Killian doesn't know what to expect when Red escorts him to the throne room. He spots Emma nervously standing next to her mom and Prince David is sitting on his throne, eyeing him suspiciously. Red sighs, looks him over one more time and then steps aside.

"David," Snow starts, "I don't know what you have planned but is it really necessary?"

He stands from his throne and walks over to Killian, sizing him up; Emma only rolls her eyes and is seriously peeved about the situation. "It is completely necessary," he says and removes his robe, sitting down at the corner of the table before, fixing his sleeve on his right arm. "C'mon Killian,"

"An arm wrestle? That's really what everything boils down too?" the pirate reasons, raising a curious eyebrow. "If I had known it was that easy, I would have challenged you two days ago,"

"This is ridiculous," Emma breathes.

Snow considers that but doesn't seem to mind. "If you're going to do it right here, I can moderate," she offers and Emma looks at her weird.

David places his right arm on the edge of the table and Killian raises the sleeve on his left. "The terms are simple. If you can beat me, you may have my daughter's hand in marriage but if you can't; then you are not worthy of her hand," he reasons.

"Daddy, this is silly," Emma protests.

"I am not walking away from her, highness. I promised your daughter that I wouldn't," Killian adds, "but I accept your terms,"

David grips his hand around Killian, pressing his arm to sway to the right but Killian strengthens his grip and forces his arm to pull the opposite way. Emma tenses, watching the barbaric display and is happy for a moment that it looks like Killian is winning until her father's grip starts to overwhelm him again.

Killian presses forward, forcing his arm in the opposite direction and closer to the table. David tries to reclaim his side of the table but Killian's determined to win this round.

Emma reaches for her mom's hand, watching the sweat and pressure build between the two men. It's such a barbaric display of testosterone; Emma hates that she has to watch this but at the same time, hopes that Killian wins. She remembers her baby girl, her unnamed baby daughter born from her love with Killian and she knows, believes that everything will work out in the end.

Killian has to win this round, otherwise her daughter won't be born.

"I won't give up Emma," Killian manages, "I love her, I will always love her,"

Charming doesn't say anything struggling to regain his hold but Killian's putting all his strength into the last stretch of the match.

"I may never be worthy of her hand but one thing will always be true, highness; it's my love for her. I truly, deeply, love Emma and I think that's what bothers you the most; that I could be the guy who gives her her happy ending," he says, channeling all his strength to force Charming's arm down. "Emma's the first I truly care about. She's a stubborn lass, can be insufferable at times, should never drink alcohol of any kind but I love her flaws and all as she loves me,"

Charming struggles to regain the upper hand but Killian's arm is inches away from the table and seconds away from beating him. "I've never met anyone like her and don't think I ever will," he manages, holding Charming's arm over the table. "I suppose I won't understand how a father can be so protective of his daughter until I have a child of my own but Emma's lucky to have you, Charming,"

Charming shakes his head, his face reddening and he looks at Killian, sees him wink and he forces his hand on the table. Killian lets out a big breath and leans back in his chair as Emma comes over to him.

"That's it then," he says, "Our deal still stands?"

David stands up and goes over to Snow, glancing across the room at Red and Emma. "Welcome to the family, Killian," he grumbles, "Treat her right, or otherwise you will have to answer to me,"

Killian looks at Emma, who looks like she is about to pounce on him but she hugs him instead. "I guess this means I don't have to spend the night in the dungeon," he reasons.

"There's guest rooms in one of the wings of the castle," Snow offers, looking at Emma. "We have to start planning for your wedding,"

"Worry about that tomorrow," Emma moans, "Tonight, I plan on spending an evening with my official fiancé,"

"I'm yours," Killian echoes, running a hand through her hair.

"Mine always," Emma cries, hugging him again.

Before a few minutes ago, Emma thought that her future wouldn't happen. Now, she is officially engaged to the man she loves and in one or two month's time, she will be married. Although she would prefer a small

gathering, Emma knows her mother will talk her into a big celebration with everyone in the kingdom invited and she doesn't even want to think about how big her wedding dress might be, or the corset underneath.

Because all that really matters at the moment is standing across from Killian as she and her mom escort them to one of the guest rooms, a change from the castle dungeons. Snow turns to her daughter and Killian, smiling broadly. "Congratulations again sweetheart," she cries, hugging her. "And I would not worry about your father. This wedding will happen and you will be the most beautiful bride, Emma,"

Snow turns to Killian and hugs him too. "I know you came into our lives in the most unconventional manner but it doesn't matter anymore and honestly, you're a breath of fresh air," she compliments, "Welcome to the family, Killian,"

The pirate is awe struck, staring blankly at her and Snow laughs, eyeing her daughter. "Don't stay up too late. We have lots of planning to do tomorrow," she teases, winks at Killian before taking her leave.

"Family," Killian mutters, still baffled by the word.

Emma takes his hand and leads him inside the room, sitting him down on the bed. "It's strange, I'm not used to seeing you so awe-struck," she muses and he looks at her. "I know my family can be – tense sometimes..."

"I think I know how your family operates now Emma; that's not what..it's just the word: family," he rambles, shaking his head. "The last time I had a family, I was a wee boy. I had everything I wanted, a quiet home, my father and my mother and then one day, she died and my perfect home was torn apart. I never got over the death of my mother; I think that's why I fell so easily to Mariana's charms because I wanted to believe that she was her,"

"But if you hadn't fallen prey to Mariana's charms, we would have never met," she offers, "As evil a woman Mariana or whoever she was, she did one good thing: she brought us together,"

He smiles at her. "That she did, lass," he says, kissing her hands. "How I wish you could have met the real Mariana. I think had she lived, she would have liked you, Emma which reminds me." He pulls away and starts looking on his person for something and Emma sits, watching him curiously and then stops, finding it. "I need you to close your eyes, love,"

"More surprises?"

He shrugs.

Emma closes her eyes and Killian remove the ring from his pocket, lifts her hand and slips the ring on her finger. "You can open your eyes now, love," he whispers.

Emma opens her eyes, sees him smiling and looks down to her hand, noting the blue-jeweled ring on her finger. She turns it, reading a tiny inscription on the band. "Yours and always," she whispers.

"This ring belonged to her, my mother," he says, "It's the only thing I have hers. Before I left home when I was seventeen, I looked through my mother's things for it and my father, knowing exactly what I was looking for, gave it to me. He kept it on a chain necklace and made me promise, to give it to the woman I was going to marry,"

"My father loved her so much and pledged on her death bed that he would never re-marry even though she begged him to because I needed a mother figure in my life," he continues, "I ended up resenting my father for that choice, because even though I needed her, what I needed more than anything was a mother,"

"When I left home, I had no intention of going back or finding love. All I wanted to do was find myself, forget about my past and create a life that I could be proud of," Killian continues, "but every night, I would stare at the stars and hope that my mother was watching over me, guiding me to my destiny,"

"That's why you took the ring," she muses.

"I loved her so much and never wanted to let go of her. I guess I needed to hold onto something of hers because I didn't want to believe that she was dead," he reasons, "Mariana, the real Mariana was a kind, generous, beautiful woman; she was unselfish and light where there was darkness,"

Emma knows her eyes are soaked in tears as she looks at him, revealing a little something about his past. She supposes that there will be many more moments like this in the future where she learns something new and wonderful about him. But now, it feels like it's her turn to share something with him. She wipes away a lonely tear, looking into his blue eyes.

"I never met my grandmother Ruth but one time, out of curiosity I asked my dad what she was like and he described her much the same way and supposedly, my mother's parents were wonderful and kind people too," Emma comments, smiling thoughtfully at him.

"That sounds lovely, darling," he offers, "It's important to know where you come from, Emma, so you know where you're going,"

She smiles at him. "What I said before about destiny..." she starts, taking his hand and entwining his fingers with hers, "what I meant to say is, there's a reason why we found each other Killian, a special reason and I believe that reason will come in that not too distant future,"

He looks at her quizzically and shrugs. "Okay," he reasons.

"Don't you want to know what that reason is?" she teases hopefully.

"If the reason for us being together is coming in that not too distant future, I don't think I need to know about it now. Besides, I like surprises,"

Emma's smile lessens but it doesn't sour her mood. It was just a dream after all, and dreams sometimes can be misinterpreted. "You're right, it can wait," she agrees. "I love you, Killian,"

"I love you too sweetheart," he whispers, scooting forward and scooping her up into his arms and kissing her.

Snow isn't sure how she feels about how her husband behaved today. She understood his need to find out if Killian was right for Emma but his final decision coming down to a minute-long wrestling match...that part disgusts her.

It still does.

"You were right," Charming says, interrupting her thoughts. "I didn't want to admit it when we were on the

Roger but you were right,"

Snow looks at him, tilting her head to the side. "I was right about which part?" she wonders.

"I don't want to deprive Emma of her happiness, her happiness means everything to me and the simple truth is, she loves him and loving him, makes her happy and I would be hypocritical to take that away from her,"

Snow smiles at him thoughtfully, relieved that he's finally understanding and urges him on.

"I never wanted to become like him and it feels like a lifetime ago, remembering what we put us through. He threatened to kill my mother if I didn't marry Abigail and when she found her true love, I thought that would be end of it but it wasn't. He went after you and I'm not cold and selfish like George," he reasons, sighing.

"I never meant that you are like him, David.." Snow protests.

"I know," he cuts her off, looking at her.

"You think of him often?" she wonders.

David sighs again. "I try not too but when I consider of the possibility of Killian and Emma, I think of him. And I remember everything he put us through, and how hard things often were,"

Snow frowns, remembering all the heartache that came with wanting to be together and she remembers, swearing to herself, that her daughter would never go through what she did.

"No one can fault you David for wanting to protect your daughter," Snow reminds him. "To be honest, I was a little angry with you,"

He turns to her curiously and Snow hesitates before continuing. "Long ago, I made a promise to myself that I would never allow my daughter to go through the same heartache that you and I went through under George; so, when you would not give Emma your blessing, I became more than upset that history might repeat itself,"

"I'm sorry Snow," he apologizes.

"I know," she whispers, waving her hand, "I know he's not a king, prince or some noble but he truly loves her. You can't deny that anymore,"

"No, I can't," he agrees, "All these years you spent preparing her for meeting her true love, I never thought the day would come this soon. And now my son-in-law is going to be pirate captain, Killian Jones,"

"Former pirate captain," Snow adds, "He's changing for her because he loves her so much,"

"Hoping or wishing?"

"Both," she muses, "But I don't think he'll make the same mistake twice of breaking her heart. She wouldn't have awoken from the sleeping curse if it wasn't true love,"

"I know," he whispers, still feeling somewhat uneasy.

Snow's happy for her but at the same time, she can't help but feel that there's a darkness coming. She sits closer to him, hugging and kissing his cheek. "You're a good father, David" she compliments.

He pulls her into his arms, forcing Snow to start giggling. Charming fixes her hair before leaning down and

kissing her and pulls back suddenly "He did give up his ship and his title," he reasons.

"The way I understand it, he gave up his title but gets to keep the ship," she says, smiling at him. "You know David, we may never know what really happened on the Jolly Roger, but I don't think it matters anymore. He is so in love with her and my wish for Emma, has always been that she finds someone who loves her for her,"

David doesn't say anything for a moment, slowly letting reality kick in. "When will the festivities start?" he wonders.

"The planning stages will have to start very soon," Snow explains, "but don't worry, I'll leave you out of it and we are not hiring a wedding coordinator,"

"Because you'll do all the necessary planning,"

"Generally yes, but Emma will be involved too," Snow adds, "It is her wedding and I want it to be special for her,"

"It's good to know someone's eager to start planning for my wedding," Emma interrupts as Snow and Charming turn to her. "Though, a few things are non-negotiable,"

Snow glances at Charming and then to her.

"One, nothing big, please. I know mom that you want to invite the whole kingdom but I would really prefer a small, family affair," she reasons. Snow wants to say something but lets her continue. "Two, absolutely no puffy dresses and this is definitely off the table, no corsets,"

"I can't promise the whole kingdom won't be invited; it's only a few three or five thousand people, give or take but this is your wedding Emma. It's a celebration of you finding your love..don't you want to share that with the whole land?"

"Not everyone," she reasons, "Besides, I like small gatherings; Red of course, Jiminy, the dwarves, maybe some of Killian's former crew,"

Charming frowns. "We have to invite pirates?"

"Maybe not the entire crew but some of his closest crew mates," Emma continues, "Like Starkey and Smee. They're both very nice people and I would love it if Starkey did my hair again, especially since he did such a

good job with it last time,"

"You plan on making your hair blond again? – because you look so pretty with lots of curls," Snow adds, standing and going over to her, studying her. "Maybe not a lot of curls but you would look so beautiful, Emma,"

"Okay, I think we can talk about this later," she says, "but I would like to steal you away from dad for a bit,"

Snow looks back at Charming and he stands, going to leave and then stops, kissing Emma's cheek. "I'm sorry for putting you through all this," he whispers, "I love you Emma,"

"I love you too daddy and I understand," she cries, hugging him back, showing off her hand with the ring on it to her mom. She watches Snow's mouth make a big, round "O" shape, marveling at the ring and then Emma pulls back. "I know, you were only being protective of me because I'm your baby,"

"I'll leave you two to it then," he says and takes his leave.

tbc