Chapter Twenty-Four
The Enchanted Forest
Emma and Killian shake off the last vestiges of chills from switching realms and start looking around to get their bearings. Emma fidgets and adjusts the corset that she has donned in an effort to blend in and looks up at a grinning Killian watching her.
"As much as I love the leather jacket and jeans you usually wear, darling, I feel obliged to tell you that corsets and skirts really bring out your… [he pointedly glances at her cleavage] … eyes." He finishes with small bow and a mischievous smirk.
Emma rolls her eyes and smiles back at him as he turns away with a chuckle and pulls on his old leather pirate jacket. She takes the opportunity to admire Killian's ass, covered, once again, in his tight leather pants and Emma's hands twitch with the desire to grab him and squeeze. She had to admit that she actually missed his pirate attire sometimes.
Killian looks back at Emma to ask her opinion on which direction to head into and catches her lusty gawking.
"Keep looking at me like that, Love and we won't make it more than ten feet before I have you out of that corset and up against a tree." He says in dark warning.
Emma snaps out of the reverie his words sent her into, smiles slyly as she grabs a handful of skirts and starts walking away before she is too tempted to take him up on his offer.
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A couple of leisurely hours of walking down a dirt road, hand-in-hand with her handsome pirate and Emma is almost disappointed to spot the small town in the distance. Killian seems ambivalent for a moment before grinning at the sight of a tavern.
"I suppose a bit of information gathering is in order if we mean to find the giant." He says giving her his best innocent puppy-dog look. Emma smiles knowingly back at him.
"And people tend to get a bit more pliable with information after a few drinks, too." she adds and Killian grabs her around the waist to swing her around in a big hug, making Emma laugh loudly.
They enter the tavern just as townspeople start shuffling in looking for a quick lunch. Killian holds the door open for Emma to enter and all of the male eyes in the room turn to watch Emma stride to the bar and perch on a bar stool, but they turn away again when Killian stops to stand behind her and puts a possessive hand on the small of her back glaring at each of the men, in turn.
Emma grimaces slightly but turns a resigned smile on Killian.
"Well, I guess I'm out of the information gathering game, then."
Killian smiles back unapologetically.
"I'd rather that than having to skewer one of these poor sods when they get too handsy with you." He growls in her ear, stepping closer to brush his chest against her back.
Just then, a small boy comes running up to wrap his little arms tightly around Emma's leg.
"EMMA!" Roland shouts, looking up at her with a huge grin, and Emma jumps off the bar stool to pick up the boy and hug him fiercely.
"Oh my god! Roland!" she shouts, looking over his shoulder to Little John who comes walking up behind the boy to clap Killian on the back in greeting.
"Pirate." He says with a nod at Killian and then nods to Emma.
"Princess." He says with a grin as Emma shifts Roland to her hip to give Little John one-armed hug.
"Wow. It's so good to see you again. How are things here?" she asks as she cuddles Roland but she looks over to see Little John's face fall slightly.
"Let's get a pint and I'll tell you all about the happenings here." He says, motioning to the barkeep for some drinks and moving over to a table in a dark corner. Killian and Emma, still holding Roland, follow Little John to the table and settle in with their drinks.
"Rumpelstiltskin. [Emma and Killian groan quietly] He has been traveling the land, collecting items. No one knows what he is up to but he is even more ruthless than he used to be. He doesn't bother making deals anymore and just takes what he wants." Little John says between swigs of ale.
Killian sits back in his chair and takes a generous gulp from his mug before slamming it down on the table and muttering 'bloody crocodile' under his breath. Emma takes a deep breath and begins explaining.
"Belle gave birth to a baby girl a few months ago, but the huge wave of magic that came from it… damaged Belle. She is in a coma at the hospital and Killian and I have been caring for her child." She says and watches Little John let out a big breath as he absorbs her words.
"I'm assuming he is scouring the Enchanted Forest for a cure for Belle but it sounds like he has gone off the rails." Emma continues and the men both nod in agreement with her assessment.
Killian picks up the narrative and leans in over his drink towards Little John.
"Speaking of which, Belle is the very reason we are here, mate. We are searching for the giant, Antoine. Do you know where we can find him?" he asks, taking another big swig of ale as Little John nods.
"Yeah. He has settled in at our camp. I can take you to him when you've finished your drinks. I've just got to speak with the barkeep and we can be on our way." He says, standing and chugging down the rest of his drink before walking over to the bar.
"How is Regina? And my sister?" Roland asks suddenly and Emma hugs him tight so she can fish her cell phone from her pocket and turn them so no other tavern patrons can see.
"I have pictures on my phone of them for you." She says, smiling down at the boy's excitement.
Little John re-joins them after a few minutes of talking with the barkeep and leads the way into the forest towards their camp. Roland holds Emma's hand as she tells him all about Regina and baby Robin.
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Emma and Killian receive a hero's welcome at Robin's old camp as people crowd around them asking about life in Storybrooke. Everyone insist that they stay for the night and a bonfire is lit as a new barrel of ale is tapped and the drink starts flowing.
As the night wears on, Emma decides to have her talk with Antione before the drink goes to her head too much.
"Antione!" she calls as she makes her way around the fire to sit down on a log, next to the giant.
"I need to pick your brain about anything you know about Atlantis." She says, shocking the giant into silence for a few moments before he starts pondering her request.
"I was never really a historian among the giants but I remember learning that it was a place hidden away by the people who lived there. They were a super intelligent people who wanted to separate themselves from the war-mongering population of humans." Antione says, staring into the flames as he speaks.
"So, it is a real place, though?" Emma asks with wide eyes.
"Oh yeah. Nobody has heard from any of the Atlanteans for several hundred years but it was told to us giants that those who could follow the trail of clues to get to Atlantis would be welcome to stay. A lot of people have tried to find it but most either give up or disappear."
Antione scrunches up his face for a second before continuing.
"I think I even saw an amulet or something with Atlantean symbols once up in my cave." He says and Emma quirks an intrigued eyebrow at him.
"Really?" she asks and Antione starts back-tracking his words.
"Wait. No. I don't want to go back up there." He says holding his hands up defensively.
"It would only be for the amulet and then we could come straight back here." Emma says, trying to soothe the giant but he shakes his head and sighs.
"I'll make you a bracelet that will allow you to climb the beanstalk but I… [he hangs his head] I can't go back there. I live as a human now. All there is for me up there is reminders of death." He chokes out and Emma lays a hand on Antione's shoulder in comfort.
"Okay. I really can't ask more of you." She says, handing him a fresh drink that is passed their way. Antione smirks sadly and accepts the drink, downing it quickly and then standing.
"I think I'll go back to my tent for the night. I'll have the bracelets ready for you and the pirate by morning." He mumbles as he walks away.
Emma says good night to his back, frowning, as Killian comes over and plops down beside her on the log.
"How did it go, Love? Get the information you need?"
Emma studies Killian and surmises that he has had a few more drinks since she left him to talk with Antione. Killian grins and holds his mug up in salute to someone across the fire and then returns his attention to Emma.
"Yeah, I think so. How do you feel about climbing a beanstalk tomorrow?" she asks, taking a swig from her own mug of ale.
Killian slides in closer to her and whispers in her ear as he slips a hand around her waist to pull her closer.
"That sounds to me like a very good excuse to go to our tent for a good night's rest." He says with waggling eyebrows, making her laugh loudly. Emma presses herself against his chest and grins suggestively at him.
"Maybe after a couple more drinks we can see about… pitching a tent." she says with a breathy laugh in his ear before standing to get another drink and joining the festivities in their honour.
Several hours and several drinks later, Killian and Emma are stumbling their way over to the borrowed tent, unsure of who is holding up whom. Getting to the large tent, Killian throws back the flap and walks in to find a large comfortable looking camp bed. Pulling Emma in with him, he grins drunkenly at her giggle and lowers the flap of the tent. Emma trips over a rock and falls into Killian's arms with a small squeal.
"Maybe the bed is the safest place for us at the moment, darling." He says as he walks/half drags Emma to the bed but she stops just short of it.
"Wait. Help me get this ridiculous corset off first." She says as she tries to stay upright and untangle the laces of her corset. Killian eyes the corset thoughtfully before asking,
"Are you planning on wearing that again, Love?"
Emma stops her futile attempt at undoing the laces and looks at him questioningly.
"Not really. I can't exactly climb a beanstalk in a dress, can I? [she giggles at her own joke] One of the women here said she would leave some travelling clothes outside the tent for me in the morning." She says before scrunching her face to concentrate on freeing herself from the corset.
Killian steps closer suddenly and Emma hears a loud 'riiip' on her right side as the corset falls apart. She looks up into Killian's eyes with surprise as the uncomfortable clothing falls to the ground.
"Wow. That was hot." She says while sliding her arms around Killian's neck and holding his eyes while he continues to shred every stitch of fabric from her body with his hook and she fumbles with the seemingly hundreds of buttons holding Killian inside his leather clothes.
Finally both naked, Killian and Emma fall onto the camp bed and chase each other under the covers as they kiss and caress each other.
After several minutes of fondling and hot kisses full of intention, Emma and Killian slow their efforts as they get comfortable.
"I believe anything more may be beyond our current state, darling." Killian slurs to Emma and then looks at her face and smiles. He rolls to the side and curls Emma's sleeping form inside the crook of his arm and drifts off to sleep himself within seconds.