Title: Finding Home With You
Warning: Contains spoilers from Season 4.
Author's Note: Just to clear things up: Emma knows that her father's name is David Nolan in Storybrooke and that he went by Prince James/Prince Charming in the Enchanted Forest. But, she's read the storybook so she also knows that Prince Charming isn't really Prince James. He's a shepherd whose name is never mentioned. He just takes on the name of Prince James when the real Prince James dies. There was no real point of putting that in the fanfic, I just recently started rewatching Once Upon a Time to refresh my memory before season 5 comes on and I noticed that they never give the shepherd a name.
On to more important things, KILLIAN'S (unverifeid) LOVE (possibly) BROUGHT BACK EMMA'S MAGIC (maybe)
OUAT IS BAAAAAACK! I'M SO HAPPY! I don't want to spoil anything for anyone whose behind, but oh man I want to talk about it SO bad! So if you wanna fangirl/boy together, just message me :)
tell me what you think of this chapter 3
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Once Upon A Time characters.
Summary: (Lieutenant Duckling!AU) What would have happened if Emma and Henry couldn't help Regina get her happily ever after? Now stuck in the story the Author wrote them into, Emma and Henry will have to start a new life in the Enchanted Forrest. With a little help from a timid sailor, Killian Jones. But plagued by the new Evil Queen, the three will have to continuously dodge Snow's efforts to hunt them down and end them.
Word Count: 2,909
Was it something I said? Killian wonders gloomily, trying his best to keep up with the Swan lass.
He's not used to travel through the woods. Give him a rocking ship in the middle of a storm and he'd be perfectly fine, able to hold a glass of water still enough to not spill. But bloody land travel was a pain in the arse.
He isn't the only one having a difficult time keeping pace with the leader, Henry seems to have a knack for stumbling over brambles and catching the toe of his shoes on logs. He has yet to fall, but Killlian can't help but think it's only a matter of time.
Speeding up to reach the boy, he offers out his hand, "I can take the knapsack for a while, lad. It's only fitting we all take turns."
"Oh, thanks Hook- I mean, Killian. Hey, listen, don't let this get you down. She has a lot of walls," Henry says, lowering his voice which leads Killian to assume the 'she' is the lad's mother.
"I'm not quite certain I follow, lad," Killian responds, hoping to try to get some answers out of the lad. Although Killian had noticed that the boy could be just as cryptic as his mother sometimes, Henry is a lot more likely to answer questions directly than the Sawn lass is.
Henry places a hand on Killian's arm and slows down their pace quite considerably. He turns his head to look at the pirate with a serious face, but Killian can see the hope in his eyes, "My mom... she's gone through some tough stuff. She pushes people away so she won't get hurt again. But if she's pushing you away, it means you're someone special to her. The more she pushes, the more she loves. She just has a hard time letting people get close to her, so you have to be persistent, but not pushy. And actions speak way louder than words with her, so show her you're loyal and in it for the long haul."
"Hey!" Both of their heads snap up to look at Emma, whose a good 50 yards or so ahead of them. "What are you two doing? We have to keep moving or we'll never make it in time!"
"You can win her heart. You've done it before. You just need to show her your worth it," Henry finishes.
"Thank you, Henry," Killian responds vehemently. To be given such hope is rejuvenating.
The two men quicken their paces and hurry over to Emma, where she stands with one hand on her hip. Before they reach her, she spins abruptly and continues on in her heated walk.
Killian makes his way up to her and silently trudges along next to her- well, next to her, but always one step behind her due to her fast pace. From what he's seen of the Swan girl in the past day, he knows not to push her. She'll talk when she's ready. They remain in silence for a few minutes, the only sounds are their heavy breathing and Henry's mumbling from behind them every time he stumbles.
"What were you talking about?" She finally asks, starring straight ahead and not at him.
"Me and the lad?" Killian questions. She gives one short, curt nod. "I'm not sure I'm at liberty to say. You're lad spoke to me in confidence."
"Look, Killian," she spits, shooting him a quick glare before glowering at the woods in front of her once more. "He's my son and I think I have the right to know."
Killian sighs, shifting the knapsack on his shoulders to distract himself from her anger. "As you wish, love. We were conversing about you."
"Me?" She asks. Any traces of anger or annoyance are completely gone and replaced with utter shock. She turns to look at him, and the anger returns. She eyes him suspiciously with narrowed eyes, "What were you guys saying about me?"
"Mom, stop yelling at Killian, it wasn't his fault," Henry puffs, slightly out of breath, from behind them. Emma stops abruptly and turns to look at Henry, her face much softer now. "I just wanted to give him some hope. Mary Margaret isn't here for the classic hero hope speech, so I did it myself."
"Hope? Why does Hook need hope? Henry, we're gonna stop this wedding and then everything's going to go back to normal. There's no need for hope speeches and we don't have the time. We just have to do what we have to do," Emma sighs.
"He doesn't need hope for our mission, mom," Henry says in a tone that makes it seem as though his words are obvious. Emma bristles slightly at his tone and Killian is worried that the lad will get in trouble for disrespect whilst standing up for him. "Only Regina needs hope for this."
"Then what, tell me, does he need hope for?" Emma says in a very controlled tone that just barely hides the anger Killian can see bubbling in her eyes.
"Ah, lad, I don't think-"
"For you, mom," Henry cuts off Killian. "Because after everything this Hook has done for us, you're pushing him away. He stole the Jolly Roger from Blackbeard, he rescued you from your tower, he fought a dragon, he almost died to protect you from Gramps! What more does he have to do before you'll realize that he actually cares about you and won't let you down?" Henry yells at his mother.
Killian is staring wide-eyed at the lad, not yet daring to see how Emma is taking this.
"You think I don't realize that? You think I don't know why he did all those things for us? Henry, I'm not stupid! I'm not blind! I know what getting my magic back means. Hook is my- he's..We're... Killian Jones is my True Love," she finally chokes out, tears flowing freely now. "But how could I say that to this Hook, Henry? How can I not tell my Hook first. It isn't right. After everything he's done for me, he deserves to hear it first. Not through the clouded vision of some Curse or other reality. I have to push him away, because if I get too close that's like cheating on my Hook."
Killian is stunned my Emma's confession. To think that a woman like Emma Swan- so capable and strong, beautiful and smart- could love a man like him. Not only love him, but be his True Love. It blew his mind.
"Mom, you don't have to go through it alone," Henry practically whispers.
Emma visibly breaks down at the tenderness in Henry's words. The lad rushes forward to hug his mother and Killian feels as though he's intruding on this precious, private moment. He begins to shuffle backwards, wanting to give the pair a chance to work things out, but he feels a hand on his arm. He watches the porcelain, graceful fingers slide down his arm and wrap around his hook, tugging him forward. Killian takes a step towards the pair and finally glaces up at Emma.
He gasps softly when he sees just how open her face is. He's never seen a woman look so vulnerable in his life, nor nearly as beautiful. With tears streaming down her face, she reaches for his face with the hand that isn't wrapped around Henry's shoulders. She cradles his cheek gently in her palm and tilts his head forward, leaning her forehead softly against his.
His eyes flicker back and forth between the two of hers, trying to soak in all the emotions he sees there- the love, adoration, appreciation, respect and trust. He knows his face must be just as open as hers and whatever she can see in his face causes her to smile brilliantly. He's never been so enamored by a woman before, and he's sure he never will be by any other woman. No, he'll always be hopelessly in love with his Swan.
"I love you, Killian," she whispers softly, grinning through her tears.
"And I you, my love," he answers simply, tears of his own gathering in his eyes. He grabs her hand with his good one and presses it against his rapidly beating heart.
Her eyes flutter closed gently, but his continue to roam her face, soaking in every detail of her stunning beauty. They remain there for a few moments more, simply taking in each other's presence.
Finally, Henry clears his throat and the two gently pull apart. Killian holds onto her hand though, letting their fingers intertwine as Henry marches off, muttering about how gross love is.
Emma chuckles softly and wraps her free hand around the crook of his arm, pulling herself closer and eradicating the last bit of space between them as they follow after the lad. He loves how it feels to be able to show his admiration for this wonderful woman, to hold her hand and show her he's there for her. There's something that just seems so right about being with the Swan lass, as if they were always meant to find each other- and perhaps they were, what with them being each other's True Love and whatnot. He glances down at her soft smile as she glides along next to him, seeming so much lighter than she had been before. It's as though the burden of her heavy heart has literally been lifted on her shoulders and lightened her step.
"Mom! Killian!" Henry calls out, glancing frantically up at the sky. "We don't have much longer. It's almost noon! The wedding start at 1!"
The two quicken their pace. "Are you sure this is the right way, Henry?" Emma calls out, peering around for any sign of civilization in the thick trees.
"How does the lad know where we're going, anyways?" Killian wonders aloud.
"I read the book," Henry replies in the same obvious-sounding tone that had made Emma irritated earlier. He sighs and shakes his head before continuing, "It's a long story and if we get to my mom in time then you'll know what I mean. If we don't, well...then I guess I'll have time to explain."
"Henry," Emma says in a warning tone. "We're going to fix this. We'll find Regina and we'll get her the happy ending she deserves, I promised her I would."
"I know, Mom," Henry says with a shy. "I'm sorry, I guess I'm just getting a little antsy. We just need to find Regina-"
"You again?" A voice rings out, cutting off Henry and causing the trio to stop in their steps.
Killian reaches for his sword, but Emma rests her hand on his before he can unsheathe it. He looks at her expectantly, confused as to why she would stop him from protecting her, but he's baffled even further to see an unbelieving smile on her face.
"Regina!" She breathes out excitedly.
"Do I know you?" A woman in a similar ensemble to Emma responds. She's standing on a log a few feet in front of them, with a bow in hand and sheathe of arrows slung across her back. The woman has dark hair that's been forced into a braid of sorts and in desperate need of a good wash. Killian can't help but realize how the lack of care to Emma's hair hadn't revolted him in the same way this woman's did. To him, Emma wasn't purposefully neglecting her hygiene, she had been captured and forced in a tower, which was hardly her fault. This woman, however, could hardly have any such excuse.
"No, no you don't. But I know you," Emma says softly, releasing Killian's hand- much to his disapproval- and stepping closer to the woman.
"Let me guess- you're his other mother," the Regina woman says somewhat sourly, her lips twisting in an unamused smile.
"Emma," the Swan girl replies, taking another step forward. Killian can't help but compare Emma's cautionary and slow approach towards the woman to a man he once saw slowly approaching a wounded deer in an attempt to help heal it. Emma, like the man did with the deer, is attempting to heal Regina without startling her enough to send her running.
"I have to give you credit- breaking her out of the tower couldn't have been easy," Regina aims at Henry, looking slightly impressed.
"Thanks to Hook," Henry answers, glancing at the pirate who felt quite shocked to even be addressed in such a crucial conversation, let alone given credit.
Emma takes another step towards Regina, drawing the latter woman's gaze off of Killian, "Regina- everything he said about this reality- it's all true."
Regina scoffs, "I doubt that. I don't know why I'm wasting my time with a madwoman who calls herself 'the Savior.'"
Killian steps forward angrily, but Henry places a hand on his arm to calm him down. Killian glances at the young lad, curious as to why he'd stand by and let this stranger talk so hideously about his own mother.
"She's my mom," Henry explains, answering the unspoken question quietly.
The women pay seemingly no mind to the interaction, as Emma softly says, "Because I can help. Your happiness is still a possibility. The first step is going after the man you love."
Emma's words make Killian think back to Emma's carefree smile and the bounce in her step after she'd admitted her love for him and he'd pronounced the feeling in return. Was it possible that he was part of her happy ending?
Regina scoffed loudly. "My happy ending isn't a man," she says curtly, sending a pointed glance at Killian.
Emma glances over her shoulder at Killian, sending him a soft smile. She turns back to Regina, "Of course not. But love is a part of all happiness, and you have to be open to that. Go to Robin Hood. All you have to do is tell him how you feel."
Regina lets out a humorless laugh, "Oh, is that all? You forgot to mention the part where I'd have to crash his wedding!"
Emma looks back towards Killian again, looking panicked. Killian's heart pounded loudly at the worry in her eyes and the hope that was quickly fading with Regina's refusal to listen or believe.
Killian takes a few steps forward, staying safely behind Emma in case Regina tensed at his approach. He steals a quick glance at the Swan girl's face, worried about how she was holding up. He squares his shoulders and glanced up at Regina earnestly, "What does your heart tell you?"
The woman's face softens and she watches as Emma takes a step back to intertwine her fingers with Killian's. Her voice is low as she answers, still looking at Emma's hand curled around Killian's, "I know what my heart says. But what if his doesn't say the same thing?"
Smiling sadly, Emma says in a thick voice, "Isn't that a risk you're willing to take? I just almost watched the man I love die."
Killian glances down at her to see tears gathering in her eyes. "Love," he whispers softly, aching to comfort her.
She shakes her head, wiping away a stray tear and maintaining eye contact with Regina. He continues to watch her, scanning her face for any sign that she needed him to cut in for her, but otherwise staying out of the conversation and allowing Emma to do what she needed to.
"Oh. I'm-I'm sorry. That's horrible," comes Regina's response. Killian can only guess what her face looks like, but can hear the sincere regret for Emma's hardships in her tone.
The Swan girl's lips turn down and she blinks hard once, as though trying to fight back the tears. A few more slip down her face as she glances up at Regina somberly, "The worst part is I never told him I loved him before that. Not once. I was too scared. Too scared that somehow, saying it would make it real, and change everything. But I was that close to never having a chance to take that next step with him because he would have been gone. And I can tell you, my heart broke in a million pieces when I thought he was dead. I don't want you to have to suffer like I did. Please. Don't make the same mistake I did."
The pain on Emma's face was unbearable for Killian to look at any longer, so he chances a glance up at the other woman. Regina looks at Killian with sorrowful eyes for a long moment, before exhaling sharply and nodding.
Killian hears Emma's intake of breath and can feel his hopes rising with hers.
"Okay," Regina finally answers, taking a keen interest to her shoes.
"Great! Now, c'mon! The wedding's going to start soon," Henry blurts, flying by the three adults and hurrying off into the woods once more. Regina turns quickly to follow the boy, but Killian tugs on Emma's hand when she begins to follow as well.
He releases her hand for a second to softly wipe away her tears, before joining their fingers once more. He places a soft kiss on her forehead, his lips lingering on her smooth skin for a beat longer than probably acceptable, but he doesn't care. He feels a need to reassure his love that he's with her and that they're going to be okay.