Chapter Ten
Henry is practically vibrating with excitement when Emma and Killian dock the Jolly Roger. Emma can see him moving around, trying to get a look at her left hand. Killian walks down the gangplank first but his face gives nothing away until he looks back at Emma and extends his hand to help her down. Emma can't hold back the smile on her face as she holds out her hand to take Killian's.
Henry sees the ring and lets out a 'whoop' of excitement before he runs up past Killian and hugs his mother.
"Congratulations! I told Grampa you would say yes." He looks at Killian.
"Operation captain-swan is a success!" he says and high-five's Killian.
Emma laughs and gives the boys a strange look.
"Operation 'captain-swan'?"
Killian looks down at his boots and Henry beams at her. Emma shakes her head.
"So can we tell people? I think Grandma knows something is up but she doesn't know what it is."
Emma stops Henry's rambling with a hand on his shoulder.
"Maybe we can keep this just within the family for now?" Emma suggests, looking up at Killian for input. Killian raises a sceptical eyebrow but remains silent. Emma drops her head and lets out an exaggerated sigh.
"Fine. Let's go tell Mary Margaret so the whole town can know by the end of the day." She says walking away from the docks, arms linked with Henry and holding Killian's hand.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Snow White reacts to her daughter's engagement as everyone expected her to: a lot of squealing and fast-talking as she starts rattling off things that need to be done. Emma is getting very uncomfortable sitting there at the table in Snow and David's apartment as her mother fires wedding ideas at her.
Killian, who has mostly hidden away with David at the breakfast bar with a beer, takes pity on his bride-to-be and finally stands up, tips a hand at David in thanks and walks over to a stunned and slightly frightened looking Emma.
He interrupts Snow, mid-speech.
"Sorry to cut this visit a bit short, but Emma and I need to attend to some pressing engagement business of our own." He says with a straight face as he hauls a shell-shocked Emma out of her chair and guides her to the front door. With a cheerful good bye to a confused Snow and a smirking David, Killian closes the apartment door behind Emma and himself.
Emma leans against the wall outside the apartment and lets out a long breath.
"Wow. That was bad. Now I see why Henry bailed on us early for homework."
Killian chuckles at her and they start walking down the steps. Emma hugs up to Killian's arm and smirks at him.
"Thanks for the rescuing in there."
"Anytime, darling."
"Now what's this 'pressing engagement business' you speak of?" She asks with a sly look. Killian spins Emma around to press her against the door to the apartment building.
"Can't you guess, Love?" he asks with a dark glint in his eye. Emma wraps her arms around his neck and kisses his neck.
"Now that's engagement business that I can get behind." She murmurs.
"My thoughts exactly…" he responds, sliding his hand down to cup her butt and pull her closer.
Emma laughs and then opens the door behind her, sending them both staggering outside onto the sidewalk.
"If you play your cards right…" she says over her shoulder as she starts walking away. Killian runs after her, grinning.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
At Granny's Diner
Killian stands talking to David as Emma works her way around the room full of people.
A strange looking airship had deposited hundreds of new people into their town from a place called 'The Land of Untold Stories' and as Sheriff, Emma was trying to organize and calm all of them.
David and Killian are trying to help Emma herd people into the diner, giving them some supplies and sending them on, towards a place to stay. Even Henry is flipping through his storybook at the counter, trying to find where all these new people fit in.
It had been three weeks since Emma had accepted Killian's proposal and she still caught herself staring at Killian and marvelling at things like, associating her pirate with the term 'husband'.
He is staring back at her from across the room and they share a smile before going back to what they were doing.
Killian absently hands David the pile of blankets he was passing out to people, intending to go to Emma, when a pair of hands come around his chest and a low, accented voice speaks in his ear saying,
"Hello Captain."
Killian's spine stiffens and David frowns, disapprovingly as a woman saunters around Killian, sliding one hand around to his chest while the other rests on the musket strapped to her hip. Killian stares at the woman in shocked disbelief.
"Maggie…?" he chokes out and she smiles seductively at him. She is dressed in black leather pants and boots with a billowy white shirt held in place by an under-bust corset. Long lavender-coloured hair spills out from under a leather captain's hat revealing mischievous violet eyes.
David interjects purposefully as he drops the blankets on a nearby table.
"Hook. Care to introduce me to your friend?" he says, glaring at Killian with his hands on his hips.
Shaking the confused fog from his mind, Killian takes Maggie's hands and removes them from his chest, dropping them as he addresses David.
"Aye, mate. This is Captain Maggie Morris. Maggie, meet Prince Charming. Charming, Maggie." He says with an annoyed frown, gesturing between them in introduction.
Maggie's eyes widen and she turns a sweet smile towards David.
"Prince? Really…" she says as Killian rolls his eyes and Maggie holds out her hand for David. Unsure of what is going on, David tentatively takes Maggie's hand and bends to kiss it quickly.
Maggie steps in closer to David and asks,
"So, how is it you know our fair Captain Jones, here?"
David, more confused than ever, takes a step back and crosses his arms over his chest.
"Actually, I'm Hook's father-in-law-to-be." He says with satisfaction.
Maggie just smiles wider at him and tilts her head to glance at Killian.
"Really? The romantic side of you finally win out over the vengeful side, darling?"
Without waiting for an answer, she laughs a throaty chuckle and turns back to David.
"Now I think my math is coming up short on this one, handsome. How can Jones be marrying your daughter?" she asks as she walks her fingers up his shirt.
Eyes pleading wildly for help, David explains as he backs up another couple steps.
"Well, my wife and I were caught in a curse for twenty-eight years, and our daughter, Emma, wasn't."
Maggie quirks her head to the side with an alluring smile.
"Sounds intriguing. I would love to hear more."
Maggie steps forward to caress David's face and Killian grabs her arm with his hook, pulling her to face him.
"What are you doing here, Maggie?"
David, thankful for the rescue, mumbles something about finding Emma and makes a getaway. Maggie returns her attentions to Killian and toys with the chain around his neck.
"This is the new promised land, is it not? Are you saying that I'm not welcome here in your little slice of paradise?" she asks with an exaggerated pout.
He glares down at her.
"I know you. And anywhere you go, trouble inevitably follows."
Emma chooses that moment to join them. Killian stands looking irritably at Maggie and lets Emma reach over and gently pluck his chain from Maggie's fingers and settle it back onto his chest.
Maggie steps back with a smug smirk and Emma forces a smile in her direction.
"You must be the bride-to-be."
Emma steps closer to Killian.
"I am. I also don't like when people touch my things without asking." She says, staring down Maggie.
Killian can't help the smirk that lifts the side of his mouth from Emma's possessive comment.
"I'm Emma. Who are you?" she asks.
"Hey there, Emma. I'm Maggie."
Suddenly bored with her own game, Maggie stretches and says,
"Well, I've had a long day and I believe I will wander over and order a meal and a drink. Ta, darlings." She says with a wink at Killian as she turns and strolls to the counter.
Emma turns to Killian with a raised eyebrow.
"What. Was. That?"
Killian blows out a breath.
"That. Was trouble." He replies, keeping an eye on Maggie as she starts charming an unsuspecting man standing at the counter.
Emma, with a roll of her eyes, says,
"Okay, So I take it that you two aren't old fishing buddies."
Killian suddenly looks at Emma and then awkwardly rubs the back of his neck and glances at the floor.
"Relax, babe. You're like, three-hundred. You're bound to rack up a few ex's. It's fine." she says with an amused smile.
Killian smiles back at her.
"Our dalliance was a very long time ago, Emma." Emma slides her arm around Killian's waist.
"I believe you and I'm not worried about you. [she looks over to Maggie] should I be worried about her?"
Killian turns them to lead Emma to the door.
"Definitely."
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
At Regina's house
Maggie stands waiting on the door step after having rung the bell. Regina opens the door and regards the woman standing on her doorstep.
"Can I help you?"
Maggie, seemingly unsure, studies Regina.
"A few of the town's people directed me here. They claimed that you were the person to speak to if one desired a bit of magic… and doesn't relish the thought of a deal with the Dark One."
Regina raises an eyebrow and takes a step forward and crosses her arms, unintentionally giving Maggie a view of Zelena in the background, shooting sparks from her fingertips in an attempt to entertain baby Robin.
"That depends on what kind of magic you are looking for." Regina replies curiously.
Maggie backs up a step and inclines her head.
"Pardon the intrusion, but I believe I may have been mistaken. Ta."
She tips a hand to her hat and turns to walk away.
Regina watches her go with a concerned expression, before taking out her phone to call Emma.
A few minutes later, Maggie watches Regina leave her house from the privacy of some trees across the street. When Regina is gone, Maggie approaches the house once more and rings the bell.
An annoyed Zelena answers, holding Robin.
"Regina isn't here and I have a baby to feed. What do you want?" she says, bouncing a fussy Robin.
Maggie smiles warmly at her.
"Actually, I think I may have been looking for you earlier, not the brunette." She answers.
"Me? What do you want with me? Who are you?"
"Captain Maggie Morris. I'm looking to barter for some magic." She says, removing her captain's hat and bowing slightly, gauging the red-head's reaction, as she did with Regina.
Zelena raises and eyebrow and stands a little straighter.
"Depending on what you have to offer, I may be interested."
The women share a look of understanding and Zelena opens the door wider to allow Maggie in.