Out of Emma's mouth came a sharp cry. It joined the chorus of gasps that echoed throughout the large room. Her hands gripped her satin dress wrinkling the fine material as she continued to wait with baited breath for what came next.
Killian sat rigid in his chair knowing in the back of his mind there was an escape plan but he had really hoped he would not have to go through with it. He didn't like hearing Emma's cry of distress behind him and he wished he could turn around to comfort her, but he still had yet to hear the sentence.
"What sentence does the jury recommend?" the judge asked.
The juror who announced the verdict read, "From tallying the losses of King George and also keeping consideration of the emotional and financial toll of Captain Killian Jones, we recommend the defendant pay in restitution the total amount of 5 gold coins and to serve a 90 day sentence in the custody of Queen Snow."
King George stood up and yelled, "This is an outrage! A fallacy of the judicial system!"
Everyone started speaking all at once.
The judge's gavel came down hard several times, "Order! Order in the court! If you speak out of turn one more time King George, you will be removed from my courtroom."
He waited until the room settled down and grew silent. "I agree with the jury's decision and sentencing. Since Captain Killian Jones has already served 65 days in the custody of Queen Snow then he will spend the remainder of the 90 day sentence in Queen Snow's custody."
"I'll pay the restitution right now," Killian fished into his pocket for 5 gold coins which he wanted to throw in King George's face, but thought better of it. Instead, he had the bailiff collect the coins who counted out the money, then walked over to hand the money to King George who sneered at it and took the coins, threw it to the floor and spit before he walked out of the courtroom in disgust.
After watching that display the judge announced, "Restitution paid! Captain Killian Jones you will be remanded to Queen Snow's custody for the next 25 days. Case closed."
He banged his gavel one final time to announce the end of the proceedings and retired from his chair to his room.
Neal let out a whoop as he jumped out of his chair when it ended while Queen Snow and Prince Charming wished congratulations to Emma and Killian and quietly turned to leave.
Killian stood up to turn around and look at Emma. She was still sitting there quite stunned from the whole proceedings. Stunned, but happy. Her heart was still rapidly beating in her chest from the shock of the guilty verdict, then relief at the mild sentence. She looked at the jury now filing away to the other room and was so thankful for their decision. Only a few looked at her and smiled which she returned.
"You still have me at your tender mercies for the next 25 days, my princess," Killian said with a sly grin. "What will you do with your devilishly handsome prisoner?"
Thoughts of what she would do to Killian, what they would do to each other, in her bedchamber for the next 25 days made her cheeks flush with pleasure. They had already done so much. She had been keeping him up late at night, utilizing their lovemaking skills to keep their minds off the stress of the trial. Feeling her cheeks heat up from her lascivious thoughts, she realized there were still people in the room so she held her tongue from telling him all the pleasurable things she wanted to do with him as her prisoner. Instead she stood up to envelop him in a strong embrace and whispered, "I was so scared when I heard the verdict but I'm so relieved that it all worked out."
"So am I, love," Killian whispered back into her ear. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and pulled back to say, "Let's go celebrate."
They walked hand in hand to from the courtroom where a carriage was waiting outside to take them back to the castle.
Neal hopped into the carriage, "Congratulations! In twenty-five days, you'll be a free man." He added, "By the way, mom arranged a celebratory feast. She's happy she won't have to hang a son-in-law."
"I guess that's something worth celebrating," Emma deadpanned. She hugged Killian much tighter. She realized this whole trial could have gone terribly wrong and she could have watched him hang from the gallows.
"That's good I'm starving," Killian announced.
Once they arrived at the palace, they both heartily enjoyed the feast prepared. Over the course of Killian's stay at the palace, he met many ladies and gentleman of the court. Most were vassals of Queen Snow's and titled gentry. Killian received many handshakes and pats on the back from them. They all enjoyed the stories of the pirate Captain that came out during the trial which they had all witnessed and they were eager to know Captain Jones more. Considering he was wed to the princess, it wouldn't hurt to be in his favor as well. Charming made a small toast to Killian saying he was glad of the verdict and everyone happily downed their drinks. The celebration lasted way into the night.
When Killian noticed Emma's eyes drooping, he made his excuses and said goodnight to his in-laws. He took her back to their chamber so they could rest.
Killian dismissed the maid so that he could help undress his wife instead.
They chatted as they prepared themselves for bed.
"At least Neal is overjoyed that you got off so lightly," Emma teased.
He tugged the ribbons from the back of dress to loosen the bodice so she could step out of her dress.
"Well, I'm glad someone in your family is happy that my neck isn't stretched on a rope."
He picked up the dress then hung it up in her closet. He hung up his own coat on his side of the closet. When he came back into the bedroom, he found her sitting at her vanity in only her shift taking the pins out of hair. As he watched her hair cascade down her back, he thrust his foot into the bootjack to help take off his boots.
They watched each other in the mirror as Killian stood up to stand by her and unbuttoned his vest.
"I'm glad I didn't need to enact the escape plan," Killian smiled at her, peeling off his vest and then starting on his shirt.
"The idea still sounds romantic. A princess willingly taken away by her pirate lover."
"Pirate husband," Killian lovingly reminded her. "And you wouldn't mind leaving all this?"
Killian gestured around the opulent room.
"As long as we would stay in our little magic box house while we're in port."
He straddled the bench where Emma was sitting where she fit perfectly between his legs.
"Whatever you wish, sweetheart."
He reached for her brush and gently lifted a lock of her golden hair which he has always adored. It had become a custom for him to help brush her silken hair out each night before they went to bed. That is, of course, when they weren't tearing each other's clothes off in the heat of passion.
After Killian brushed each curl, Emma relaxed as she felt his gentle fingers massaging her scalp. It felt so good. Tonight she was able to finally take it easy. The constant stress of the past couple months was taking a toll on her and she could now finally relax with her husband. She closed her eyes and leaned against her husband's chest.
"I can see you're quite knocked out by the day's events," Killian kissed the side of his wife's head. "Let's go to bed and get some well needed sleep."
Killian went to the bath chamber to continue washing up while Emma went to her closet to change into her nightgown. She watched her husband as he strode naked to the bed admiring his sleek, lean muscular form and breathed in a huge sigh. She knew from the time she threw cold water on him it was Killian's usual custom to sleep in the nude. The sight energized her slightly but by the time she finished her toilette in the bath chamber, she was tired once again.
Killian's eyes were closed as he lay on the bed, but when he felt the mattress dip he opened them to eagerly watch his wife settle next to him in bed. He then held out his arms so she could slide next to him, encircled in his embrace where she fit perfectly.
Emma's hand ran over her chest, her fingers running through the curling, wisps of dark hair covering his upper torso, then traveling up to his neck and as his open mouth found her lips, they shared a gentle kiss goodnight.
She looked up at him with a thoughtful look, "I've been thinking about the verdict and you shouldn't have had to pay that man 5 gold coins. You've lost so much more than he did."
She felt him smile in the dark. Killian thought of his brother and wondered if Liam was looking after him from beyond the grave. He was in no doubt that there must have been someone looking after him when this beautiful, courageous woman entered his life and not just Smee & Fitch making a bumbling mistake.
"I thought it was fair. I did steal from the bastard," Killian responded. He relished the memories of all those times he targeted King George's ships to fleece.
"He stole the Jolly Roger. He needs to go to trial for that."
"Aye, but it would not be so easy for Prince Dakkar to get justice without starting a war."
"So you also avoided a war between two kingdoms, too. King George should be kissing your boots."
"I won't be expecting him to do that any time soon. Besides, my way profited Dakkar and gave me great satisfaction bankrupting that crooked monarch."
"Yes, your way is so much better. It just still makes me bristle with the unfairness."
"You don't think I should serve any time then?" Killian teased.
"Oh you'll serve your time," Emma kissed his throat. "Continue pleasing me and you won't have any trouble."
"I'll do whatever is in my power to please you for the remainder of my sentence and for the remainder of my days," Killian vowed and with a deep, sexy growl he added. "And I'll be enough of a bad boy so I won't get any time off for good behavior."
"I'll hold you to that," Emma quipped. "Especially the bad boy part."
Killian rested his cheek against her golden tresses while she nuzzled her nose against his throat. Emma was always used to sleeping with one knee bent and would knee him in the middle of the night waking him so he figured he would catch her knee and hitch her leg over his hips in order to avoid getting woken up. The position helped their bodies get more entwined which they both took pleasure in. They had been dealing with so much strife that they relished the tender, soft moments nestled in each other's arms with their limbs entangled as they fell asleep.
Meanwhile…
"He has escaped getting his neck stretched once again," King George complained. "As far as I'm concerned that trial was a sham. I should have known the jury would never send the princess's husband to the gallows. I was cheated out of justice and now no longer have lingering loyalties to Queen Snow and her kingdom."
He nervously took a long drink from his chalice of wine. He hoped the alcohol would relax him while he spoke to the Evil Queen, Regina, though currently she was on the run and without a kingdom so he wasn't sure whether or not to use the Queen title. He used it anyway since she had been married to a king and he also didn't want to make her angry.
"Justice for wrongdoing is in very short supply in that kingdom," Regina commented. Her old wounds were still fresh and open. Snow never did get what was coming to her, Regina thought bitterly.
She couldn't believe she was in the position she was in. She was hiding from Queen Snow's troops and though she could destroy these troops with a wave of her hand, she knew she could get overwhelmed if a whole army ever surrounded her. She was careful not to get cornered and caught. She was sitting in the room of a luxurious inn where King George was staying having just finished dining with him. Sitting there listening to his problems was a complete bore but she knew he might be useful in infiltrating Snow's castle so she feigned interest.
"I want justice and will do whatever it takes to get that," King George declared resolutely.
"And what do you want me to do?" Regina asked directly. In most of her dealings with King George, she always felt she carried most of the burden.
"Well for starters, you can use that little present I brought you," King George nodded his head at a crying, scared young woman who was lying on the floor with her wrists and legs tied up.
"I guess bringing me one of the castle servants is better than nothing," Regina responded neutrally.
"Surely she could serve some purpose," King George offered.
"We'll see," Regina was getting impatient with King George. "Now leave me. I need to get some rest."
King George bowed before he left.
Regina then opened a box where a heart lay glowing. She smiled at it with gleeful anticipation.
Killian felt his wife stirring in bed beside him. She had slept with her arm across his stomach, but when she turned on her back Killian felt the loss of her warmth from his side. He turned towards her to seek that warmth again.
No matter how many times he looked at her, she was still the most exquisite creature he had ever seen. He feasted his eyes on her, a vision of supple breasts and curvy hips beneath the thin cover of silk on her nightdress.
He felt her stir sleepily next to him, a smile on her face as if she were experiencing a lush dream. The heat of his gaze wandered over her, pausing on the soft, pink nipples showing provocatively through the silk fabric. It was moments like these that he could quietly admire the womanly softness of her. But the rogue in him could not help but draw circles over the fabric where her nipples poked through eliciting a sweet sigh from her. But still, she slept.
He could not help but push the fabric aside and bent his head to taste her nipple that so adorably stood attention for him.
Emma moaned as she opened her eyes from sleep to see the top of her husband's dark hair at her breast. The gentle suckling and swirling of his tongue around her aureoles felt delicious, flooding her insides with pleasure.
"Killian, what are you doing?" Emma asked sleepily.
He paused his suckling for a moment to answer, "Being a bad boy." Then pulled down the straps of her nightgown and continued to take a mouthful of her other breast.
"Then please continue," Emma said with a sigh. Her hands crept up to his nape to hold his head there.
Emma knew her husband learned that her sensitive tits were always her weak spot and she felt the electricity being generated and transferred right down to her lovely slit which moistened rapidly.
Her nightgown was already bunched up around her waist during the night so he didn't need to waste time moving the fabric out of the way as he slipped a thick finger into the deep tightness there, parting her legs with one hand as he drew on her nipple.
Emma exhaled softly with a shy turn of her head as she spread her legs and smiled. She felt her pubic lips growing thickly together, a spurt of moisture squeezing through the seam in anticipation of what was to happen. She felt his fingers inside her exploring her lovely wet passage. Her hands pulled and pushed at his hips conveying to him where she wanted him to be.
Killian obliged her by positioning himself between her lovely legs, and pressed his cock against the wet curve of her pussy and her thigh. And he plunged deep into her, gently at first to let her get used to his size then he rode her. Driving into her in an even rhythm, he felt her grasp the naked skin of his buttocks and squeeze, urging him to pump harder into her. She clamped her vagina tight on his cock so that he gasped aloud on top of her. Her whimpering increased as he began to pump her harder.
She was inflamed, bucking her hips against him and crying out, chanting his name over and over. Her breasts were bouncing with the movement and he watched them flush pink and swollen with her first orgasm rushing through her. She held to him tightly, sighing little "ooh's" while he thrust into his glorious wife.
Quickly, he turned her over onto her hands and knees and delighted in seeing the supple curve of her ass in the air and the pink and almost hidden lips of her pussy peeking out from between her thighs. He wasted no time in entering her again. He worked his way into her by holding onto her hips and pushing back and forth in an effort to hit that sweet spot inside her walls. Another sigh from her and hot juices dampening her thighs gave her pussy a magnificent glistening wetness.
Her hair fell on either side of her as she remained on her forearms and knees, her ass being held in position, feeling the hard cock pistoning inside her throbbing loins. She unconsciously shifted her knees wider and pushed her pert butt up further to experience her pleasure to the fullest. Her quaking vagina squeezed his rod and began its milking action over the entire length of his hardness.
The orgasm swept through her tight love-passage and into her smoothly rocking buttocks and she squirmed sensuously against her husband's cock to satisfy her wanton lust. Her feminine hands gripped the bed sheets tightly and her dainty toes pointed straight out from her legs as she orgasmed intensely.
He gave her a few more thrusts, grabbing handfuls of her delectable ass and released inside her, spilling his boiling cum into her tightness and shuddering with the pleasure of it. Killian panted raggedly, his hips still spasming over her bottom.
"Damn," he mumbled and they collapsed together on the bed. He felt boneless beside Emma's unmoving form.
Snow and Charming were sitting at the breakfast table as usual when Emma and Killian came to join them. After serving themselves at the sideboard, they chatted about the schedule of meetings to come. After the tension of Killian's trial, it was back to business as usual.
Neal walked in late and noticed one of the servant girls looking quite peaked. He was about to ask her if she was alright when she went to fill Emma's mug with hot chocolate. They all looked at her while her hands shook as she poured the sweet hot liquid into the cup.
"Are you feeling okay, Nellie?" Emma asked with a concerned look.
"I'll be fine, your highness," Nellie responded.
"Why don't you lie down? You don't look well," Queen Snow gently suggested.
"If your majesty wishes," Nellie said while curtsying and exiting the room.
The head housekeeper having witnessed the exchanged went up to Nellie and spoke in a low voice, "What's the matter with you girl? You look like you haven't had a wink of sleep the whole night."
Nellie looked confused, "I don't even remember going to bed."
"Well, you better go there now and get some rest," the housekeeper ushered her away. "Go on."
Once Nellie left, she heard a commotion in the breakfast room to find the princess limp in her husband's arms. She watched while Captain Jones tried to gently wake her up.
"Emma? Are you okay?" she heard him ask. Then he was pleading with her, "Please wake up."
Snow and Charming were already by her side.
"What caused her to faint?" Charming asked concerned.
"Is she?" Snow swallowed before she said the words. "Pregnant?"
Killian had an anguished look on his face, "She never said…it's been a month since she last bled."
Neal looked at the mug of hot chocolate and observed that it was the last thing that Emma drank before she fainted. No one else drank hot chocolate but Emma. He saved the mug and then went looking for the container. He realized Nellie left the room with it which was unusual because she usually left it on the table so Emma could refill her mug when she wanted to. He left the room in search of her.
Killian started to notice Emma feeling warm. He put his hand on her brow to feel the temperature and she felt hot to the touch.
"She has a fever," Killian hoisted her in his arms and stood up. "I'm putting her to bed."
Snow turned to the guards by the doorway, "Send for the doctor right away."