Snow's unusually quiet as she changes her clothes. It's been a long day and wants nothing more than to sleep, but even sleep, she knows will be uneasy. David is already in bed, still disturbed by the day's events but seeing Snow come out from the dresser, wearing a light blue sleep gown puts a smile on his face. She smiles at him before walking over, and sitting on the bed and he leans over to kiss her but she backs away suddenly

"What?"

"I think that we need to talk about Emma," she says, "and him,"

David sighs, rubbing his forehead. "I really don't want to talk about it, Snow," he muses, "He's a pirate and therefore, completely unsuitable for our daughter. End of story,"

"They're in love," she continues, "And he saved her life,"

"So, we owe him a great debt for saving her life," he says, "but that debt will not include giving him her hand in marriage,"

Snow plays with the hem of her gown. "I think that you're going to find yourself severely outnumbered on this," she reasons.

"Not by much," he retorts, "You've always said that you wanted better for her. How is our daughter marrying to a pirate good for her? It's not,"

"If you're worried about the kingdom's reputation, she could do a lot worse,"

He raises an eyebrow at that challenge.

"I don't know how much worse but I will not stand in the way of True Love, and neither will Red," Snow defends.

"Red's behind this too?" he questions, "That is not fair!"

Snow shrugs, sighing. "She loves him David and I really believe that he loves her too. You know True Love's kiss, it can break any curse and theirs is true," she says, "At least consider the consequences of forcing Emma to let go of her true love. She ate a poisonous apple to forget about him; next time, she could do worse. Do you really want to lose her over this?"

"You think that she would commit suicide?"

"Maybe not that, but perhaps run away and we never see her again," Snow reasons, "I for one, could not deal with her leaving the kingdom forever and eloping, living a pirate's life,"

David sighs. "I'll think about it," he promises and kisses her cheek, "but tonight I want to spend time with my wife and rejoice in the fact that our daughter is home, where she belongs,"

David kisses her again, running hand down her gown and his other through her hair. Before he can get any further though, they're interrupted by a loud pounding on the door. David stands from the bed, grabs a robe and opens, greeting a guard.

"Sorry majesty for the interruption but I thought that you should know that a pirate broke into Princess Emma's room and he's currently locked up in the prison quarters for interrogation,"

Snow can't help but laugh at the irony and has to hide her big grin behind a pillow.

"Thank you for that," he says, "We'll be down shortly for the interrogation,"

The guard turns on his heels and leaves them. David closes the door behind him and turns around, glaring at his wife. "Seriously, this is not funny," he retorts, "I don't know why you're laughing. He could have kidnapped her – again,"

"Doubtful," she smirks, before going to change again.

Snow isn't surprised to see Emma dressed and waiting for them in the main throne room. Red's already with her and David knows he's already outnumbered. "You heading down to the prison cells?" she asks, though she already knows the answer.

"I am and you're not," he says firmly.

"Of course, I'm going," Emma retorts, looking at her mother. "I know you told me to keep my distance, I kept my word but I had to tell him the same thing. I didn't anticipate him coming back to the castle to see me though,"

David shrugs. "It doesn't matter. We are going to settle this matter now," he reasons.

Snow and Emma exchange worried looks; Snow steps forward. "Charming," she starts, "I hope you don't mean – death? He didn't come here to kidnap her,"

"Daddy, please no!" Emma cries, "I love him,"

"He's a pirate Emma!" David fumes, "He is no good for you and I'm sorry, but I forbid you to be with him. You're a princess, you deserve better than him,"

Emma suddenly feels faint and Red rushes to her side, supporting her. "You're going to kill him," she breathes, "He dies and I will never forgive you for this,"

David looks at his wife, and Snow knows Emma isn't kidding with that statement. She doesn't have to remind her husband that it was True Love's kiss that awoke her but it seems, his prejudice is too sharp to ignore. "I'm sorry Emma," he says, storming out of the room.

Emma turns to her mother and Red, her face becoming visibly pale and her body shaking.

David finds the pirate behind bars, where he belongs, probably contemplating if his daughter is really worth all this trouble. He would argue that she is but he doesn't need to know that especially since he does not approve of him anyway. Prince David strides confidently towards the cell and the pirate looks up at him, standing to attention, bracing the bars.

"Highness," he greets. "I want to apologize for creeping into your daughter's room – again. I know your wife told her to keep her distance from me, but her note confused me. And I wanted to see what..."

"Shut up," David says bluntly, studying him. "I'm in no mood to hear your apologies pirate and I think we both know how stubborn princess Emma can be. She gets that from her mother. But it seems, everyone and when I mean everyone, I'm referring to my wife, daughter and my daughter's godmother seem to be in your favor. That puts me at a crossroads of what to do with you,"

Killian studies the prince carefully. "I don't think I understand," he muses.

David shrugs. "Neither do I," he reasons, "You're a pirate and by no means, appropriate for a princess. We both know that and despite what you've done, they'll (especially Emma) will continue to fight for you until I cave,"

"Or you could allow me to marry Emma and everyone's happy, except you of course," Killian adds.

"You kidnapped her, put her life in danger, lied and used her and she still loves you," David fumes, referring to his daughter. "To me, that's not exactly solid basis for a relationship,"

"True, true," the pirate agrees, "but Emma knows me and she knows I had no control over what happened,"

David focuses on him. "You didn't have to kidnap her, you had control over that situation but you targeted her," he seethes.

"I am sorry," Killian continues, "but everything that's happened since then, hasn't it been proof enough that I'm trying to change for good – for her?"

"I had planned to have you executed but I don't want to have to tell my daughter that I killed her one true love," he reasons, "I can't let you go either,"

Killian smiles. "Well, that is a bit of a conundrum, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?" he counters.

"All three of your favorite ladies have reason to turn against you if you kill me and one of them, will have her heart broken if you do. And to be honest highness, that is one heart I don't wish to hurt anymore than you do," he muses, smiling, "I love Emma and not just because marrying her will give me a good life, everyone wants that. I love her. I love her spirit, the person that she is, outspoken and yes, terribly stubborn at times but that's who she is. She's perfect to me and I feel more than humbled that she loves me back, flaws and all. She is amazing and I don't deserve to be with someone like her,"

David smirks at him for the first time. "That is a very good speech," he commends, "Did you spend your time

practicing that one, hoping it would impress me and I would change my mind?"

Killian shrugs. "I did have time to practice it. Why? Was it too much?"

"It was good, it was," David continues, "but I'm afraid it doesn't change my mind about you. You're still a pirate

and that isn't going to change tomorrow or next week,"

"I'm no longer a pirate captain," he says suddenly, "I still have a ship, which Emma promised me I could keep but am no longer captain,"

"Your ship, it's still nearby?"

He shrugs again. "A safe distance away," Killian reasons, studying him carefully. "My ship, my crew, they mean everything to me highness. A captain's crew is the closest to family, if any harm comes to them...I won't be able to restrain myself if these bars weren't here,"

"I won't harm your crew," David promises.

tbc