Chapter Seven | The Worst Thing That Could Happen

Ariel is the name of the reporter, which Killian finds slightly humorous due to the fact that her camera man's name is Eric and the two other members of her crew are called Sebastian and Max.

He and Emma have had to change into something more appropriate for an interview, with express permission given to them by the queen for each article upon their bodies.

Mary Margaret stands behind camera when it starts to roll at least. He'd thought she might actually want to be in the interview herself with how much fussing she'd done getting them to sit in her study- the most photogenic room in the castle.

It turns out, being royalty is a lot more high maintenance than he'd been led to believe upon his arrival here. Emma seems to fall right into it all, while he's left feeling entirely out of place.

Emma's hair curls around her shoulders and she wears the gentlest smile, appearing every bit as excited as a newly engaged princess should be. Her hand holds onto his against the couch cushion between them and he finds himself trying to find even the slightest flaw in her, but he can't.

His suit is far under dressed in comparison to the pretty dress she's wearing, but Emma doesn't seem to find issue with it.

"Okay, so, let's get this started," Ariel says on a bright smile. She's holding a notepad before her that she glances at. "First off, I want to say, Your Royal Highness, Mister Jones, congratulations to you both. This is such an exciting time."

Emma smiles back at the reporter. "Thank you."

His heart flutters anxiously. His hands feel slightly clammy.

"Let's start with the proposal and the engagement. When did it happen? How'd you propose?"

Suddenly, all eyes are on him, even Emma, who gives the most encouraging pressure to his hand. She stares up at him with a tiny smile on her lips, one so convincing even he starts to believe it.

He shifts slightly and clears his throat. "Well, it happened a few months ago. We've been living in New York. Ah…" He grins as he thinks about the story they'd concocted and turns his gaze to Emma affectionately. "We went to dinner at our favorite place for the anniversary of our meeting."

Emma laughs lightly. "I thought you were going to propose while we were there, just so you know."

"Oh yeah?" he lifts an eyebrow playfully. He laughs. "Well, I'd thought about that, but then I decided to wait a bit."

"Torture," Emma says, looking at Ariel, who chuckles at her.

"It was not," Killian argues, drawing her attention back to him. "We went for a walk after, by the water, and the sun was setting the most lovely shade of orange and it made your hair glow."

Emma blushes a little and tilts her cheek toward her shoulder. "And then you proposed and it was very sweet and…"

"Dare I say the most romantic speech of all time? I think it was."

Emma laughs, the warm sound encouraging his wicked grin back at her.

"Did you say yes right away, Princess?" Ariel wonders.

She bites at her lip thoughtfully and laughs. "Of course. Yes. I think I may have said it before he got the question out…"

Killian hums and lifts his eyebrows, staring at the reporter. "That's true."

Ariel chuckles. "And this happened how long after you met?"

Both he and Emma turn to each other, humming and tilting their heads. "Five years?"

"Just about."

"Wow, that's a long time." The reporter says with a knitted brow. "Were you dating the whole time or-?"

Emma shakes her head. "We were friends first. I think we only started dating a year ago, right?"

He hums. "Aye, yeah. A year's about right."

"So, when did you find out about who she was really? Did you know going in… was it a surprise?"

Killian has to laugh. He shakes his head. "No, no, I just barely found out, truthfully. But I think it's fantastic." He smiles at Ariel. "You know, I fell for Emma, not Princess Emma of Misthaven. She's not any different now that I know she's the princess. Certainly more important, but no less Emma."

Emma's eyes are wide with surprise, as if she hadn't thought he'd still like her for who she is. She turns it off in an instant, instead staring at him with the utmost tenderness.

"Yes," she agrees. "I'd been waiting to find someone that would love me for who I am aside from the crown. I think it comes from watching my parents and knowing how they met and fell in love so naturally. I wanted to find something that even slightly resembles what they have, and I'm… really happy that I have."

Emma smiles peacefully at him, almost selling even him on the realness of their relationship. Earlier he'd been seconds away from admitting his feelings for her, but he's glad he'd been interrupted. Surely, she can't feel the same way as he does.

But it's instances like this that have him confused and longing in the sorest way. Her eyes are so soft, like that of a lover, and her fingers squeeze against his. She bites at her lower lip for a second and turns back to Ariel when she asks another question.

Maybe this week won't be so bad after all. If he can only make her fall in love with him.

/

It takes Ariel and her team a while to leave. Emma finds herself falling back into position easily as they discuss kingdom goings on. She holds herself in an upright posture with her hands clasped together above her middle, as if she were ten years old again, getting taught the ways of being a lady.

She catches Killian watching her, something that makes her heart stop even if for but a moment. Something's going on in that head of his and she isn't sure she wants to know what.

Okay, yes she does. She definitely does. And she has an idea what it is, something that scares her a little bit.

Emma takes a breath through her nose and steadies herself as she brings her attention back to Ariel, who's trying to get her consent on a publication date, but all Emma wants is for this interview to fade into oblivion.

"Emma, honey," her mother interrupts as Emma's about to reply to Ariel's question.

She lifts her eyebrows at her mom. "Yes?"

Mary Margaret smiles kindly at Ariel. "Thank you so much for the interview, Ariel."

"Oh, it was my honor, Your Majesty." Ariel bows her head a bit. "I'll be off to edit and write up a story. I'll have it sent to you when it's done for approval."

"Wonderful." Mary Margaret says on a smile that creates lines by her eyes. She looks at Emma. "So I was talking with Leo and he said he might like a family night tonight, if you're free."

Her chest pangs with longing. It's been far too long since they've had a family night. They're always so much fun, whether it's watching movies in the garden, or dancing in the ballroom, or baking in the kitchen without the staff.

A smile spreads wide on her face, unable to keep away, and she laughs. "I'll have to check with Killian, but yeah, I'm definitely game for family night. What do you think we'll do?"

Mary Margaret shrugs, grinning as she glances over at Killian, who has started a conversation with Sebastian. "I don't know… I was kind of hoping we could introduce Killian to our holiday traditions."

She has to admit, being home again has ignited a joy in her she'd thought had been long forgotten. She's excited at the idea of Christmas at the castle, even if the idea of being Princess Emma again is less appealing.

So far, she's found herself aching with the fond memories come to present day, with the trees decorated the same they were when she left, and the music that plays in the halls just the same volume.

It's beckoning her to stay, and maybe she would if she weren't currently lying to the whole world about her relationship status.

Even thinking for a moment about the complete failure of her attempt at keeping this between her parents, Leo, and she and Killian makes her nearly shake with anxiety.

"I'm sure Killian would love that," Emma tells her mother, much to the woman's delight.

Mary Margaret rubs Emma's arm. "Alright. Let me know. I'll get out of your hair. Thank you for humoring your old lady mom who wants to make a fuss over you."

Emma's shoulders fall and she shakes her head. Her mother has spent five years with minimal contact with her, so it's only right that she give her some hope and kindness while she's here.

"Mom… you're not an old lady." Off a heavy sigh, she adds, "I love you."

Her mother's hand finds hers and she squeezes. "I love you too, Emma."

They linger for a moment or two and then she does as she'd promised, leaving with the last of the camera equipment and crew. She's left with Killian, still looking handsome in his suit and with his hair slightly slicked back.

He grins lopsidedly at her and she finds herself smiling. Her eyes fall to the floor when a slight flush of embarrassment joins the quickening pace of her heartbeat.

"Well, that was quite the eventful morning." Killian breaks the silence.

She meets his eyes. "Yeah…" Emma hesitates and shakes her head. "I'm sorry."

"No, hey," Killian hushes her. He crosses what's left of the room to meet her, his hands immediately finding hers. He holds onto her tight and she looks up, caught in the kindness of his bright blue eyes. "You don't have to keep apologizing. I agreed to help you. This is helping you."

Emma's shoulders fall. "But it's a big deal now, Killian. Everyone back in New York is gonna find out, and they're going to write up articles about you, because you're engaged to the Princess of Misthaven, and…" She releases his hands and steps back. "And they'll write articles about me, too, because I've been missing for so many years."

Her eyes squeeze shut. She presses her hands over her face and groans. "This is not what I wanted."

Killian is almost too quiet, so she pulls her hands away from her eyes and finds him with a clenched jaw, taking his fingers through his hair quickly.

"It's not what I wanted either," he admits. "But it's happening, so we have to just… let it go. We know the truth. That's what matters. So what if they write some misinformed articles about us?"

"It could ruin your life. It could ruin mine." Emma all but shouts. She's feeling about a million times worse than she did when this discussion began. "And you didn't sign up for that."

He sighs heavily. "Emma, there's nothing that can be done now. I'm not worried."

"How?" she exclaims. "You're… there's…"

Killian shakes his head. "I suppose I've got faith it'll all work for the best in the end." His soothing smile is almost enough to pull her out of her own head. "Were you going to take me on a tour of Misthaven, then, Nolan?"

Emma looks down at herself and sighs. They're not going to keep talking about the fact that she's a big fat failure, so at least there's that.

"Yeah. I just need to change first."

Gently, her best friend lowers a kiss to the top of her head. "Hey. You've got me, no matter what happens, aye?"

Her heart skips a frantic beat. "As long as we don't ruin this with my parents, we should be fine. We just need to get through the rest of the week without any other gigantic mishaps."

Killian's expression falls, as if disappointed, and then a grin twitches at the corners of his lips. "Well, I don't intend on slipping up, so what's the worst thing that could happen aside from that?"

Emma scoffs. She takes a few big steps backward toward the door. "Well, if this were one of those Hallmark movies you always watch, my parents could invite my ex to visit and there could be a dramatic love triangle."

He arches an eyebrow. "Well. That wouldn't happen. In our situation."

Emma laughs. "I know. I'm just saying." She reaches the door of her mother's study and settles her hand on the knob. "Come on, we should get dressed for walking around in the cold."

"As you wish."

She opens the door and takes a step out into the hall, already thinking five steps ahead, about what she'll order at Granny's as soon as they get there- she's damn excited to share it with Killian- so she hardly notices anything else.

"Emma?"

The sound of the familiar voice stops her dead in her tracks. She turns, eyes widening, and she discovers, to her heart's delight, the sight of a former friend long lost.

Laughter bubbles past her lips and she shakes her head. "Graham? What are you doing here?"

The Irishman seems just as surprised as she feels. She walks quickly to him and as soon as she reaches him, she wraps her arms around his shoulders, so her face tucks into his neck. It's a familiar safe place, something that soothes her eyes shut as she basks in his warmth.

"Your father invited me," Graham murmurs. "I… didn't think it wise to show up right when you first arrived, so I waited."

"You waited a day," Emma teases on a laugh.

They pull apart and Emma shakes her head slowly at him. She admires the way time has treated him, how much stronger and wise he seems. He smiles in that soft way, the one that initially made her fall for him, and she thinks her heart breaks.

"I can't believe you're home," he says on a breath, smile spreading. "How long are you here?"

Emma grins. "A week. Just for Christmas."

Graham hums. His smile fades ever so slightly when he draws his attention to Killian- Killian!

Emma whirls around and shakes her head. "Sorry. Uh, Killian, this is Graham, Graham, this is my fiancé Killian."

She watches as the pair of them extend hands to shake. "A pleasure."

"It's good to meet you, Killian." Graham smiles. He looks at Emma. "Uh…"

Faced with abandoning one friend for another, Emma clears her throat and speaks up, "We were going to go for a tour and a stop at Granny's… if you want to…"

"Oh, sure. If you don't mind me tagging along. It's just been so long since I've seen you. I can't wait to catch up." Graham looks at Killian for approval.

Her current best friend shrugs. "I don't see why not. Sure. We were just going to change clothes first."

"By all means." Graham smiles kindly. He looks at Emma with brightness in his eyes. "I'll be waiting downstairs by the garden doors."

She can't help but smile, thinking of the old days when he'd say he'd meet her there before sneaking out for the night. "Okay."

With her heart still aflutter, Emma turns back to Killian and she dazedly wanders toward her bedroom with him at her side.

As soon as they're inside, and Emma's heading into the closet for more appropriate clothes, Killian asks with just a hint of jealousy, "What was that you said about your ex being invited for Christmas?"

Emma scoffs. "We dated for like six weeks before he went and joined the military and he never came back for me or wrote to me, so… that flame is gone." With slightly narrowed eyes, she smirks and asks, "You jealous, Killian?"

She hears him stop whatever he'd been doing before he hurriedly says, "What? No. Of course not. You're free to date whomever you choose. I'm just your pretend fiancé for the week. We're just… bestest friends who kissed once."

Humming, Emma slips her arms through a sweater and drags it over her torso.

She walks to the doorway of her closet and discovers Killian without his shirt on, grabbing for his favorite cable-knit sweater. From this angle, she can't see his face, but she certainly can see the muscles of his back and the way his arms bulk up when he flexes them.

Suddenly, her heart drops straight to her belly.

She's smack dab in the middle of one of those Hallmark movies Killian likes to pretend he doesn't like watching, isn't she?

Killian turns once the sweater is on and an easy smile crosses his lips. "You ready to go, Nolan?"

She blinks dumbly and nods. "Yeah. Okay."