The Fifteenth Year

"Sit still," Neal ordered his siblings. Leo continued to fidget on Emma's lap, and she fought to keep back a laugh. Neal sighed exasperatedly.

"Leo, I'll draw you separate from Emma okay?" Neal suggested. Leo jumped off of Emma's lap, and ran off in search of his parents.

"He won't be back you know," Emma stated.

"I know," Neal responded, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh no," Emma warned, her eyes widening. "You're getting the magic tingle aren't you."

"Yup, so you don't have to model for this one," Neal answered distractedly, already absorbed in his drawing.

"I'll talk to you later Neal," Emma said, rising from her perch, and exiting the room. Neal's "magic tingle" as he so fondly called it, made him almost lose control over his hands. When he got the feeling, he had to grab a piece of parchment and some type of writing utensil, otherwise the feeling would persist, and he would be continuously distracted, until he scratched the itch. The first drawing he drew under these circumstances was Leo falling off his horse. His parents chastised him for drawing such a terrible thing, the day before they went riding, but Neal said nothing. He apologized to Leo, and they went riding the next day. An hour or so in, Leo's horse was spooked by a snake, and threw him. It was Neal's quick reflexes that saved the boy from a fall that would've resulted in several broken bones. Neal used his magic to float his brother to the ground, much to the chagrin of his shocked parents.

"Emma!" Neal called. "Emma wait a second!" Emma stopped in the middle of the hallway, giving her younger brother a chance to catch up. He jogs, waving the newly filled piece of parchment paper.

"What is it Neal?" Emma asks impatiently.

"It's not like you're going anywhere Em," Neal responded snarkily. "And anyway, you might want to look at this. Just promise not to shoot the messenger."

"Just give it to me Neal," Emma ordered shortly. Neal handed her the paper and quickly ran back the way he came. Emma sighed and looked at the paper. It was a tall man, with slight stubble, and piercing eyes, dancing with woman in a ball gown, her back turned. Upon closer examination, Emma found that the man was Killian. This Killian looked much more mature than the last time she had seen him, but there was no mistaking him. The tears started coming before she could stop them. With a destination finally in mind, Princess Emma ran.

The Sixteenth Year

Emma awoke from her nightmare, gasping for breath. Her body was racked with sobs, and she struggled to control herself. She had watched the last breath leave his body, and it had all felt so real. I hope that wasn't another shared dream, Emma thought to herself. The princess got ahold of her emotions, and looked around, attempting to make a guess at the time. By the way the light shone into her bedroom, she'd guess it was around dawn. Well at least the sun's up this time, she thought. Emma pulled herself out of bed, for there was no point in trying to sleep again, and headed down to the dining hall. On her short journey, she passed the ballroom, which was already adorned in dark blue, and a rich gold, the colors of her kingdom's navy. Oh that's right, the ball's this evening, Emma remembered. As she grabbed an apple for breakfast, and started back towards her room, her thoughts wandering to Killian, for he and his brother were to be the guests of honor at the ball after all. She thought of his letter, and his request to her, to save him a dance. Her eyes started to sting, so she pushed thoughts of him out of her mind, focusing more on preparing for the celebration tonight.

KEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEK

"I expect all of you to dress your best tonight," the young lieutenant lectured. "Look like navy officers, and act like the gentleman I know you all are, deep, deep, deep, deep down inside of you." The men chuckled at the lieutenant's remark.

"What my dear brother means to say," Captain Jones started, walking across deck. "At ease men, is that you scurvy dogs serve under the Jones brothers! So act like it!" The men hurrahed at the captain's speech. "Now off with the lot of you! We are home after all!" The crew stampeded off the boat and into the village. Killian turned on his heel, and headed towards the cabin.

"And where do you think you're going?" Liam asked, following after his brother. Killian sighed, and turned to face his brother.

"Below deck," he stated, like it was obvious.

"You're not going anywhere until we talk about tonight," Liam said sternly, steering his brother to the railing, so they could look out over the water.

"Liam I'm fine," Killian grumbled.

"No you're not," Liam retorted. Killian twisted out of his brother's grip.

"I said I'm fine brother," he growled, before storming below deck. Liam followed him, but not before making a pit stop in the captain's cabin. He threw the door to the lieutenant's quarters open, and walked in.

"Listen here you stubborn ass, you most certainly are not fine, and with good reason too. Tonight, you're seeing Emma for the first time in years. It's okay to be nervous, and it's okay to be scared, but it's not okay to shut me out!" Liam yelled.

"I'm sorry Liam," Killian mumbled, not meeting his brother's eyes. Liam sighed, and threw the red vest he had grabbed from his quarters, at his brother's head. Killian stared at it quizzically.

"You said you'd be the one in red you idiot," Liam said before mimicking his brothers earlier movements, that is, turning on his heel, and walking out of the lieutenant's cabin.

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Later that Evening

Emma descended the steps on her brother's arm, struggling to control her breathing.

"Calm down Emma," Neal whispered.

"I'm trying," she responded a little breathlessly. Finally they reached the bottom, and the family parted ways. She wandered around, searching the faces of guests, looking for the one person she had been longing to see. While she was searching, she plowed into a couple passionately locking lips behind one of the columns.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" she started to say before she fully registered who she had interrupted. "Melody?" she asked, looking at her sheepish friend wide eyed, before turning to the man next to her. "Liam!" she cried, wrapping her arms around him. "It's been so long!" He hugged her tightly, before pulling away.

"Look at you Emma, all grown up," he said, grinning. Emma laughed, before looking between her red faced friend, and the shy smile of the man who had been like an older brother to her during her childhood.

"Well," she said, smirking, "I'll let you two get back to it."

"Oh no Emma really it's fine," Melody started, but Emma interrupted her.

"No please I insist. It's long overdue anyway," she replied before turning and walking away.

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He caught sight of her first, and Gods, did she look beautiful. Her hair was pulled into an elegant updo, with pieces falling out in the front, framing her face. Her dress was a deep crimson red, to match her lipstain, and her eyes were as green as ever. She was stunning. She turned head towards the source of the piercing gaze she felt on her back, and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw him. The princess marched over to him, a frown set deep into her face. When she reached him, she stopped, gazing into his sapphire eyes.

"I thought I was supposed to be the one wearing red princess," he whispered. Emma raised her hand, and he felt a stinging sensation across his face. "I deserved that," he said simply. She raised her hand and slapped him again. "That too," he continued. When she raised her hand a third time, he grabbed her wrist, and pulled her out into the garden, away from the mass of people. As she broke down, he held her shaking body close to him. When she was finished, she looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears.

"You promised," she whispered, breaking Killian's heart. He could only nod his head.

"Not a day went by where I didn't think of you," he whispered back. Emma swung her hand once more, this time with a closed fist, smashing it into the right side of Killian's face, before turning and walking away, back into the party. Killian groaned, holding his eye.

"Oi lass could you try not to take my eye out!" he yelled following after her. "Emma wait!" She spun around to face him, glaring at him.

"You left me Killian Jones. I loved you, and you left me!" She spat, before turning away from him again. He stood there for a moment, shocked at her words, before running after her.

"You loved me?" he repeated breathlessly once he caught up to her. She stopped walking, put her head in her hands and laughed dryly.

"Of course I loved you, you idiot!" she snapped. "I loved you from day one. Hell Killian, I visited the ship to check on you! I dreamed about you every God damn night!" He grabbed her chin gently, turning her head so he could look into her eyes.

"Do you still love me?" he asked nervously, fighting the urge to scratch the back of his neck. Emma laughed again.

"For all the good it will do me, I still love you Killian Jones," she replied. "And I always will." And then he was kissing her, and she was responding in kind. It was a kiss full of passion, and flames. It was full of need, and desperation, and want. When they finally broke for air, Killian smirked, and waggled his eyebrows.

"I think you still owe me that dance Princess," he chuckled.