TRIGGER WARNING!: If you are easily triggered, than you may not want to read the marked off section in this chapter. It will be marked off by the usual divider (Ya know, the KEKEKEKE) but the letters will be bolded.
"Well Killian," Snow White started to say, "You must have quite a story to tell." Killian sighed deeply, as everyone held their breath.
"Well, you could say, that I met death, and it wasn't for the first time." Killian said finally, breaking the silence.
"What do you mean?" Neal asked eagerly, his interest piqued.
"Well, you were too young to remember lad, but when Liam and I first arrived at the palace, I was in pretty bad shape." Killian replied.
"Yeah but Emma healed you," Liam finished for him.
"Well, it wasn't immediately," Emma added shyly. Killian smirked slightly at her embarrassment, but he understood. It wasn't a day any of them remembered fondly.
"Well in the moments when she was figuring out her magic, because she was just four years old mind you, I had a conversation with Death himself. He told me of a prophecy, and gave me a decision." Killian continued.
"Well what was the choice?" David cut in, his voice almost as eager as Neal's. Snow grimaced at her husband's childishness, but no one else seemed to catch it.
"Stay or go," Killian said simply. Liam visibly cringed at this remark, as did Emma, and Killian ached to comfort them both, but this was not the time. Plus, there was no way they were letting him out of bed for at least a day.
"Well we know your decision, but what I don't understand is why you didn't tell us about this sooner." Snow said.
"I didn't remember. I couldn't, because Death took away my memories. That little episode that Emma witnessed? That was his way of calling me back, to give me back my memories from the first time I met him. And on top of that, I only remember bits and pieces of this second time." Killian clarified.
"Well do enlighten us brother," Liam encouraged. Killian shot a look at Neal and Leo, furrowing his brow.
"I don't know that this is something that the younger ears should hear," He informed them. Without hesitation, the monarchs sent the two princes out of the room, much to their chagrin. Neal complained loudly, claiming that he was old enough. Leo, ever the obedient child, grabbed his brother by the hand, which immediately shut Neal up. Leo dragged him out of the room, much to the amusement of the older party.
"Well," Killian continued, once they were gone. "It seems that there is a prophecy, concerning Emma and me. Unfortunately, seem to only remember half, due to Donn's meddling."
"Donn?" Emma inquired. Killian shot her a tired look.
"Trust me, you do not want to know," He answered.
"The prophecy Killian," David reminded him.
"Well, the prophecy, the parts which I remember, go a little like this." Killian took a deep breath. " Two people, from different vines, cross paths, their destinies intertwined. One, a girl, born of true love. A boy born at sea, his heart from thereof. A wandering soul, and a brave one. Destined to be together, but forever apart. Separated by tragedy, though they are two parts of the same heart." As he finished, he looked around the room, surveying the reactions of the people around him. His brother, looked deep in thought, for he was always the more scholarly one, figuring out hard problems and such. Snow White looked stricken by this sudden turn of events, and David had a surprised, but determined look on his face. Turning to Emma, he wasn't surprised to find that she was trying hard to mask her emotions. But Killian could read right through her façade. He saw, plain, blatant fear in her eyes, but the way her jaw was set, mirrored the look of determination on her father's face. After another bout of long silence, Emma opened her mouth.
"Killian, the dreams we've been having aren't dreams at all. They're memories."
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After deciding to save further discussion for the morning, the royals parted ways with the Joneses, giving Liam some much needed alone time with his brother.
"Emma!" Snow called after her daughter, who was walking towards her room, and was looking forward to a full night of sleep in her own bed. Emma stopped in the hall, giving her mother a chance to catch up.
"It won't be long," Snow added breathlessly, a dazzling grin on her face. "I was just wondering, if you'd like to cancel your marriage agreement with Baelfire." Emma's face fell immediately, the weight of her decision coming down on her shoulders. Snow, confused by her daughter's reaction, rambled on. "Well if you don't want to, that's fine. I just thought—"Emma cut her off abruptly.
"No I want to. I just—I want to tell him myself," Emma said warily, the last few weeks finally catching up to her. Snow's grin faltered slightly.
"You're sure?" she pondered. Emma nodded.
"Okay. Before or after your birthday?" she asked. Emma heaved a sigh.
"After. It's not like he'll come anyway." Emma muttered as an afterthought. Abruptly, she left turned on her heel, a move she'd stolen from Killian, and continued down the hall, disappearing into her room.
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The Seventeenth Year
She descended the stairs to the ball in honor of her seventeenth birthday, not on her brother's arm, but on Killian's. She danced with her father, and each of her brothers in turn, but she only had eyes for Killian. He waited patiently for his turn, dodging many potential suitors in the process. When she finally made her way over to him, she was very near exhaustion.
"Let's find you some food princess, that way we can replenish your energy." He suggested. She nodded her approval, taking his hand, letting him lead her to the refreshments. She ate greedily, earning a laugh from Killian, and a glare from the people around her, but she didn't care. For the first time in a long time, she was actually enjoying herself at one of these parties, and she wanted to make it last. She laughed with him, as they made little jabs at Liam, and princess Melody.
"You obviously are in love brother, ask for her hand in marriage already!" Killian exclaimed, after pulling his brother aside.
"If he doesn't ask to court you Melody, why don't you ask to court him?" Emma suggested to her bewildered friend, smirking slightly as she saw Killian trying to get through to Liam out of the corner of her eye. As Killian dragged Liam back towards the girls, she shoved Melody towards her equally bewildered counterpart, laughing gleefully as she quickly grabbed Killian's left hand, dragging him away. They continued their night of fun, dancing almost every dance together, stuffing their faces, and all in all having the time of their lives. That is, until they were rudely interrupted by a tall man, with close cropped hair, but curly hair, tanned skin, and brown eyes. It was Emma who recognized him first.
"Baelfire," she exclaimed, startled by his appearance.
"Happy birthday Em," he said, pulling her in for a quick hug. Killian growled, expressing his feelings towards the display, earning a glare from Baelfire, and a pleading glare from Emma, who was mentally trying to tell him to keep his mouth shut. Baelfire pulled away, swooping in for a kiss, only to be pushed away by the Princess. At the sight of his confused expression, she sighed, something that she seemed to be doing a lot of lately.
"Baelfire, we need to talk."
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Emma led her formerly betrothed out into the gardens, where they had spent so much time as children.
"I hadn't thought that I would have to be doing this so soon," Emma started, ignoring the ever growing confusion that Baelfire was displaying. She started in on her little speech, explaining the turn of events, and the reasons that she couldn't marry him.
"… and I hope you can find love, and find happiness Bae, I really do. Just, not with me," she finished, looking into his eyes, waiting for him to absorb her words. She could tell it was happening, when his eyes darkened, and his face contorted in rage. He clenched his fists, his body trembling. Emma backed away, but it wasn't soon enough. He lunged at her, grabbing her wrists, and pinning them above her head, against the wall. She tried to twist out of his grip, but he was just too strong.
"You—you slut!" he yelled, not caring who heard. He slapped her across the face. "You just go around opening your legs for anyone who offers you a smile don't you? Don't you?" he pushed her wrists harder against the wall, moving his free hand up to her neck. Emma whimpered, trying again to free herself. This wasn't the boy she knew. This man was twisted, cruel. She was afraid to make a sound.
"Yeah I bet you like it rough." He taunted, applying slight pressure to her throat, making her gasp. He released it though, letting her breath, choosing to move his hand lower. "Where's your sailor now huh?" Emma could smell the alcohol on his breath. She struggled harder. "Balls deep in a God damn princess, and he can't be bothered to protect her? WHERE IS HE?" he yelled. When Killian didn't appear, he continued to rant. "He's a coward. He's not coming Emma. You're mine."
"Think again mate," a voice from behind him growled. Suddenly, Baelfire was on the ground, a shadow straddling him, a fist colliding with his face again and again. Emma slid down the wall, and collapsed in a heap on the ground, wishing that she could close her eyes, and it would all be over. The sound of flesh on flesh finally stopped, and she felt hands cradle her gently, and she struggled to escape them, trying to protect herself. The hands held her more firmly, and a soothing voice whispered in her ear.
"It's okay Emma, it's me. It's just me. Everything's going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay." Killian said over and over again, lifting her, holding her against him. He repeated it like a prayer, carrying the shuddering body of the woman he loved to safety.
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"What happened?" the voice whispered urgently.
"He attacked her when she told him she couldn't marry him," another voice joined the mix. She relaxed instantly upon hearing it, the tension in her body easing.
"Where is he?" another voice growled, this one angry. The calming voice jumped into the conversation again.
"I took care of it. He won't be coming around here again."
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The Seventeenth Year, and Six Months
It was in one of their weaker moments when it finally happened. It was inevitable though. He'd been dancing around it for months, trying not to push her after what happened with Baelfire.
They were embracing in Emma's room, after finally hearing of Killian and Liam's next assignment. They would leave in the morning, on an emergency voyage to the outskirts of the kingdom, to aid with fighting a lose ogre that happened to be tormenting the villages, and they had no idea how long he would be gone. The embrace started out innocent enough, but soon blossomed into much more. Kissing passionately, her back up against the wall, she suddenly broke the kiss, leading him to the bed.
"Emma," Killian warned, only to be quieted by her lips meeting his once again. Instinct triumphed over everything else, and he pushed her onto the bed gently, his mouth never leaving hers. Soon enough, they were both shirtless, and working on undressing completely. He took this moment to confirm their actions. He pulled away, looking deep into her eyes, searching for anything to deter him, and finding nothing.
"Are you sure?" he asked, just to be sure himself.
"Yes," she replied breathlessly. And after that statement, everything just fell into place.
The Seventeenth Year, and Nine Months.
She couldn't be sure, she shouldn't be, but she hadn't bled in three months. She hadn't bled since that night… no she couldn't think about it right now. She was constantly sick in the mornings, and her stomach was already firmer. She shouldn't be sure, but she was. She could feel it.
"Well shit."
The Seventeenth Year, and Eleven Months
This couldn't be happening. It simply was not possible. He closed his eyes, rubbed them, and opened them again, but the man was still there, hovering above deck.
"Ahoy maties!" he cackled in a voice Killian couldn't soon forget.
"Rumplestitleskin," Killian growled, just as Liam shouted the same name.
"What do you want imp?" Liam spat, for there was no love for the man on this ship, or any other for that matter. Rumplestitleskin cackled again, raising a crooked finger, and pointing at Killian.
"Him."
Back at the Castle
Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. Her gut clenched, and not because of the baby. Killian. She had to get to Killian. She stood up as quickly as she could, and focused on her sailor. But as soon, as she enacted the magic, a sharp pain shot through her. She collapsed in the nearest chair, panting. Her magic wouldn't work. She couldn't get to him.
In The Dungeon
Regina stood up, massaged her hands, and then proceeded to crack her fingers, and her back. She paced the room, stretching her legs, getting the blood flowing again. It was time.
On The Jewel of the Realm
"You want him, you'll have to go through me," Liam snarled, standing protectively in front of his brother. Rumplestitleskin, stuck his nose up in the air slightly, sizing up the man standing in his way.
"I can do that," he dead panned. It all happened so quickly. With a puff of smoke, a sword appeared in the imp's hand. In a flash, that sword was sticking out of Liam's back. Rumplestitleskin cackled again, and with a grin on his face, he twisted the sword, tearing at the flesh.
"No!" Killian screamed, lunging forward. Rumplestitleskin only cackled more, the noise becoming higher in volume, and pitch. With another swift swipe of is blade, excruciating pain shoots through Killian's left arm, and something hits the deck with a sickening thud.
"Oh dear, seems you need a hand!" Rumplestitleskin sniggers, taunting the poor man. "That's too bad." And with that, the imp is gone, but so is the hand that once belonged to Killian Jones. Adrenaline still coursing through him, he ignores the pain, rushing to his brother, and kneeling by his side. He props the man's head on his lap, wracking his brain for anything that he can do to help, anything at all.
"No Liam, you're going to be okay." Killian says stubbornly, as Liam takes a weak breath.
"Killian," Liam gasps. "Promise me you'll be the man you want to be. Promise me you'll be good, and kind, and courteous." Killian sets his jaw stubbornly.
"No Liam don't talk like that you're going to be fine." He whispers, his eyes filling with tears.
"Promise me," Liam manages to gasp out, his voice weak. Killian feels the tears spill over to his cheeks, and he looks into his brothers eyes, watching the light leave them.
"I promise," he chokes out.
At the Castle
The nervousness she feels is almost unbearable. She paces the room, trying to figure out what to do. Her parents are visiting Eric and Ariel, so they can't help. Graham is with them. She doesn't trust anybody else enough to confide in them what she thinks is going on. Suddenly, she hears a pop, and spins around, only to find Baelfire's father, Rumplestitleskin standing in the center of her room, with his hands behind his back.
"A present for the baby your highness," he says mockingly, dropping the parcel on the bed. He's gone in another puff of smoke. Emma makes her way over to the bed, and unwraps the parcel, though there's a little voice in her head screaming at her to stop. When the last bit of cloth is removed, Emma drops the hand in shock. The hand that she knows so well. The hand that is undeniably Killian's. Before the pregnancy, she never had a weak stomach, but now, at the sight of her lover's hand, she wretches uncontrollably, and sobs at the same time, worrying that her worst fears have been realized.
In the Dungeon
"Oh Rumple," Regina sighs. "You've always had such a flare for the dramatics. With a wave of her hand, the door to the cell that has confined her for so long flies open. She storms up the stairs, knocking the door at the top off its hinges. She storms out of the castle, and out of the gate, followed closely by a cloud of purple smoke. The cloud expands, and engulfs everything in its path.