Knowing your destiny and seeing the future can be a tricky thing. Sometimes, it can be a good thing so you can anticipate what will happen and maybe, change the future for the better. On the flip side, it can also be a terrible burden and that's how Emma feels as she lays in her bed. She is happy to know that she and Killian will have a daughter but it troubles her that she will be separated from her – Clare – not too long after she's born.
She closes her eyes, silently wishing that the future can be changed and what she saw (the bad stuff anyway) will not happen. Clare deserves better than that and what is this evil force after them?
"The future is not written in stone young one," a voice whispers and she opens her eyes, looking around the room until her eyes stop on a blue light. The blue fairy flies towards her and Emma sits up in bed.
"I don't want to lose her," she cries.
The blue fairy laughs. "Technically, she does not exist yet but have no fear, Emma, you will get your happy ending with your darling daughter,"
"What is this darkness coming? Do you know who wants to hurt my Clare?"
Blue sighs. "Unfortunately, I cannot see the future, Emma. My powers limit me in doing so but since you know there is a darkness coming, we might be able to do something to counter its power," she suggests. "What else did you see in your dream?"
Emma hesitates before continuing. "There was a wardrobe, somehow it was able to protect Clare from whatever was coming," she says, "but how could that be?"
"I don't know but perhaps, it was not the wardrobe itself but the magic it possessed. Like a protection spell,"
"I guess," Emma shrugs, sighing, "It's a terrible burden knowing the future...all I want is my happy ending with Killian but now, it seems even that will be cut short,"
"Have faith princess," Blue assures her, "If there is a darkness coming, you must have faith that good will win in the end and your happy ending will be restored,"
That's what her future dream self wanted to believe too.
Snow sighs, staring at the medallion as it sits in her palm when it dawns on her, in that not too distance future, she's going to be a grandmother. If she tells Charming now that he can expect Emma to have a baby, he might have a meltdown.
Baby steps, Snow tells herself. Charming and Killian don't need to know the details right now.
She and Emma will figure out this mystery together and hopefully, part of her premonition will not happen.
"I haven't seen that in a very long time," David notes, pulling Snow out of her reverie.
Snow drops the medallion and turns to Charming. "Seen what?" she says.
"My mother's necklace," he reasons, kneeling down and picking it up. He holds onto it a minute and then looks at Snow curiously. "Are we expecting another child?"
"No, of course not," she refutes, taking the necklace from him. "I was just – Emma saw it in my jewelry box and asked me what it is,"
Such a horrible lie but if he knew the truth now, Charming would probably march over to Killian's room and have him locked up again. Charming shrugs, smiling playfully at her. "That's cute but hopefully, it'll be a very long time until there's babies running around the palace," he reasons.
"Of course, that will be a long time away," Snow rushes, putting the necklace back in her jewelry box. Charming settles into bed and Snow comes over to her side, lying beside him. "Tomorrow, will be very busy. Lots of planning to do,"
"...which you are leaving me out of," he reminds her, "Thank you for that,"
"You are welcome to have some input," Snow offers, "I mean, you will have the most important job on the big day; giving her away,"
Charming groans, turning on his side. "I'll worry about that when the days comes," he mutters, "for now, she's still ours,"
"Always our baby girl," Snow whispers.
Emma's never been a morning person but the constant knocking on her chamber door is enough to make her wake up, grab a robe and answer it. It's one of the handmaidens, she doesn't really know which one but she smiles kindly at Emma. "Sorry for waking you so early m'lady, but your mother prepared a big breakfast and she wants to talk to you about wedding preparations. And congratulations on your engagement," she says, leaning in, "one of the girls met him this morning and he's a fine catch, m'lady,"
"Thank you," she says plainly, rubbing her eyes. "Tell my mother I'll be down shortly,"
The handmaiden curtsies and leaves the room. Emma closes the door behind her, and starts looking through her wardrobe for something to wear but stops once she hears someone at her door and groans. "Seriously, I can find something to wear myself," she cries, dragging her over to the door and opening it. "I'm a grown woman and I don't need help getting into a dress,"
"I could help you out of it though,"
Emma looks up at the voice and smiles, cocking her head to one side. "One of the handmaidens told me that one of the girls met you this morning and called you a fine catch," she muses, eyeing him suspiciously. "Do I need to be worried?"
"Oh bloody no!" he retorts and grabs her, kissing her. "Good morning beautiful,"
Emma kisses him back, giggling and brushing her nose against his. "Good morning yourself; it's still too early for me," she moans.
"Hmm, I remember," he teases, letting her go and walks over to the bed. "On the Roger, when the captain says to his crew to wake up at the crack of dawn, everyone does. And I remember, knocking on your door repeatedly and you didn't stir until about six knocks later and when I asked you if you were decent, you were naked under the blanket,"
"Consider ourselves lucky that my father gave us his blessing because if he ever found out what really occurred, this engagement would not be happening," Emma warns him before finding a gown and dashing off to change. "How did you sleep last night? It must have been nicer than the dungeon. The air can get stale in there and very cold at night,"
Killian smiles, snooping around the room; he finds her jewelry box and a nice pair of blue earrings. "It can be get awfully cold in the dungeon, true enough darling," he calls back, "The room is nicer, the bed is wonderful,"
"That's good," Emma calls back, "Honey, there's some earrings – they're blue in my jewelry box – can you give them to me?"
Killian grins, holding said blue earrings in his palms and walks over to the dresser, holding them. Emma peeks out from the dresser and looks at him. "These blue ones, love?"
"Yes, thank you," she says, taking them. "I was thinking, my mom's going to want to talk to me this morning about wedding planning but I would be happy with something small, more intimate; maybe even a gathering on the Roger,"
"That sounds lovely but I would have to ask the captain first," he reasons.
Emma pops her head out from behind the dresser "What do you mean you would have to ask the captain first? he ships' still yours, isn't it?"
"I'm done with my pirating days, love. I gave the ship to Starkey, he's the captain of the Jolly Roger now but I reserve the right to commandeer it when I want to," he says.
"So, you could commandeer it – say if one of us wanted to have a wedding at sea?" she wonders.
Killian smiles at her teasingly. "That sounds like a marvelous idea but I don't think that your parents; especially your father would take kindly to attending his daughter's wedding on a pirate ship," he reasons.
"But what if we wanted to take an extended honeymoon somewhere, far, far away?"
Killian shrugs. "I suppose we could..." he starts, "Do you have any place in particular in mind?"
"It doesn't have to be anywhere specific," Emma reasons, coming out from behind the dresser, wearing a blue gown. Killian turns around, looking her over and smiles. "I know, generally I hate these dresses and it's a bit much for breakfast..."
He comes over to her, kissing her passionately. "You look beautiful, love," he whispers, gently touching the earrings, "I especially like these, they match the ring I gave you,"
Emma brings up her left hand, eyeing her engagement ring. "I still love it," she cries.
Killian takes her palm and kisses the back of her hand before extending his arm to her. "I do believe that everyone is waiting for us," he reasons.
"Right," Emma breaths, looping her arm through his. "But seriously, we could go away for a long honeymoon on your ship?"
"Whatever you like sweetheart but something tells me, that we'll be too busy celebrating and doing other things
to even make a trip to find the Roger,"
"It's just something to think about," she muses, "Besides, the Roger feels like a second home to me,"
Emma knows she shouldn't feel this nervous, walking arm in arm with her fiancé to breakfast with her parents but she does and leans in closer to him, using his arm as a security blanket. Thankfully, he doesn't notice the difference until they reach the dining area and he feels Emma's hand tense, he stops and looks at her.
"Emma, sweetheart, are you all right?" he asks.
"This breakfast, it's a big deal," she says, "It's important to make a good first impression,"
Killian smiles her, standing across from her and kisses her cheek. "You do know that I've already met your parents, Emma, right?" he teases.
"I know," she muses, "but these are my parents and if breakfast goes on without a hitch, one day, they'll be your family too. And I want them to feel comfortable around you,"
"All right darling," he says and kisses her cheek one more time before taking her arm and walking in with her. "Just remember to breathe Emma and we'll get through this together,"
"Good morning honey," Snow greets, walking over to Emma and hugging her. "This is a bit fancy for breakfast but it is a special occasion," Snow turns to Killian and smiles at him too. "I trust your room is to your liking?"
"It's much nicer than the dungeon, yes," Killian admits, smiling.
Red shakes her head, trying to hide the giggles but Killian catches her laughing and he grins wider. He can still feel Emma tense beside him and he kisses her cheek, letting go of her arm and goes over to an empty chair beside her godmother and lets it out for Emma.
"A former pirate still knows how to be a gentleman, love," he says.
Emma walks over to him and sits down, thanking him as he takes a seat beside her, looking at all the food. Snow takes her seat next to Charming and looks up at Emma and Killian. "I know it seems like a lot of food but I wasn't sure what kinds of food you liked Killian, so I asked the cooks to make a little of everything," Snow admits.
"Eggs, toast and sausage but eggs in a basket is the best," he says, "Pirates rarely enjoy fine cuisine while at sea, that's why shore leave is so important among other reasons,"
Emma starts to relax a bit, looking at her parents, smiling. "You know he already cooked for me," she adds proudly, "I mentioned that it would be my birthday the following evening and he made me breakfast the next morning,"
"You cooked?"
Killian clears his throat. "We do have a ship cook on the Roger but knowing it was Emma's birthday, I thought a surprise birthday breakfast would be nice," he reasons, "as well as the festivities that night; I arranged for a small celebration on deck, dancing and music,"
"Oh, that was very hospitable of you," Charming notes.
"It was a very sweet gesture," Emma remembers, "I'll never forget it,"
"That sounds wonderful," Snow adds, eating some of the eggs, "Emma, I wanted to give you and Killian this breakfast so we can start planning for the wedding,"
"I was actually thinking," Emma starts, twirling her hand through Killian's, "maybe the end of this month?"
"That's awfully soon and not enough time to prepare things," Snow says, "We have to commission a chef, decorations, invitations, not mention find someone to work on your wedding dress. The end of this month will not do, Emma. I was thinking the eve of the spring solstice,"
"But that's another month and a half," Emma whines. "And I don't want a big wedding, you know that mother,"
"Sweetheart, this is your wedding and I want everything to be perfect and special for you," Snow pleads, "It's only a few more weeks,"
Emma looks at Killian. "There's no need to rush things darling," he says, "It's only a few more weeks added to the timetable, we can wait,"
"I guess," Emma agrees, feeling somewhat dejected.
"Emma," her mother starts, understanding her need to rush the wedding because of her dream, "I know how badly you want this but honestly, we also need the time to prepare too. Don't worry honey, you'll get your happy ending and I promise, you won't have to fight for it," Snow even winks at her and Emma settles down.
Killian looks between the two women, glances at Charming, who only shrugs. There is something going on but senses, now is not the appropriate time to ask about it.
"All right," Emma concedes, "We can wait. It's only a few extra weeks,"
tbc