For the first time in his life, Charming doesn't know what to do. His mother used to tell him that some choices will be easy, others will be harder and he has to be extra careful with those because they could decide your destiny. Speaking with the pirate didn't make his choice any easier; Killian Jones is clearly in love with his daughter and that isn't going to change anytime soon.
Same with Emma.
He sighs, walking back to the throne room. Snow and Emma are gone, but Red's still there and that's perfect because she is the person he needs right now.
"Red, I need you do something for me," he starts, waving his hand, "Don't worry, he's still alive,"
"You scared all of us David, Emma most of all. She had a panic attack that maybe you planned to kill her fiancé; Snow had to escort her back to her room to calm down," Red cries, "I know you don't approve but she really loves him and he -"
"..really loves her, I know," he finishes, "I talked to him and confessed as much. But I'm still at a crossroads, Red. I want what's best for my daughter, I want her to be with someone who's worthy of her love, someone who I know will always be faithful to her. But of all the men with those qualifications, I never thought a pirate would fit that description,"
Red smiles at him hopefully. "Does that mean you approve?" she wonders. Charming looks at her seriously and Red settles down. "What is it that you need me to do?"
"You tracked Captain Jones' ship before. Do you think you could find it again?"
"I lost the scent before," she manages, "but I could try and find it again. Can't be too hard. A ship full of rowdy men who like to make trouble where they see fit,"
"Good. I want you to start searching as soon as possible and once you get a lead, let me know," he orders.
"David, what is this about? If you don't mind me asking?" Red ventures.
The Prince sighs. "I need to know what happened when Emma was onboard his ship," he says, "I need to know everything before I can make my final decision,"
Red smiles at him sourly. "Of course," she reasons, "I'll get started right away,"
Snow wishes that she can do something to ease her daughter's heartache. The road to true love isn't always easy, sometimes it can be painful but it must always be fought for. She learned that lesson a long time ago after meeting David. King George didn't make it easy for them but defeating his only ally, her stepmother Regina helped.
She will always feel a little guilty over Daniel's death but every time she thinks about what Cora did to him, she thinks about how Regina must be reunited with him somehow in an afterlife. It's easier for her to think of them that way. Snow doesn't know what it feels like to be under a sleeping curse but she hopes whoever the recipient is able to find some peace.
Snow sighs, gently raking her fingers soothingly through Emma's still brown hair and misses her golden locks.
"Do you think he'll really do it?" Emma cries, "Kill Killian,"
Snow shrugs, smiling sourly. "Your father is not a violent man by nature. He is good and no, I don't believe he will. He loves you, Emma; you're his darling baby girl and wants to protect you. I don't think he would purposely hurt someone you love,"
Emma turns her looks and looks up at her mother. "He's ready to change for me," she sobs, "I mean, he is who he is but he wants to be a better person for me and I love him for that. But I cannot suffer through another heartbreak, mother,"
"I know sweetheart," Snow whispers, still stroking her hair. "I remember a long time ago, everything King George put your father and I through to prevent us from being together,"
"Daddy's not as cruel as King George,"
"No, he isn't, thankfully," Snow agrees, "but my point is, we won in the end and we were able to be together, we had you, Emma,"
Emma smiles at her, wiping away some of her tears. "Do you think we'll find the same happiness?"
"I know you will Emma," she whispers, "you already have; you only need to be patient,"
David sighs, listening to the tail end of his wife's conversation with his daughter. He doesn't wish to hurt Emma further but he needs to be sure. Charming backs away from the door as quietly as possible but he sees Snow stand from the bed and walk outside, meeting him.
"He's still alive," he says and Snow sighs heavily, "but I need to know what happened on his ship between him and Emma,"
Snow smiles at him, opening Emma's door and David looks at her. "Or you could just ask the source instead of going on a hunt," she suggests.
Emma looks between her parents, stands and walks over to them, her eyes partially red from crying. "What's going on?"
David sighs, looking seriously at his daughter. "I want to know what happened between you and the pirate while you were under his captivity," he says bluntly.
Emma glances at her mom and then turns her attention to her father. "I thought that was what your interrogation was all about," Emma muses, "You didn't kill him,"
"No, I didn't kill him but I still want to know what happened," he reasons, "I need to know that giving him your hand is the right thing. I love you Emma, you're my daughter and only want what's best for you but I need to be sure,"
She looks at her mom again, smiles at her confidently and turns her attention back to her dad. "I understand that now but does my fiancé have to stay locked up while you're away trying to find your answers?" she asks, "It's not exactly hospitable,"
Charming shrugs. "It won't hurt..." Snow glares at him. "But he doesn't have to be,"
"What do you hope to find?" she wonders, suddenly feeling very anxious. If father knew what she did, there's no way that he would allow Killian to marry her.
"I don't really know actually," he muses, "I just need to be sure, Emma,"
"Of course, I understand,"
Emma is about to have a meltdown, really. She's happy that her father is about halfway there to approving her
relationship with Killian but it makes her insanely nervous that he demands the truth about what happened to her while she was onboard The Jolly Roger.
She vowed to help Killian get him his money in exchange for teaching her about sexual intimacy. That is not something that her father needs to know about, so she tracks down Red who luckily finds her first and takes her aside.
"I'm screwed," Emma cries, "If you take him to the Jolly Roger and he talks to Killian's crew, he's going to find out what happened between Killian and I..."
Red sighs. "You never even told me what happened," she adds and Emma looks at her seriously. The other woman blushes and chuckles. "Oh, never mind,"
"Red, please, you have to help me one more time," Emma pleads. "I love Killian; you have to persuade my father that he doesn't need to do this. He cannot know what really happened,"
"I can't promise anything Emma but I'll try and do my best," she soothes, "He's still in the dungeon, I take it?"
"For now," Emma whispers, "I love him Red, I want my life to be with him but..everything feels so complicated; it's like destiny doesn't want us to be together,"
Red fixes her hair, smiling. "Don't stop fighting; if he's the one you want, you don't stop fighting for him," she soothes, "and eventually destiny will get the hint,"
Emma still feels uneasy after Red leaves her. She loves Killian so much and doesn't want to be separated from him again but that could happen if his crew is honest with her father. On the other hand, they could cover for Killian and choose to tell selective details but that doesn't ease her mind.
Princess Emma makes her way down to dungeon, finding her love still locked up. His shoulders are slumped over and he looks like he's given up. She sighs and he looks up, smiling thoughtfully at her as she comes closer to the cell, reaching her fingers through the bars until they entwine with his.
"It hardly seems fair that you get to spend the night in a comfortable bed and I have to sleep here, alone," he muses, smiling for her benefit, "I take it you didn't come down here to spring me out,"
"It's tempting but I don't have the key," she admits, "I came down here to tell you that my father is determined to know what happened while I was on board your ship. He plans to go there with Red and talk to your crew,"
He frowns. "That does present a problem," Killian reasons, "but my crew is loyal to me. I have every confidence that they will not double-cross me,"
"They are pirates," she mutters and he looks worriedly at her, "I'm sorry,"
"You have every reason to be worried Emma; I am too but if two people are really meant to be together, they find a way," he assures her, "And I do love you so much sweetheart. I have been with many women but you're the first I've truly come to care about; you're perfect to me,"
She blushes and leans into the bars, closing her eyes; Killian smiles, stepping closer and kisses her. "Do you know why I love you?" she manages between kisses.
"I thought it was the black leather,"
Emma giggles. "I love you because when I was with you on your ship, you treated me like an equal and I felt the most amazing freedom," she whispers, "and feel like if I lose you, I'll lose my freedom,"
He kisses her again. "Not the black leather?" he teases.
"It helps," Emma muses, "but I know being a pirate isn't all that you are, Killian as you know that I'm more than a princess; I'm me with or without the title,"
Killian smiles at her thoughtfully. "You're my love," he whispers, "and I will continue to fight for us because you are worth it. My only wish is that your father would realize this isn't just an infatuation,"
Emma smiles at him wishfully. "No, it isn't," she agrees, "I should go. If anyone catches me down here, I'll never hear the end of it,"
She turns to leave and then looks back at him, leaning into the bars and kisses him. "I love you," she breathes before running away.
"Is this quest to find his ship really necessary Charming?" Snow ventures, "We already know that they're crazy in love with each other, what else do you need to know?"
Charming sighs and looks at her. "I want to make sure it's right," he reasons, "I know you've been preparing her for meeting the right guy Snow, but I always figured when he came along, it would have been when she had
more life experience behind her and that day would been a long time from now,"
Snow smiles at him thoughtfully, starting to understand her husband's side of things. "I don't think we have to wait anymore Charming because he's here, and who's to say because she wants to be with him that she can't gain that life experience later?" she reasons, "Charming, she's not going to stop fighting for him. What do you hope to accomplish by seeking out his ship?"
"Find the truth maybe," he adds, "or at least part of the truth, or some version of it,"
"And you think that crew would be honest with you?"
He shrugs. "I don't expect to hear the whole story about what happened but it would help," he reasons.
Snow sighs again and sits beside him on the bed. "Then, I'm coming with you when you go with Red," she adds and he looks at her skeptically, "I trust you Charming but I'm not exactly going to let you search for a pirate without backup,"
"I have Red,"
"You do but I used to be a hell of a fighter back in the day too," she reminds him, nudging his shoulder, "Besides, it might be fun and I miss your adventures,"
Charming kisses her forehead.
Emma can't sleep and wishes that there's some way to put her mind at ease; she left Killian alone in the dungeon hours ago and there's a longer night ahead of her until morning. She knows as soon as the sun rises, her father and Red will be on their way to find the Roger and her life will either be over or put on hold.
Either way, Emma doesn't have a good feeling about what's coming. She breathes deeply, closes her eyes and makes a wish, hoping someone will hear her silent plea. The last time she made a wish, she was kidnapped but she doesn't wish to swept away this time; her only wish is to marry her love.
When she opens her eyes, there's a blue light illuminating her room and she sits up, watching the light drift from wall to wall until it settles before her.
"Hello princess," the light greets and Emma studies it curiously.
"What are you?" she ventures.
The light suddenly blinds her and transforms into a fairy. "I'm the Blue Fairy and I'm here because I heard your plea; you want to be with someone you care deeply for but you need your father's approval,"
"He is the prince," Emma reasons, "and he is my father but true love shouldn't be this hard to fight for,"
The blue fairy smiles at her knowingly. "I don't think you have worry much princess. True love always finds a way," she says, "Believe in that and everything will work itself out,"
tbc