AN: Maybe I should have put a warning in the beginning that the characters in my story aren't going to be exactly the same as in the show. A lot of things that shaped the characters in the show, didn't happen in my story. So, if you don't like the way I have my characters, I'm sorry. I didn't want to keep them exactly how they are in OUAT because if every person who wrote for the show did that.. it would be really boring. But anyway, thank you to the reviews and here is the next chapter.
EMMA POV
The night before her 16th birthday, she couldn't sleep from her excitement. The fact that tomorrow was her birthday was meager to her being able to see Killian again. He told her the mission was a success to Neverland, and they were on their way back, his letter today told her he'd be back in the Enchanted Forest by morning. Each time she closed her eyes, they were open again not 5 minutes later hoping that more time had passed than just a few moments, she didn't want to oversleep and miss his ship coming to dock in the morning. It had been almost a year since she had seen him and letters daily did not come close to actually being able see him and hug him again. Was he taller? Stronger? Was his hair still short or was it longer? Did he meet someone? Thoughts of the different possibilities of changes in him flew through her mind until she finally rolled over, clutched Killy, and fell asleep.
As soon as the first rays of sunlight were shining through her window, she was up. She darted to the window and looked out to see the ants of people in the village below getting their day started. Guards patrolling the walls around the palace. She smiled and ran to her closet. She grabbed her pants and a loose blouse; what she would normally wear anytime she'd go visit him after lessons. She ran out the door, down the halls, and into the dining room where her family was enjoying their breakfast when she skidded to a halt by the table.
"Emma, dear! Happy Birthday!" Her mom said coming over and hugging her tightly.
"Happy Birthday, Emma. We love you" Her father said hugging her after her mother stood aside. She loved it when her father hugged her, always cupping the back of her head to hold her close.
"Thank you, guys!" wiping tears from her eyes she stood back and smiled at them.
"Are you hungry? We've had them make your favorite for your birthday." Snow told her gesturing to the table filled with sweets and pastries and different breakfast foods.
"No, I'm going down to the docks to wait for Killian. He's due back today." She hugged both her parents and ran out the door with her mother screaming behind her,
"Be back before sundown so you can prepare for the ball tonight!" she heard them shout.
"I will!" she ran out the doors, down the stairs and headed towards the docks. She ran through the gates of the palace and thought of the first time she had met him, and that reminded her that she dreamed of that day last night. Remembering the day he was found reminded her of the coin that she found on deck that day. It lay hidden away in her room in a corner of her nightstand, where it had been untouched for years. She hadn't told a soul about its existence, not even Killian knew she had it.
She kept running and she passed Gepetto's shop and thought of all the times she visited there. The pair truly made each other happy. Gepetto was a good match for a father figure to him, and Killian was good for him and Pinocchio. She stopped and knocked on the door to see if he was home. She heard a shuffling inside and the older man opened the door and smiled widely when he saw her, "Ah, princess! You look as radiant as ever. Happy birthday my dear." He said.
"You remembered my birthday?" she asked surprised.
"Of course. This was one day that Killian always remembered, so I will always remember it too."
"I'm actually going down to the docks to meet him, would you want to come with me?"
He looked at her sadly, "You didn't hear? A terrible storm blew in last night and none of the ships that were still out were able to dock this morning. They had to stop in a town not far from here. I assume that they set sail this morning and should be here by tonight."
"He's not here yet? Is he ok?"
"Oh he's fine. I got a letter just a moment ago. You had probably already left by the time it yours arrived. He said that he's ok and that his ship is fine, and that he will be here for your ball, your highness." He told her.
"I'm going to go on ahead and go to the docks. Maybe they have already left and they could be here soon. Thank you!" she said and took off again. She was sad that he wasn't already there when she arrived. She checked the name of every ship docked in the area, none of them were the Jewel of the Realm. To pass the time, she looked round the little shops that were selling clothes and hats and all different things. She was recognized and greeted by most of the shop owners who offered her anything she wanted free of charge, which she respectfully declined. Just because she was a princess didn't mean that she didn't like to pay for what she wanted.
By the time she finished looking, the sun was high in the sky, signaling that it was around noon. She returned to her search. As the day had gone by, there were many more ships docked than there was this morning. She was sure that Killian would be back by now, but as she kept looking and getting closer to the end, each time she saw a ship that wasn't his her heart sunk a little farther.
She stood on the edge looking out to the ocean, looking for the white sails and the flag of her kingdom blowing in the wind. She saw nothing except a vast, endless blue. She knew that she would need to leave soon in order to be ready in time. Her mother taught her that it wasn't very polite to keep everyone waiting for her. That didn't stop her from standing on the edge of the docks until the sun slowly began to sink.
It was her mother that broke her from her place.
"Emma? Its time sweetheart, we have to start getting you ready."
"He promised he would be here in time, mom. Just like I promised that I'd be waiting for him." She told her mother, not moving from where she stood.
"There is still time for him to make it, but you need to be ready on time. You know what I always tell you, that its not polite to.."
"To keep people waiting. I know, but just a few more minutes? Please?" she turned and looked at her mom who already had a head full of curls.
"Ok, I'll wait with you." Her mom came up behind her and put her arm around her shoulders. She leaned into her embrace and sighed. She knew that she needed to leave, but she couldn't. She promised him. A few more minutes go by and she takes in a deep breath and sighs, "Ok, let's go."
"He'll be here, Emma. Always have hope."
"Thanks mom. I love you." She told her wrapping her arms around her.
"I love you, too. Now, lets go get you ready! And I have another surprise for you when we get to the palace." They walked together, past all the little shops and people bowing their respects to the queen and princess. They walked through the gates and her jaw nearly dropped when the door opened and she saw who was standing there.
"Elsa!" She shouted and ran into her best friends arms.
"Happy birthday, Emma!" She shouted.
"When did you get here?! Why didn't you tell me you were coming?!" she started firing off questions before she could answer the first one.
"Your parents and I thought it would be a good idea to surprise you, and I arrived just before your mother came to get you."
"Oh I've missed you so much!" she told her, hugging her again.
"I've missed you too. Now, let's go get you ready. You can't be late to your own ball."
Happier than she had been in months, she talked with Elsa as she and her mother prepared her for the ball. They talked about everything from lessons, writing to Killian every day, to riding with Graham every day. She described Graham and she thought Elsa would melt.
"Oh, he sounds dreamy." She said and they laughed
They put her hair in a neat bun with little makeup, bright red lipstick, and a petite tiara atop her head. With the low cut ball gown, she had to admit they had done a good job. She felt beautiful looking in the mirror and twirling in her dress.
Her mom had tears in her eyes when she looked at her daughter. She would not cry.
"You're such a beautiful young lady, Emma. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks mom." She said smiling over at her.
Someone cleared their throat from the door and she saw her father standing there.
"You look stunning, Emma." She walked over to him and jumped into his arms, "You're not my little princess anymore."
"I'll always be your little princess, dad." She said kissing him on the cheek.
"It's time to go down there, are you ready?" he asked taking her hand and placing it on his arm.
"As ready as I'll ever be." She said.
As they walked toward the ballroom, the music progressively got louder and louder, the ball had already started. She stayed on her fathers arm, and Elsa and her mother were in front of them. When they got to the main doors, they were opened from the outside and Elsa walked through first, followed by her mother. The music stopped as her father escorted her through the door.
"Please welcome Princess Emma, and King Charming."
Everyone bowed deeply as they walked through the crowd into the middle where an area had been cleared. It was traditional for the father to have the first dance when the princess came of age. When they reached the clearing everyone looked to them and she felt every set of eyes in the ball room fall to her and her father.
"Don't let me fall, dad."
"Never."
When the music began to play, she let her father lead her around the dance floor. She felt confident in her dancing because of her lessons, but having every person in the room watching you was making her nervous. She kept glancing around at people and smiling awkwardly.
"You're a natural," he told her, "just like your mother."
She smiled and continued dancing until the music stopped. He leaned in and kissed her cheek as her mother came up to her and hugged her again. Her father then took her mother and started dancing with her. As others filled onto the dance floor she stood there smiling at all of them.
A tap on the shoulder made her turn around, and she saw Graham's familiar face.
"Hello, princess. You look beautiful tonight."
"Thanks Graham. You look pretty great yourself." She'd never seen graham in anything except his comfortable riding clothes, so she was surprised at how good he looked when he was all cleaned up.
"Thank you, would you do me the honor? Dance with me?" he asked her holding out his hand which she took happily. He was a great dancer, he led her around the dance floor smoothly and she felt like a true princess. The song finished but they didn't separate. Waiting for the next song to start, they both were smiling and having a great time when she heard a familiar voice that gave her butterflies.
"Excuse me, sir, may I cut in?"
She looked over Grahams shoulder to see Killian standing there.
KILLIAN POV
He had to hurry. He felt terrible that he was late, but he wouldn't miss her ball, he refused. As soon as the ship docked he ran home so he could change to find his father working on a rocking horse, sitting on his bench, at the same table in the same spot it had been in when he left.
"Dad…." He said and the look of joy that crossed his father's face when he saw him made him realize how much he'd missed him.
"Son! Welcome back! You look great. All in one piece, yes?" he asked holding him at arm's length giving him a once over.
"Yeah, I'm all in one piece. It's great to be back." He set down his pack and looked around, not a single thing had changed.
"You have to tell me all about everything, but after the ball. It's already started. Do you have a nice coat and pants?"
"I do, I bought something." He answered digging around in his back and pulling out a brown jacket and black pants. He quickly bather and shaved, polished his boots and got dressed faster than he ever had before. He looked in the mirror and Gepetto stood beside him. Killian was taller than him now, "You look like a prince, son. Go, have a great time. I know you've missed her." He gave him a pat on the shoulder and walked over to continue working on the rocking horse.
Walking out the door he ran to the palace. As he got closer, torches lit his way and he was reminded of the first time he had ever stepped foot in the palace. Torches guided him to the palace then, and now they guided him back. The music was steadily getting louder as he got closer. He ran through the doors and heard them announcing her, he was pretty sure he saw a flash of red through the door to the ballroom.
Waiting a moment to slip in, he followed them through the door and saw her dancing with her father. She was a vision in red. Absolutely beautiful, she danced with grace and her smile never left her face. As he watched and the song ended, she kissed her father, and he led Queen Snow off to go dance. This was his chance. Walking towards her, he stopped when he saw a man already talking to her. She smiled at the man fondly, though he didn't know who he was.
He led her off and he watched them. She looked happy. Her smile was as radiant as ever as she talked with the stranger while they danced. The two spun around, and he realized who she was dancing with. It was Graham. He had always suspected Graham had feelings for Emma, and watching him as they danced, he knew it to be true. He looked at Emma as if she were water in the middle of the desert. The song felt like the longest he'd ever heard, and when they finally stopped spinning he walked behing graham and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Excuse me, sir, may I cut in?" he asked trying to keep his good form code.
Graham turned around and saw him and shook his hand, "Ah, welcome back Killian. How were the seas? I'm glad to see your safe return."
"Thank you, I'm glad to be back. If you don't mind?" he said releasing Grahams hand.
"Of course," he looked at Emma, "Until next time, your highness." He said and walked off into the crowd.
That left Killian and Emma alone. Neither of them said anything and neither of them moved, they just stared at each other and he faintly heard a new song begin. When a smile slowly formed on his face she smiled back and he pulled her into his arms and knew he was home.
She started crying then. He pulled her back and wiped tears that had fallen onto her cheeks, "Why are you crying?" he asked laughing.
"I've missed you!" she told him playfully punching his arm.
"The song has started, I think we are supposed to be dancing."
"You know how to dance?" she asked him skeptically.
"Yes, this is a waltz and there's only one rule," he placed his arms around her and put her arms around his neck, "pick a partner who knows what he's doing."
And they danced.
AN: ok so this one took forever and im super sorry:(. A lot's been going on and have been out of town. Killian is back! I've been looking forward to this part and super happy they are back together. So I came up with an idea that might not make you guys think charming is being so different. It will happen in the next few chapters. I didn't think I was writing him as a bad person, just thought it would be an interesting twist if her parents wanted her to marry Graham. Yeah its not in their character for the show, but thought it might make things different. Anyway, review and let me know how you liked the chapter:)
