think that I am using your brother just to give Emma a playmate. Did Killian say anything about the first time they saw each other?"
"Not until yesterday. He didn't think I would believe he spoke to royalty, let alone have a princess offer him cake," Liam said.
"To be fair, it was just the crumbs by the time she'd picked them off her dress," Snow said, with a rueful smile. "You may have noticed by now that Emma wears just as much food as she eats. She didn't get that from my side of the family. I shoveled it in when I was little. Never wasted a scrap."
"That was the closest Killian had ever come to getting cake in his life until Granny took us in," Liam said. His tone indicating his shame that he couldn't give his brother even that small luxury. He was looking at his boots and missed how his casual admittance affected the Queen.
"Well, something special happened that day. I have an inkling that Fate, herself, put Killian in front of that window just when Emma was there. Time will tell if my suspicions play out," Snow's tone became quite wistful and the hand that held Liam's went lax as she followed the romantic fancies in her head.
"Suspicions? Did Killian not show good form towards, Her Highness, that day?" Liam asked, his voice taking on the tone of the responsible older brother who might need to chastise his sibling.
Snow turned back to Liam, a smile and a laugh on her lips. "No, nothing like that."
"I have noticed Killian has been a little over familiar with, Her Highness. I intended to speak to him about it," Liam said.
"Really, there is no need. I haven't said this very well. Can you keep a secret, Liam?"
Liam nodded. "Yes, I promise to take it to my grave," he assured her, dramatically.
"I doubt that I'll need you to make such a sacrifice, but I appreciate your willingness," Snow said, with a chuckle. She cast an eye towards the fitting room and hunkered down conspiratorially. "In other circumstances, David and I might have formally asked to adopt you both, but, although I hope you will become like an older brother for Emma, I don't think it would be the right thing to encourage that with Killian."
"I don't understand," Liam admitted. He scratched behind his ear in confusion. "You said you weren't angry about the chickens and that you want Killian to play with the Princess."
"I haven't heard any stories of it appearing at such a young age, but I think there is a possibility that Emma and Killian may turn out to be True Loves. Well, when they're older. Much, much older . . . David would probably prefer not to hear anything about it until Emma is forty, but he will just have to deal with it," Snow said. She looked at Liam's horrified expression and realised she needed to do some damage control.
"I know this is a lot to drop on you, but you are so smart. You are going to realise that Killian is getting treated very differently to you and I wanted you to understand why."
"You see, even though Emma is so young, she has shown the odd sign of selfishness. For example, she has never offered to share her cake or her dessert with anyone, not even her father. But she offered it to Killian. No prodding, no asking. And Liam?" Snow fixed her gaze on Liam's eyes to ensure he understood the gravity of what she was about to say. "The way they just stared at each other that first day. Totally enraptured, the both of them. Maybe they'll grow out of it. Maybe I'm completely wrong. Many things change as we grow up. We'll have to wait and see if I'm right."`
"But, but, Emma is a princess. The Crown Princess! Killian is, is . . . I'm proud of him, but Emma is royalty." Liam was flummoxed. He was just a little too young to really grasp what Snow was getting at. He didn't have any experience with romantic love and, at his age, he never wanted to!
"Did you know that David and I are True Loves?" Snow asked. Liam shook his head.
"I'll tell you and Killian that story one day, soon, but the thing is, David wasn't royalty. He was a shepherd," Snow said. "I'd say that just about equals a coal boy."
Liam's jaw dropped open. This was all getting a bit much for him.
"True Love goes beyond social rank, Liam. It can't be changed. It can't be forced. I can tell you from experience that trying to come between it ends badly for everyone concerned. If at all possible, I want my daughter to have that kind of love when she's old enough. If the signs are still there for Emma and Killian when they are a little older, then, with your permission, we can ask the Blue Fairy to test them. Fairies are always wise in the ways of spotting True Love," Snow said.
Liam was well and truly lost, now. All this talk of True Love and fairies and Snow seeming to be sizing his little brother up as a potential something for the Princess.
"I'm sorry, Liam. I can see I've said too much and you have no idea what to think of me," Snow said and patted his hand. "I only wanted to make sure you understood why I want to encourage Emma to think of you as an older brother but not Killian. That there was no malice or anger behind it."
"I think I understand that much, Your Highness," Liam said. Snow held up a hand and raised an eyebrow. "Snow," Liam corrected himself at her silent prompting.
"I also need you to understand this. Understand and believe. I've only known you and Killian for a few days, but I will do what ever it takes to see both of you grow up outrageously happy. Not because of what you both did for Emma, but because you are deserving of it." Snow reinforced her words by placing a kiss on Liam's forehead.
Never in his life did Liam dream he'd be kissed by a queen. Now, in the space of two days, he'd been kissed by a queen and a princess. If something as unlikely as that could happen to him, then perhaps he could find a little hope to place in Snow's promises. His eyes were drawn to movement at the window as a chicken settled herself on the sill.
'Life is very strange,' Liam thought to himself.