A/N - Thank you for the reviews! It motivates me to write, so much - you have no idea!

Lots of guest questions/comments to address - bear with me for a sec (or just scroll down for the story.)

Baby Henry? I adore that kid, so it wouldn't surprise me to see him show up… after, um, certain other things happen…

Re: an Epic - I really don't know why this story is so long! It has a mind of its own. There's a lot to get through yet, and it covers a pretty significant period of time. If I have readers willing to wander along at the current pace, then I'm happy to let our young lovers wander through their story. The original outline called for 33 chapters but I can't imagine I'll get through it that quickly. (Where is that outline, anyways?)

Re: London - yes, Emma knows. Bae mentions it ever so briefly in chapter 12 - falling through the portal, then going to Neverland by way of London. It's in the "Morraine discussion," which for Emma was really a watershed moment - during which she hung on his every word, so even that small mention made quite an impression. And she had a LOT of time in that cave during which to churn over what he'd been through - so it stuck with her.

Happy to answer anything else. As always, appreciate your feedback - it motivates me to work and gets the next chapter up faster!

-DSB

Midday on the fifth day of their trek, Bae found himself contemplating the source of their next meal when Emma's stomach let out a most unladylike noise.

"Oops," she said with a giggle, blushing.

"It's just as well that I didn't fall in love with you for your ladylike ways."

She wheeled on him, grinning. "Say that again!"

He looked at her oddly. "...that you're not ladylike?"

"No silly! The other part."

Tilting his head, he ran the sentence back through his mind. "Ohhh," he replied, smiling. "The part where I fell in love with you?"

She beamed. "Yes, that's the part! I just wanted to be certain I wasn't dreaming."

"I'm not sure that either of us could sleep through that most undignified noise, my dear," he replied cheekily, earning a shove to his shoulder and a pout from his bride. "Come now, don't be cross," he said, fingers lifting her chin until she made eye contact and kissing the tip of her nose. "You're not dreaming. I did indeed fall in love with my own wife."

She beamed again, and he found himself still getting used to her unbridled happiness. The weeks of sulking in the cave made sense now that he understood her feelings, but this was still a side to Emma he'd not often had the opportunity to witness. She was a funny girl, this one, and he suspected years in he'd still be piecing together how she worked.

"Perhaps we could take this path into the town," he said, gesturing as they came to an intersection in the roads. "Judging by the merchants passing by, there's a market down the way."

"It seems risky," she replied, her brow furrowing in concern.

"We're four days' journey from where we started, can't imagine Cora's lurking around the bend."

"Mmm.. I believe we're actually in day five," she corrected him.

"Is it? They've all rather blended together. We should be drawing near to the end of the realm, then. Surely this is secluded enough to stop off for a bite to eat."

"I suppose," she conceded, making the turn with him to walk the road to the town. "But Bae, we've no money left. How will we buy anything there?"

"I just need you to trust me," he replied.

"I do trust you."

"Good. Then follow my lead," he told her, flashing a mischievous grin.

It was less than a mile to the market, stalls and vendors peppering the square at the center of the small town. The duo surveyed the wares, and Bae pulled Emma off to the side. "Do you see the woman with the bread?" he asked her in a hushed tone. "Over on the far side, near that barn."

"Yes," she replied, skepticism evident in her voice as she undoubtedly wondered what he was plotting.

"Good. I need you to approach her table, make conversation with her. Pay me no mind when you see me - just keep her engaged until I've departed. Then make your excuses and meet me around the far side of the barn. All right?"

"Okay," she replied, her uncertain voice holding evidence that she was still suspicious of his plan.

"You go on ahead of me," he told her, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. "I'll be right behind you."

She casually browsed a few of the booths on her way to the stall of the woman with the bread - displayed along with other assorted pastries and sweets on the table in front of her. A full rack sat behind her, slated for replenishment as she sold what she'd put out. Emma struck up a friendly conversation with the woman, inquiring about the varieties of bread she had to offer and the techniques she employed in keeping the texture of the baked goods light and fluffy. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bae sneak around the back of the stall - and it was all she could do to will herself to keep her eyes down on the table. As fortune would have it, she was able to let out a genuine laugh about her lack of skill in the kitchen at that moment, keeping herself engaged in the conversation with the merchant.

"Which loaf would you like to purchase?" the woman asked finally.

"Oh, I need to find my father for that - he holds the pursestrings," Emma replied, a blush creeping over her cheeks. She hoped it passed for shyness or embarrassment rather than a telltale sign of a lie. As the woman began to raise her eyebrow, she began to negotiate her exit. Looking around, she exclaimed, "Where is he, anyways? Daddy?" Turning back to the woman, she huffed as if put out before telling her, "I think he's left me at the market again! That's the second time this month! DADDY!" she hollered. Then she ran out between the booths, as if in search of her father even as she zigzagged a path towards the barn.

There she found Bae waiting. As she came around the side, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. "My, Emma, you never told me you'd trained to be an actress!"

"I hadn't! I fear I panicked a bit there - I hope I didn't draw too much attention to myself."

"None that can't be averted with a quick exit - come on," he replied, grabbing her by the hand and pulling her towards the woods opposite the barn. "We'll navigate through these woods until we return to the main road."

"Whatever was that about, anyways," she asked him, after they'd obtained a safe distance from the market.

He opened the satchel to pull out a loaf of bread, slightly dented from its journey but otherwise in entirely edible condition. He held it out to her, smiling shyly. "Getting us something to eat."

"Baelfire!" she said, gasping. "Did you steal this from that woman?"

"It was that or starve to death," he replied. "Besides, bread is incredibly inexpensive to make. At the prices she was charging, she won't even notice one little loaf missing."

She scowled at him. "We could have paid for it. My parents are royalty!"

"And how exactly do you intend on doing that?" he asked as he ripped a piece off and passed it over to her. "Calling the royal guard and alerting them to our location?"

"I suppose not," she conceded, grudgingly taking the hunk of bread and gnawing on the edge. "And I am hungry."

"I couldn't let you starve," he defended, pulling off his own corner of the loaf before stowing it back in their bag.

"Where did you learn that trick?" she asked, her anger fading as her stomach settled.

"London," he replied, giving a quick shrug of his shoulder. "I didn't have many options. When you get desperate, you do what you have to."

"Oh, Bae," she replied, frowning as she did every time she was reminded of the hardships he'd endured in life. "I hate that you went through that."

"We're not much better off now, my dear," he replied.

"I disagree completely... we've got each other," she offered, and at that he smiled.

"We do indeed."

"What do you think about the space under that pine?"

Nearly a week into the trek, they'd learned that once dusk approached, it was wise to keep an eye out for a place to rest their heads. This particular evening, the last rays of the sun hasn't even dipped below the horizon when Emma spied a towering pine, lower branches dusting softly on the ground. There was a small gap around one side - once widened, it revealed an alcove, tucked away from prying eyes and the winds of the forest. They'd gotten far enough south that the air was far less bitter, but still - a windbreak would always be a welcome addition.

Bent nearly in half, they snapped the blanket open and laid it across the fallen needles in a perfectly practiced rhythm. The gaps in the lowest branches allowed them just enough space to sit cross-legged on the blanket, digging through satchels in search of dinner.

"What's left?" Emma asked, and Bae tossed her the remnants of the bag they'd received several days prior.

"The last of the nuts from Harold. A few of the berries we picked this afternoon. Enough to tide us over for tonight, but-"

"Tomorrow it's to market again?"

"Indeed."

Emma pulled a face. "I don't like it, Bae. It's too risky."

"I'm not a fan either, Emma, but we can't just starve to death out here. Even if we were to turn around and go home-"

"We're not going home," she said tersely.

"I didn't say we should. I was going to say, even if we were to do that, we'd still have to feed ourselves for the next week while we made it back. We'll need to come up with a true plan once we reach Lincolnshire, but for tomorrow..."

"Okay," she said with a sigh. "Just for tomorrow. We should be near to Lincolnshire anyway."

He let out an "mm" of agreement, munching on the bits of food that Emma had handed back from the sack. They finished in silence, Bae rolling his satchel under his head and laying down, Emma joining him and covering them with the second blanket.

"It's early this evening," she said, and he nodded.

"Sun is rising ever earlier, my dear, may as well take advantage of the sleep while we can get it." He let out a yawn, rudely interrupted as his bride captured him in a kiss.

"Surely you're not that tired," she whispered against his lips, leaning into him as she deepened the kiss.

He pulled back. "Emma, please-"

She rolled away with a huff. "Please what."

"Don't make me deny you. I'd give you anything - you know that. But this - it's not - I can't -" He trailed off, drawing in a breath to steady himself. "I haven't the will to deny you again, but this isn't right. You know that. Once we get to Lincolnshire, once we get settled… we can make this a real marriage, the one you deserve."

She seemed to soften at this, rolling back to meet his gaze. "I have your word?"

"My word - and everything I have, dear heart, you know that."

The answer must have satisfied her, as she snuggled into the crook of his neck and pressed a quick kiss to his shoulder. "You infuriate me, Baelfire. And yet -" she pushed out a sigh, warm breath tickling at his throat - "Somehow I manage to love you all the more for it." Another pause and then, "I don't deserve your honor, but thank you for honoring me nonetheless."

He scoffed. "Of course you do. You're a prin-"

She silenced him, a finger over his lips as she shook her head. "I'm your wife."

He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head as she snuggled against him once more, inexplicably comforted enough by his embrace to feel safe miles and miles from home in the shelter of a pine tree's boughs. How and why, he'd never puzzle out, but he couldn't bring himself to regret it. He'd do right by her, as his wife - as a princess - and as the only person in centuries who had seen him as worthy of their love.

"Same as last time," he told her, "Just engage the merchant until I'm out of sight. Needing to get your father for the funds was a great idea, except-"

"Except the part where I attracted attention by hollering as I ran away?" she said, shooting him a self-deprecating grin.

"Yes," he said, suppressing his own smile so as not to mock her. "The idea is to slip in and out without anyone noticing."

"I'll try to do better," she replied, giving his hand a squeeze. "I don't want to be responsible for you getting caught."

"It wouldn't be a good situation," he said with a shake of his head. "I'm sure your parents could get us out of it, but..."

"Again, we'd end up going home."

"And we don't want that."

"No... we don't. Not right now, not until we know Cora is no longer a threat."

They'd walked a couple more hours until the ruts in a crossing road indicated a tiny town. Following it, they were not disappointed. They identified a mark - bread again, it was cheap enough to ease their guilt and filling enough to ease their hunger - and stepped out of sight as Bae gave his wife a pep talk. "It won't be forever, my dear. We'll do better once we're settled. I don't know how, but - you have my word."

"Should be nearing Lincolnshire," Emma said, popping the last morsel of her bread into her mouth. The loaf had lasted barely 24 hours this time… but it had been enough. "Just down the road… I remember the bend at the big oak tree we passed a while back. Of course, it always seems closer in a carriage."

Bae chuckled. "Indeed."

Hearing the telltale babbling of a brook, they'd taken a moment to stray off the main path in search of a sip of water. They'd found the brook - and the water - but in the process, they'd lost the road. Emma had found a fallen tree branch and forged ahead, beating back branches and brush alike. Bae trailed steps behind her, an eye out for anything edible - as always.

They could see the forest density fade away in the distance and plunged ahead, eager to locate the road once more. But as they reached the edge of the clearing, Bae stopped short.

"Emma, wait," he hissed, catching her elbow and causing her to nearly tumble backwards into him. "There's a house there!"

"Huh," she replied, catching her footing as she looked where he was pointing. Staring for a moment, she continued. "It appears unoccupied."

"It's two o'clock in the afternoon, the family is likely out somewhere."

"No, Bae, look. The door is hanging crooked on its hinges and the corner of the porch looks to be collapsing."

He drew back, frowning at her. "So the fact that the family is not wealthy means they cannot go out?"

"No, Bae," she repeated, turning to look at him, "I don't think there IS a family. It looks utterly abandoned."

He stood silent for a moment, studying the house at length before slowly nodding. "It does."

They locked eyes, conversing silently before both turning back to look at the house. "Should we wait a bit, see if someone returns, or...?" Emma asked, catching his eye once again.

"We could investigate. Perhaps claim a lost dog if someone comes out?"

"Okay," she agreed, nodding as she contemplated. "Let's start by walking around the back side."

She led the way, and Bae kept up the ruse by peering into the woods and underbrush surrounding the cabin as she attempted to surreptitiously peek into the windows. By the time they'd circled the entire structure, Emma was certain the house was indeed abandoned, and she tried her hand at the front door.

"Emma!" Bae hissed, "What are you doing?"

She shrugged. "Perhaps the pup wandered in search of shelter."

He sent her a cross look. She promptly ignored it as she stepped through the door and into the structure. Despite his misgivings, he followed and together they took in their surroundings. The cabin, as they'd eventually come to call it, was little more than a one-room shack. In the corner was shoved a crudely constructed bed, covered in a thin, limp mattress with straw poking out one side. The corner nearest the door housed a table, and a small fireplace was built into the opposite wall. The simple chairs that sat astride the table were the only other furniture in the dwelling, and aside from a heavy pot and a skillet hanging by the fireplace, there were no other belongings inside.

"Empty," Bae said, shaking his head. Squinting at Emma, he continued. "What were you looking for, anyways?"

She grinned. "This."

"What?"

"The cabin needs occupants… and we need a home." She shrugged, as if the answer were as simple as that.

"Emma, we can't just-". He faltered, sputtering, as he tried to argue but failed to come up with the words.

"Can't just what? Take up residence in a cabin that hasn't seen people in the better part of a decade?"

"It's not ours," he implored, hoping to talk her out of her foolhardy mission.

"It's not anyone's," she shot back, and he could tell she was digging her heels in for a fight.

"Emma, come on. How do you know no one owns it? Maybe there's a landlord nearby, lets it out, simply fallen on a time with no tenants?"

Emma shot him a look. "Look at this place, Bae. Would you let it out for your family?"

He sent her a half a smile. "I believe you're asking me to do just that."

"That's different," she said, rolling her eyes. "We're not rooted locals, looking to establish a homey dwelling. Rather, we're a pair of runaways looking to hide from civilization. Totally different. And this place? It's far removed from civilization. We had to get lost to find it."

He studied her, considering her argument. On one hand, it wasn't theirs. But on the other hand, they were in a rather desperate situation - and it didn't look as if it would harm anyone for them to stay.

Finally, he conceded. "We can stay for tonight."

She shook her head. "We stay until someone comes to kick us out - or Cora's been caught."

He frowned, not fond of arguing. "How about we stay tonight, then make an effort to find the owner? If none can be located… then we stay. Deal?" The word escaped involuntarily and he flinched - but Emma paid it no mind.

"Fine. I can agree to that." She swung her satchel off and dumped it on the table, swinging a chair around sideways and plopping down onto it. "So, dear husband…"

"Yes?"

"Now what?"

He swung his own bag onto the table, flipping back the flap and digging inside. He grabbed out the knife and held it up for display. "Now we make a plan for dinner. You want to grab firewood while I set traps?"

"I'll set them," she replied, "Your branches always seem to burn better. Less smoke." She paused, fidgeting. "And then…" she trailed off.

"Yes?"

"I - well - does this count as Lincolnshire?"

He ducked his head - should have known Emma would waste no time before starting in on that again. It was his turn to fidget, a notion that had run across his mind suddenly taking root. He locked eyes with her, grabbed her hand before he spoke. "I suppose it does." He sent her a smile, fidgeting before he pitched his plan. "But… in making this a real marriage... I feel as if we should start with a real wedding."

Emma rolled her eyes. "And invite who, the horses from the pasture across the way?"

"Of course not," Bae replied with a chuckle. "We needn't have any guests. We did that once already. But those vows we made in front of our parents... there was nothing genuine about them. If we're going to turn this sham into a real marriage, I feel like we should start with some promises made in earnest." Emma scrunched up her nose, not being one to stand on circumstance, but Bae persisted. "What do you say, my dearest princess. Will you marry me, all over again?"