A/N: Wow, such an amazing response to my last chapter, you're all so wonderful! Huge thanks to Relliurad, mela16, CuteMcBeauty, Angelfan984, SomethingNewDarling, Deppie, Orchfan, Guest, Collectible, beverlie4055, guest, Shelllee24, hooker4ever, Lisa1972, CocoFandicoot, and TrinaAngel for all your marvellous reviews - so made me SO happy :)

CHAPTER 22

OVERWHELMED – (verb) Have a strong emotional effect on.

It had been three months since the naming ceremony and everyone within the kingdom was starting to settle down into a routine of sorts. With most of the realm already returned to its former glory during the year that they'd first forgotten, then remembered, there were just a few minor details that Charming and Snow had to deal with; resurrecting old trade routes and negotiating new one's being one of them.

They already had a small fleet of six ships and the Prince had asked Killian if he could go over them and advise on anything that could be improved. He had thrown himself wholeheartedly into the role, ensuring that the ships were to his exacting high standards so that Charming got the most out of the vessels.

"Do you ever miss any of it?" Emma had asked him one evening when he'd been talking about one of the ships sails, "The sea? The Jolly? Just being able to go off wherever and whenever you want?"

He'd looked at her in surprise then smiled and shook his head.

"I made my choice knowingly, Emma, and not only am I'm perfectly happy with it, I would do it again in a heartbeat," he'd replied.

"That's not what I asked," she'd countered with a frown.

He'd held her gaze for a few moments before letting out a sigh and shrugging his shoulders.

"Sometimes the sea calls to me. She can be a hard mistress to forget, especially the amount of years that I have known her, but she doesn't have the hold over me that you do, love. I'm not going to leave you, if that's what you're worried about," he'd said with some concern.

"I'm not," she'd told him honestly and had felt relieved when he'd seen the truth of it in her eyes.

Her walls were well and truly gone where he was concerned and she was grateful for it every single day. She no longer had any concerns about him leaving her or never loving her, she just knew he would always be there, constant and true.

But that didn't mean he was completely happy. She wasn't blind. Or deaf. The way he enthused about the ships and his eyes held a certain brightness when he returned from the docks told her that. And it made her determined to ensure that he knew that being with her didn't mean he had to give up everything else.

It wasn't an either/or situation. It could be both.

She had spoken to her father about it as soon as she'd been able and they'd come up with a solution that she hoped to would come to fruition that day.

She strode towards the great hall of the castle where she had arranged to meet Killian for another sword fighting lesson. He had been helping to improve her basic technique and also teaching her some new moves that weren't entirely 'good form' as he so eloquently put it. Luckily, Emma and he were of the same mind in that respect. It was better to play dirty sometimes and live to tell the tale rather than fight fair and end up in the ground.

She had a few lessons a week in between still practising her magic with Regina and her new royal duties as a princess. Her parents had been insistent on her being present for all decisions pertaining to their Kingdom. They'd had made it quite clear that should anything befall them, she would become the new ruler and to enable her to be a fair and just monarch, she needed experience.

Upon entering the large hall that was used for balls and other special occasions within the realm, her gaze zeroed in on the pirate who stood at the far end almost immediately. He was reading a note and she couldn't help the little sigh of gratification that escaped her lips as she perused his clothing.

His leather trousers and boots were as they ever were but when practising swordplay he always donned a brilliant white shirt. No waistcoat, no heavy coat, just that wonderful shirt with its loose sleeves and tight frill at the cuffs and laces instead of buttons that zigzagged across his front. Naturally they were supposed to be pulled tight but Killian being Killian, they were indecently undone, threading through the dark hair of his chest, a vast amount of which was resplendently on display where the material dipped to a V.

Seriously, she did wonder sometimes if she insisted on these lessons because she really wanted to get better or just because of that shirt alone.

He glanced up at her as she approached and smiled apologetically before saying, "I'm sorry, love, but it seems there is a problem at the docks that requires my immediate attention. I'm afraid we'll have to postpone your lesson until tomorrow."

"Nothing serious I hope?" she queried with the right amount of concern colouring her tone.

"Just some shoddy rigging work that needs putting right but the ship has to set sail in two hours if it is to meet the agreed deadline. I wish to go and make certain that the work is carried out swiftly and safely."

"I'll go with you if you like?" she offered nonchalantly.

"Are you sure?" he queried with a slight frown. "I thought you were practising your magic today?"

"Regina and Robin have plans," she explained with what she hoped was an uncaring shrug, "So, I'm all yours if you'll have me?"

"As if you even need to ask," he commented with a smile.

Emma grinned then leaned in and kissed him before they headed out of the castle. The walk to the docks took around a quarter of an hour and Emma's anticipation grew with each passing minute of it although she hid it well by recounting the story of one particularly elusive perp from her bail bonds person days.

He laughed at her tale then sobered suddenly as all the ships came into sight. Tensing slightly, a frown marred his features and his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"It appears we have visitor's," he commented warily, "There's a vessel anchored there that I do not recognise and has yet to fly any colours. I don't like it."

"Maybe it's just from a neighbouring kingdom and they forgot?" Emma suggested helpfully.

"Hmmm, maybe," he conceded sounding unconvinced.

Quickening their pace they walked on the wooden jetty and drew level with the ship. He looked her over and couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship of the vessel. She was a little larger than the one's in Charming's fleet but he could tell just by the way she sat in the water that she was balanced well and built for speed and manoeuvrability.

Three masts rose up towards the sky, all sails furled and her hull was painted a dazzling white on the bottom and a glossy black on top with sunshine yellow accents to the rails. The beakhead was ornately carved but still wide enough for crew to work the spritsail and pointed enough to cut through a choppy sea or slice through a head wind to make good time.

She was a beauty indeed and as about perfect as a ship could be, even considering his high standards. But how did it get here?

"I don't understand this," he muttered, running his gaze along the side of the hull and coming up empty, "She is unnamed and without a crew from what I can see. Where the bloody hell did she come from?"

He turned and looked around for Smee or anyone else that should be dockside but he then noticed that they were curiously absent too and a splinter of foreboding began to trickle up his spine as he went on immediate alert. His hand went to his sword but then Emma spoke softly from behind and completely floored him.

"Maybe she's just waiting for her new Captain to give her a name and pick out his crew."

The ship rocked a little then creaked suddenly as if in agreement and Killian froze as shock slammed into his chest almost taking his breath away. Slowly, he turned to look at her, eyes wide, a thousand thoughts rushing through his brain as his heart began to thud heavily.

Was she implying what he thought?

"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice sounding strained even to his own ears.

"I mean…she's yours," the blonde replied with a small smile.

Killian looked back at the ship and felt a huge lump suddenly form in his throat. Nobody had ever done anything like this for him before in his entire life and considering how long that had been that was saying something. His gaze roamed over the vessel with new eyes and he could feel the emotion threaten to overcome him.

It was too much.

He didn't deserve such a gift.

"Why?" he managed to get out on a faint whisper.

"Because you don't have to make a choice, Killian. Because you've given me so much and I just wanted to give you a little something back for a change. Because I love you," she told him warmly.

So many feelings hit him at once with her words that it almost knocked him sideways. His eyes began to burn with the sting of tears and he squeezed them shut in an effort to stop any escaping. He turned away from her and tried to swallow the ever growing ball of emotion that clogged his aching throat. He wasn't a man that cried easily but he felt a very great horror that he could well end up wailing like baby Neal if he didn't get himself under control very quickly.

Emma stared at his back unsure of his reaction. She'd expected a few swear words, lots of smiles and an insane amount of kisses not this…silence. Stepping up to him, she saw him tense and bow his head as his fist curled in on itself. Tilting her head slightly she just caught sight of his bottom lip trembling before he quickly bit down on it and she suddenly realised what was happening.

A rush of love and compassion flowed through her and she quickly closed the distance between them then wrapped her arms around his waist. Holding him tightly, she placed a gentle kiss between his shoulder blades then laid her head against the same spot. She felt him relax almost straight away then his hand came up to rest over hers as he let out a shuddering sigh.

"Do you like her?" she asked quietly.

She felt him take a deep breath and smiled when she heard his low chuckle.

"Aye, love, she's bloody perfect," he replied with obvious emotion before finally turning in her arms and giving her a shaky smile, "Thank you, Emma."

His eyes were bright with unshed tears and just seeing how much he was effected by the whole thing brought forth her own rush of emotion as well. Leaning forward she brushed her lips lightly over his then pulled back and jerked her head towards the ship with a grin.

"Come on, let's go on board," she suggested before grabbing his hand and pulling him along to the gangplank.

He went eagerly, his overwhelming feelings soon giving way to pure joy as they explored the vessel together. The Captain's quarter's was surprisingly light and airy and he noted a double bed.

"So I can come with you sometimes…if you want me to," she'd clarified a little uncertainly, not wanting to impose herself on him if he preferred to have the time alone.

"I couldn't imagine anything I'd like more, love," he'd replied softly, allaying her fears.

She'd then gone on to tell him that the ship was made with enchanted wood as he had suspected. Apparently, Regina and Robin had managed to procure it from somewhere, somehow and she'd thought best not to question them. Both she and the Queen had also added their own brand of protective magic to the ship as well and she would only respond to either he or certain trusted members of his crew when he decided upon who they would be.

She'd also explained that Charming wanted him to lead all trade negotiations from there on in. He also wanted him to provide protection to the smaller ships should the waters become unsafe for any reason.

Killian had smiled wryly at that, knowing very well that pirates would be a problem at some point. With a ship like this beneath his feet and him at the helm, however, he knew the word would soon spread not to trifle with Charming's fleet.

"So the note earlier was mere subterfuge?" he finally asked as they stood back up on deck where he was giving the elaborately decorated beakhead a closer inspection.

It both amused and delighted him greatly to see that the intricate carvings were in fact of swans facing one another, their beaks and chests touching while their necks formed a perfectly shaped heart. She'd thought of everything, even down to the tiniest detail it seemed and the knowledge brought another lump to his throat. Swallowing convulsively, he turned in time to catch her blush and realised that she was feeling guilty about luring him there under false pretences.

"Yeah, sorry about that but I wanted it to be a surprise," she admitted with a smile.

"And it was just that," he agreed happily, moving over to stand in front of her.

They gazed at each other for a moment then she asked, "So, any idea what you're going to call her yet?"

"The Swan," he replied without hesitation.

The ship creaked out its approval and Emma smiled.

"That has a nice ring to it," she said wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I thought so," he concurred, his arms going about her waist and drawing her closer. Eyebrow raised, his voice dropped a seductive octave to add, "Now what say you and I go down to my quarter's and I thank you properly for this wonderful gift of yours?"

"I'd say, aye, aye, Captain," she quipped a little breathlessly.

Rich laughter burst forth from his chest then he kissed her thoroughly before leading her down below.

The Swan creaked again and rocked gently as a cloud of magic swirled around her aft panels before dissipating to leave her new name written in large white copperplate lettering upon her stern.

Down in his cabin Emma fell back onto the bed and pulled Killian down on top of her by the chains about his neck. His last thought before he succumbed to her luscious lips and dexterous hands was that she was absolutely right.

He could have both and it was going to be bloody brilliant.

END CHAPTER 22

Another fluff fest, LOL! I can't help myself now ;) Let me know what you think as always :)