A/N: Oh, no! Only one chapter left before the last one! I'm so glad you all are enjoying this story–it was genuinely really fun to put a spin on a classic tale! I hope you all are still enjoying it, and will until the final part!
Enjoy!
Graham and Regina searched every inch of the small kingdom in a day, coming up absolutely empty-handed at each home, tavern, shop, whatever they stopped at.
It was getting grueling, but Graham refused to give up.
He would never give up on getting Emma her happy ending.
"Graham, we need to take a break."
"You can. I will not stop searching until I have found him." Graham spoke firmly.
"You're just as crazy as she is if you think you can find this prince."
"We have an hour until sundown. We will find him before then." Graham assured him, "There are only a few more homes before we're finished searching the kingdom. I suggest we keep moving."
Graham trotted ahead, smiling a little at Regina's groan.
The last house.
Finally.
It was a quaint home, Graham thought, but the men inside it were not as such.
He recognized them from the ball as the ones who tried dancing with any women they could get their paws on.
It was disgusting.
But, Graham knew they had to search it.
Emma's man could be in here.
"Ah, Grand Duchess, what a pleasure to see you." The man of the house smiled.
"Graham, this is Lord Gold. He has two sons here."
"One of my sons is bound to be the man you're looking for, Captain." Gold smiled, but Graham didn't feel right about this.
"Alright, let's see the swords." Graham sighed, hopping off his horse and carefully grabbing the sword from its spot in his satchel.
He walked into the home, taking in a deep breath before looking to the two men.
"Neal, show him yours first."
Neal-the eldest, Graham assumed-sauntered up to him and showed him the sheath he had.
"Markings aren't right." Graham said.
"No, no, see," Neal said, clearly pulling at straws, "These markings are... Nearly identical."
"Nice try." Graham sighed.
"You're just looking at it the wrong way-"
"August, show him yours." Gold demanded. August shoved Neal out of the way, bumping into Graham and nearly knocking him over.
I don't get paid enough for this, he thought.
"Still not right." Graham sighed.
"But, see, I've got the ocean on mine, too."
"That's not the ocean. Those are branches." Graham deadpanned, "From a tree."
"No, they're waves. See the-"
"We're done here." Graham sighed, turning away, "Unless you have another son."
"Nope, not another son here." Gold said, "But, I assure you-one of my sons is indeed the man you're looking for!"
Graham knew the man was lying.
Killian tried every single way he could think of to get himself out of the bloody home.
He couldn't fit out of the slim window, and calling for help was useless.
So, he spent his time as wisely as he could, reading any book he could get his hands on, talking to Liam, and writing about Emma.
He tried his best not to think of her, but it was so hard. Her smile, her beauty, her laugh, everything plagued every inch of his thoughts, and though he was grateful for that, it was a wish he did not make.
It only reminded him of what could have been.
Killian had been reading when he heard voices downstairs.
Voices of the palace guards.
He opened his window to see the men in uniform, standing in their driveway.
"If there are no other men in the home, I'll be on my way." The Captain said, causing Killian's heart to start beating faster.
He had to do it.
He had to be brave.
"Wait!" He called down, causing everyone to look at him.
"It's you." He heard over all of the other voices, a smile breaking his lips as he saw Emma pull the hat off her head and guard jacket off.
"And, you." Killian smiled down to her.
"Bring him downstairs." The Captain said.
"But, Captain, you're making a mistake-"
"No, he's not." Emma said, "This is him. This is the man I danced with."
Killian smiled, wanting nothing more than to be down there, with her.
He watched as the Captain of the Guard fought his way into the home, and he smiled as he heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
Killian hurriedly walked to the door, waiting patiently for it to open.
It opened, revealing the Captain and Gold.
"The Queen wishes to speak to you." The Captain smiled, causing Killian to smile in response with a bow.
"Thank you." Killian said, walking past Gold and hurrying down the stairs.
Emma was standing by the door, in her riding clothes, playing with the ring on her finger.
She looked up for a moment, meeting Killian's eyes. He swallowed hard-it was always hard, he knew, showing someone exactly who you are.
But, he wasn't ashamed.
He was never ashamed of who he was.
"Could we have a minute alone?" Emma asked her guards, who all nodded as she invited Killian into the living area.
"I can't believe you found me." Killian breathed.
"I can't believe it either, given how long we searched." She smiled, "Now, I must know your name."
"Killian." He offered with a bow, looking up to meet her eyes.
"Killian." She repeated, as if to test it on her lips, "Though I'm nearly positive you are the man I danced with, I need proof."
Killian nodded nervously, taking part of his broken sheath out to compare it with the sword.
"The ocean." Emma breathed.
"Aye." Killian nodded, looking to her.
"It's a match." She spoke softly.
"Aye, it is." Killian nodded.
"You're my prince."
"I haven't been properly honest with you." Killian offered nervously, catching Emma's tight-lipped smile, "I'm nothing but a servant. I'm no prince. I don't have a carriage, money, a title. But, Emma, will you take me as I am-an honest servant boy who loves you?"
"Of course I will," Emma smiled, "If you'll take me as I am-an apprentice still learning her trade."
"Of course." Killian breathed.
"What are you waiting for?" Emma grinned, making him smile wider as he set a hand on her cheek and his other on her waist, pulling her close enough to kiss.
Their lips met, and Killian had never felt so alive in his life than in that moment. She was so lovely, every single part of her.
And, now?
Now, she was his and he was hers.
"Wait a minute-he's just a servant!" Neal exclaimed, causing Killian to break away from Emma's grasp.
"No, he is no longer your servant." Emma spoke firmly, her hand staying at his neck, "And, I am your Queen-I expect you to bow."
Killian smiled at the sight of all three of the men who had made his life a living hell bowing down to him, to Emma. His years of pain and aching were over.
"Let's get you back to the palace." Emma smiled to him, taking his hand in hers and walking out of the room.
Killian stopped just as they reached Gold, and with a deep breath, he looked into the man's eyes.
"I forgive you." He spoke simply, before striding forward with Emma.
Killian felt bittersweet about leaving-his whole life was spent in that house.
And, as if she could read minds, Emma spoke.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure this won't be the last time you see your home." She promised, making him smile as they stepped outside. Killian swallowed hard as he watched the guards bow to them-he had never felt so powerful before.
"I don't have my carriage with me," Emma smiled, "So, I hope you don't mind riding back."
"It seems fitting, given our first meeting." Killian smiled in response, "I'll go get my horse."
"Guards, Graham, take Regina and Lord Gold back to the palace." Emma ordered, "Put them somewhere they can't get out. I will deal with them myself later."
Graham nodded, then went into the home to gather his prisoners.
"Wait here." Killian offered, "I'll be right back."
"Okay." Emma smiled to him before he hurried to the backside of his home, to the stable. He took his horse from it's stable, smiling and patting him as he walked back to the driveway.
Emma was already sitting atop hers, ready to go.
Killian smiled and mounted his own horse, gently nudging the horse forward to catch up with Emma.
"Ready to go home?" Emma asked with a smile.
"Always." Killian smiled in response as they started down the road.
Killian only looked back once, and when he did, he smiled.
He was finally leaving that life behind, he was finally getting what he had been hoping for all those years.
Killian Jones was getting his happy ending.