Emma's not sure what Red will do once they reach land and it worries her that as soon as they return to the castle, Red will go to her parents and tell them that she and Killian planned to run away to Neverland. Her father never really approved on her husband but if he knew what they almost did tonight, it would not be good. So before they dock, Emma takes Red aside.
"You're not going to tell them, are you?" she asks.
Red crosses her arms, sighs and looks between her, Killian and Starkey. She's been roped into keeping secrets for Emma before but this is an awfully big one she's not sure she can keep from Snow or Charming, especially since Snow tasked her with figuring out what was troubling her to begin with.
"Red?"
"I'm not sure Emma," she admits, "I understand why you went along with this plan but I can't continue keeping secrets from your parents, especially Snow,"
Emma's borderline panicked. "Please Red," she pleads, "It won't seriously hurt to keep what happened a secret. We didn't leave; my parents don't need to know,"
"Emma," Red sighs, "You were this close to leaving and probably dooming us all. I understand why you went along with this, but not everyone will. You could have jeopardized your baby's life, the chance and the hope of the curse being broken one day. This is no small matter,"
"You didn't mention anything about Killian and I eloping..."
"Eloping and planning to run off to a land we can't follow you, are two different things Emma," Red retorts.
"Red please?!" Emma cries, "I'm sorry, I am so sorry. I was selfish and scared..."
"You were selfish, the both of you," Red agrees but partially relents, seeing how sorry and miserable Emma looks. Killian and Starkey glance towards her curiously and she shakes her head. "You two are so lucky, you especially Emma..."
"You won't say anything?"
Red sighs. "I won't," she promises and Emma sighs. "Because you will," The smile disappears from Emma's face. "Both of you will, because you need to take responsibility for your actions. I did my part trying to stop you and thank goodness it worked, but what if it hadn't and we were all sailing to Neverland right now?"
Killian steps forward, placing a comforting arm around Emma's waist.
"I know the truth hurts but sometimes, you have to face reality Emma; you both do," Red says, glancing up at Starkey and he smiles, agreeing with her.
Red sighs, watching Killian and Emma gather their things and disembark the Roger. Red's about to join them when Starkey steps beside her and she turns to him. He smiles at her and she smiles at him a moment, cupping his face in her hands and leans forward, kissing his cheek. He stills, feeling her soft lips on his skin and fixes her brown hair, so it's tucked once again under her red hood before she backs away.
"What you said back there, those two needed to hear that," he says.
"Someone needs to be the realistic one," she muses, "I was worried for a moment that maybe I couldn't change your mind but you proved me wrong, René,"
He raises an eyebrow, smiling at her. "The truth is Felicia, I would have been very sad if I left for Neverland because then I wouldn't be able to come back and see you again,"
"Then I guess we'll have to make the most out of the time we will have together in this world," she says and he leans forward to kiss her but Red stops him, "Tomorrow. Right now, I need to make sure those two get back to the castle unharmed,"
He leans back reluctantly and Red starts to leave but stops, turns back to him and kisses him. Her red hood falls and suddenly she can feels his arms wrap around her but then Red backs away, looking at him. She doesn't have to turn around to see Killian and Emma's curious looks.
"Tomorrow," she promises again, fixes her red hood and walks down the gang plank. Emma can't help but stare at her in disbelief and Killian winks at his friend.
The hardest part is coming; the part where Emma has to talk to her mother and tell her that she almost gave up, sacrificing their lives to the curse because she believed that she and Killian would return in a few months, in time to stop the curse when in reality, they would never be able to return. Her mother might understand but the criticism she fears the most will come from her father.
He will not go easy on Killian. Emma knows that. His uncensored anger towards to her husband after the witch's impromptu appearance at her wedding proved that.
Red doesn't offer her anymore advice before parting ways with her and Killian. Emma breaths slowly and Killian reaches for her hand, gasping it in his own and gives it a good comforting squeeze. Emma smiles at him thoughtfully before she knocks on her parent's bedroom door. She hears her father mutter something and then she hears her mother wake.
Snow White peaks wearily through the door, staring blankly back at her. "Emma, sweetheart, what's going on?" she asks.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you mom but Killian and I need to talk to you about something,"
Charming wakes and stands behind Snow, looking between Emma and Killian. "Emma?" he asks. "What is it?"
Emma's shoulders slump over and tears threaten to destroy her composure. Snow steps forward, embracing her and backs away briefly, wiping away her tears. "Emma honey, what's wrong?"
The truth isn't easy.
Emma sits across from her parents, unsure how to begin but Snow and Charming are patient. Killian clears his throat and Charming looks towards him. The tension in the room is palpable and Emma knows as soon as she says anything or try to explain, things will get worse before they get better. But her parents deserve to know the truth. She owes them that much.
"Three months ago, when I found out that I was pregnant, I made a promise to Killian to let him take me to a place called Neverland," Emma starts, "We were going to leave tonight but Red found us and brought us back,"
Snow looks between her daughter and son-in-law, unsure what to say. "I'm sorry, I don't understand..." she starts.
"Isn't it obvious Snow?" Charming counters, standing up abruptly and glaring at Killian. "They were planning to escape to this Neverland and never come back, leaving us to fend for ourselves against the curse,"
"Emma?"
She shrugs helplessly. "I thought – I believed that we could come back once we found a way to stop the curse...I thought that we could leave Neverland, come back and save everyone. But there's no stopping this curse and there's no coming back from Neverland once you step foot on her shores," she cries.
Charming shakes his head, glaring furiously at Killian. "And this was your idea?"
"I wanted to protect my wife and our unborn child," he defends, "Emma and the baby are my family. If I couldn't stop the curse, then the least I could do was save them from it,"
"Doesn't that make you Father of the Year?"
"Charming!" Snow snaps.
"Snow, if Red hadn't stopped them, then we would be doomed," Charming reminds her, "The hope of one day breaking the curse would be gone,"
Snow studies Emma and Killian. "Maybe," she says, "but destiny always finds a way,"
"You're not angry with me," Emma observes, studying her mother.
"Part of me is disappointed that you didn't have faith in us Emma but I'm not going to fault you for wanting to protect your child," she says, turning her attention to Killian. "It's late now and I think we could all use a moment to calm down,"
"That's it?" Emma asks. "I don't understand why you're not more angry with me?"
Snow looks at her thoughtfully. "I am angry Emma, angry that you couldn't confide in us, trust that we could still find a way to save this kingdom; angry because I thought that you wouldn't make a selfish decision to save yourself, leaving us to fend for ourselves against the witch's curse,"
"But," she sighs, looking at Killian, "I understand why you wanted to do this, and I think, if positions were reversed and Charming and I didn't have any other options, I probably would have done the same thing to protect Emma,"
"Mom, I'm sorry," Emma cries, "I was so scared and wanted desperately to...I know it's not an excuse,"
Snow shakes her head. "I know you're sorry Emma and I applaud you for telling us the truth, but it doesn't change the fact that you were willing to go along with this plan, even if you believed in your heart that it wasn't the right thing to do," she says.
"May I say something?" Killian interrupts. "I know what we did was wrong, but you should know Emma doesn't deserve all the blame. I do, because I'm the one who planned this; I'm the one who lied here, because I knew if Emma knew what I was really planning, she wouldn't agree. Please, if you want to blame someone, blame me; not her,"
"I'm alright with that," Charming mutters and Snow glares at him.
"It's honorable you want to take on all the blame Killian, but you're both at fault here," Snow reminds him, sighing and looking at Emma. "I just wish you had a little more faith in us, Emma,"
"I know," she manages, "If you want to ban me from leaving the castle for the next six months, I would not blame you,"
Snow smiles and shakes her head. "As tempting as that is, I know I don't have the authority to do that. You're an adult and a married woman, your father and I have little say anymore about the choices you make, but I hope you realize that the choices you make have consequences,"
"I do,"
Snow kisses Emma's temple and starts to leave with Charming. Killian squeezes Emma's hand and then goes after Snow, meeting up with her in the hallway. "Snow wait," he calls and she and Charming turn to him. "I just want you to know that I didn't come up with plan to spite you both. I've always lived by a code that the future isn't set in stone and I was hoping, despite Emma's vision, maybe I could change things and save them both,"
"You don't have to defend yourself to me Killian," Snow assures him, "but thank you for clearing that up,"
Snow doesn't say anything further and leaves them alone.
Killian looks curiously at his father-in-law. More than anything, he's felt that he needed to prove to Charming that he is worthy of Emma's hand. The pirate captain who never needed to prove his worth to anyone before and he needs his father-in-law's approval.
"I don't agree with what you did, misleading Emma like that but I understand why you did it. Snow's right, if positions were reversed, I'd probably do everything in my power to protect Emma from the curse," Charming says, "As selfish as it was, it was brave too, Killian. I know you love Emma, I've never – I did question it before but I know now, you would do anything for her. She's your True Love and you're hers,"
"I'll always be hers," Killian whispers.
tbc