A/N: It took a while to write this- my final undergrad semester just started so I've been busy getting into the university groove again and just got a chance to write it tonight. I know the title might seem a bit of a strange choice since most of this chapter takes place at Mary Margaret and David's but this is where Killian goes when he gets back to the cottage and the chapter revolves around clothing so I think it fits. I hope you all like it. I know I do. Thanks so much for all the support on this story. I appreciate it so much. Let me know what you think- it really helps me keep writing! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.

Planning for wedding was something Killian never thought he was going to have to do. With Milah it had been a possibility but after her death, well, Killian himself had been prepared to die himself with the Crocodile's death so the idea of finding someone to marry was out the door. But then Emma Swan pulled him from a pile of corpses and everything was different.

Killian wanted so desperately to marry Emma Swan that he was actually spending afternoons with his golden Swan and her mother, looking at invitation styles and table runners while trying to convince his fiancé not to throw everything out the window in a fit of stress. Who would have thought that Killian Jones could now tell the difference between eggshell and cotton? (Both of which if you asked anyone other than Snow White would tell you they were in fact white.) And even more surprising, he was actually enjoying himself.

But just because Killian was doing all this didn't mean he knew what he was doing. But he was good at pretending he did. Killian Jones was cocky. It was both well-earned from years of besting others on the sea as well as a survival mechanism. Killian Jones had to believe he was the best and show no weakness when he was staring down Peter Pan and his blasted Lost Boys, or when he was trying to convince Blackbeard to trade the bean for the Jolly. That whole process had never fazed Killian- that was until he went suit shopping.

The wedding, which was still over a month away, was a mash up of the Enchanted Forest, a wedding fit for a princess, and Storybrooke, meeting the desires of a modern and casual bride. There was to be traditional dancing and a proper proceeding, filled with tiaras and old words, but Granny's food would be served on long tables in the back yard of the cottage, onion rings being demanded by the bride and an open bar by the groom. That design had been a compromise between Emma and her mother. Though this mix left Killian a bit panicked when he took Henry to get fitted for his suit.

Henry knew he was wearing a modern suit, grey pants, jacket and vest with a white shirt. No one had questioned his choice because he was born into this world. He'd probably be one of the few in such garb, most requesting the town's seamstresses, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, make them Enchanted Forest clothing. Killian had already seen David's outfit, deep blue silk embroidered with gold thread, a fine white shirt and taupe breaches. It was fit for a prince. Which was exactly what Dave was.

Mary Margaret was wearing a ball gown, the colour a lighter version of Dave's jacket with the same gold embroidery lining the skirts. The sleeves were puffed, the colour of silk to match her husband, showing through cuts in the lighter blue silk. The dress had been ordered practically the day the engagement had been announced and was now hanging in the loft, protected by a very large clear bag. It was just what Snow White should wear- a dress for a princess.

Killian hadn't seen Emma's dress but he knew a bit about it from listening to Mary Margaret and her talk. Emma wasn't wearing a traditional ball gown like Mary Margaret was. She'd opted for a more slender silhouette in an off-white, because as she'd told her mother "she sure as hell wasn't a virgin," following which her mother had choked on her blueberry tea. Emma had caved and allowed a long train though. Killian pictured the dress as the one she'd worn in Camelot, her beauty enough to steal his breath. The way he was picturing the dress- it was one fit for a beautiful and glowing bride.

And what was Killian to wear? None of the outfits he had worn before felt right. Nothing he had of this world was fancy enough. Since his time as the dark one, all in black and intimidating, Killian had been changing his clothing again. Now he went for softer materials, his flannel shirt a new favourite. But just because he looked the part didn't mean that he still didn't feel like a transplant in this world. His home was with Emma and he was overjoyed at that, but when she'd talk about something he'd never heard of or Henry tried to show him a new wired device it reminded him just how far he was from The Enchanted Forest.

His Enchanted Forest garb wasn't something he was comfortable with either. Not that he still had his naval jacket but how could he wear the uniform of a corrupt king- the very one who'd killed Liam? That man, practically boy, who'd worn that was naïve and obsessed with good form to the extreme. He would never touch rum. That boy was gone, dead at the same time Liam left him. The heavy leather of Captain Hook had no place on his wedding day. The outfit still sat in a closet on the Jolly Roger, but wearing the coat of a man who had murdered and hated and destroyed didn't sit right with Killian. That man was a villain. Emma believed Killian was a hero and he was really starting to believe that too. Captain Hook had no place at the alter.

Part of Killian wished he still had the outfit he'd worn when Emma and he had gone back into the past. It was the uniform of a gentleman and had been what he'd been wearing when Emma and he had first danced. But Killian hadn't been himself in that outfit, glamoured so no one would recognize him. When Killian held Emma's hand and told her 'I do' he wanted to look himself.

If he only knew who that was.

Confused and frustrated he still didn't have an outfit picked out for the day. Mary Margaret had asked him what he was wearing and he'd had to bumble and say he was just waiting to go get fitted. The look on her face had told him he'd been caught for the lie but she didn't push. Part of Killian wished she would. He was so scared of being a disappointment, inauthentic to Emma and himself, that it practically froze him whenever he'd go into the clothing store.

Sitting on the couch, six weeks from the wedding, Killian Jones was at a loss. Even though from the story book Killian knew Cinderella's fairy godmother was actually the Crocodile, part of him wished a real one existed and could poof him the right outfit.

His cell rang from the table beside the arm of the sofa. Killian leaned over, grabbing it. "Hello, love," he answered, just expecting it to be Emma calling from work.

"Try again," David's somewhat amused voice answered. Killian let his head fall back against the cushions and closed his eyes with a sigh. Of course he'd called his almost father-in-law love. It still felt odd to think of Dave as a father-in-law. Killian was centuries older and David looked like he was Emma's age. It was a strange family tree. Hell, it was a strange life in general.

"What can I do for you, mate?"

"Come over."

"Why? I thought you were spending the day with your lovely wife?" Mary Margaret had requested David take the day off to help her with various wedding related needs which was why Emma had been called into work at the last minute.

"She's here," David answered in a tone that suggested she'd worked off his fingertips already. "Just come by, okay?"

"Sure. Be there in a few minutes. Shall I bring rum?"

The only answer was a long suffering chuckle before David clicked off. Killian pushed off the sofa, curious as to what Dave could want. Was he that bored? If this was Dave's attempt at getting him to help fill those little trinket bags for the guests he had another thing coming. Killian's hook would ruin them all.

It took about fifteen minutes for Killian to walk from the cottage to the loft. It sounded pretty quiet in the loft as he walked up the stairs so at least Mary Margaret hadn't worked herself into a wedding tornado. Maybe he would be safe. Killian knocked once then let himself into the flat.

"Killian!" Mary Margaret called, looking down from the loft. "Good to see you."

"And you, milady."

"Afternoon Killian," David nodded from the table. With his foot he pushed out the chair across from him. Killian raised an eyebrow. Were they finally going to give him the talk?

"Hello, Dave," Killian replied, sitting in the chair and leaning back. He tried to put on a casual face, trying to hide the fear starting to twist in him that Dave would have finally come to his senses and decided Killian wasn't good enough for his lovely daughter.

"Have you found your wedding suit?" David asked, a small smile pulling at his lips as if he knew something Killian didn't.

"No."

"Good." David got up, leaving Killian sitting there confused and very nervous. Was it good so he didn't have a suit now for no reason since he wouldn't be allowed to marry Emma?

David moved to the stairs where Mary Margaret met him with a big black garment bag before once again disappearing upstairs and leaving them alone. The bag was laid across the table but David didn't open it. Killian glanced between the bag and Dave. Either Emma's parents had a plan for what he was to wear at the alter or that was what they were going to hide his corpse in to stop the wedding.

"I was wondering if we could have a talk, Killian."

"Am I to assume the role of son-in-law for this?" They straddled a strange line, between best mates and in-laws, so the question wasn't really out of the blue.

"No. I was thinking more of Enchanted Forest."

"Arrrg?" Killian blurted in nervousness, scratching at the back of his neck. Did they really have to rehash his pirating days?

David rolled his eyes. "Not quite."

"I know you've got a long history in the Enchanted Forest. I also know it's not great. When I met you I saw you as only a villain, even though you had a very noble role as a young man. And now you're a hero. There's a conflict there. I know you probably don't want anyone to know but I see how you fight to reconcile everything. It's my guess that that's why you've not bought a suit for the wedding yet." David paused, giving Killian a small smile when he noticed the astonished look on the other man's face. "I've seen how you look at Mary Margaret's gown and my jacket. Mary Margaret and I have not always been royals but we're confident in our roles as prince and princess so it made the choices easy." David's fingers went to the garment bag and Killian started to think that maybe it wasn't a body bag in disguise. Maybe it was just what he'd been wishing for earlier. He stayed quiet though, letting David say his piece.

"I've been wanting to talk to you about something for a while, since the Dark One fiasco if I'm being honest. But I was never sure how to bring it up without you thinking I was trying to change you. I know I've not always been on board with Captain Hook but I don't want to change you. Even if I wanted to try Emma would have my head." David grasped the zipper of the bag but didn't pull it open yet. Killian's fingers twitched, itching to open it himself and see what David was being so long-winded about. "Jones, I know you've sailed under a corrupt king and that's why you quit the navy. I don't blame you. But it's come to my attention that you're not quite as concrete in your role as pirate anymore either. So I wanted to make an offer. I know we're living in Storybrooke now but I don't think I've ever been a corrupt king. And Mary Margaret certainly isn't. She's Snow White after all so I'm not worried about her either. You're a hell of a captain, Killian and if we were in the Enchanted Forest I know I'd do this. You needing an outfit for the wedding was the push I needed to finally ask you in this world."

David pulled down the top of the garment bag and removed a stiff navy coat with a high collar and shining brass buttons. It was made of thick cotton, a tiny weave to make it richer. One of the sleeves was wider, an alteration to fit his hook. Killian immediately recognized it despite its differences from the one he was used to. A Naval Uniform. Where the epaulets on Killian's old coat were gold, these were red. The waistcoat was also red instead of the white of Killian's original kingdom. But perhaps the biggest difference, the one that made his heart lurch, was the decorations on the epaulets. They were those of a Captain, a near match to Liam's save for the colour.

Killian looked up a David at a loss. "It's the coat of a captain in my Navy. I know we don't have much use for a Navy here but if we did you deserve to be its captain. Plus you already have the ship," David quipped, grinning now that he had finished.

"Liam was my Captain," Killian murmured, running his fingers across the epaulets, remembering how proud Liam had been to be awarded them. Killian had lived his life trying to be that man Liam was and had, in his opinion, failed miserably. He was only starting to attempt to reach the level of goodness Liam had.

"I know. But you deserve to be a naval captain too if you wish it. You're good and noble, Killian. I know your brother isn't around to tell you that but he'd think the same thing. Remember- you said we were cut from the same cloth- so I should know."

Killian smirked at that before sobering again. Could he return to the navy after throwing his uniform over the side of the ship nearly three centuries previous? Would that be disrespecting Liam? Killian had done so many awful things, taken so many navy ships and slaughtered crews. David knew a lot of that and yet here he was offering Killian a spot as Captain in his own Navy. When Killian had sailed under the King, David's great grandfather hadn't even been a thought in his father's mind. Killian's old king and David were two totally different people. David, Killian knew, would never order his navy to collect Nightshade, especially labelling it as medicine, because David was right- he and Liam were cut from the same cloth. "You're the only king I'd sail under. Thank you, Dave. Or should I call you Prince James?"

"David will do," he answered, pleased at Killian's agreeance to the new role.

"What about my part?" Mary Margaret shouted from the balcony, a warm smile on her face.

David smiled back indulgently before pulling down the rest of the garment bag zipper and revealing the pants. They were not the white pants of Killian's old Navy uniform. They were new black leather pants, a similar style to the tailored jeans he'd worn after ditching his leather uniform yet a clear nod to his pirating days.

"After the uniform was ordered I was talking to Mary Margaret and telling her that giving you the standard uniform didn't feel right. She brought up the fact that Emma fell in love with you when you were still in your pirate garb. I know those were reminders of dark days, but you are a pirate. That's part of you whether we originally liked it or not. Just like your past as a naval officer. So we changed the order and got you new leather pants." David pushed the coat and pants closer to Killian. "Are you alright wearing this to the wedding?" Killian nodded, trying to show just how appreciative he was in his smile.

If that didn't work, Killian hoped David would understand as the prince watched Kilian pull the old leather crest from Liam's sextant from his jacket before slipping it into the uniform pocket. Just like Liam's ring Killian had carried the sextant crest as a reminder. Killian had given Liam's larger ring to Emma as an engagement ring and Henry Liam's original ring so he no longer carried them around. And now the beaten piece of leather was leaving his coat pocket for the first time since he'd pulled it off the sextant case. It wasn't as if he was getting rid of Liam's memory. Having Emma and Henry wear his brother's rings felt like Liam's memory was getting stronger because other people were carrying it around with them too. And by giving Liam's crest a place in his new Naval uniform it felt like Liam was also with a proper King. Killian still kept everything with him in memory but it felt good to expand it to other hearts as well.

"Let's not tell Emma, yeah?" Killian asked after a moment, continuing to run his hand across the outfit. It was the naval officer, the pirate, and in the design of David's kingdom, just like the clothes had been when he went into the past. It was what he'd been trying to figure out. It was Killian Jones.

"She's going to love it," Mary Margaret put in.

David scowled a bit, returning to the role of father. "Not too much, I hope."

Killian chuckled, standing. "I should get this home and hidden before Emma gets home." David put the clothing back in the garment bag and handed it over.

"Tell Emma to come back tonight so we can fill favours," Mary Margaret called out, displaying one of those little muslin bags.

"And bring the rum this time."

Killian walked home, holding the bag tight against his chest. He was scared the wind would get to it, that it was some dream that would turn to dust at the slightest movement. Once back at the empty cottage Killian hurried up the stairs. There was a closet in the spare bedroom, left empty because they hadn't done anything to it yet. Killian wanted Emma to be surprised, to see the man at the end of the isle that was a product of a long and hard life, brought all together by her golden light. It was a small present, a symbol of all their love had come through to land at the little cottage on Albatross Lane. He laid it gently on the top shelf in the closet, pushing it towards the back.

This gift David had given him was surreal. Killian had often felt Liam with him, looking with disgust over his shoulder at the mess Killian had let himself become. But walking down the ocean sided street he could almost sense Liam swelling with pride, his chest puffing out at his little brother just like he'd done when Killian had become a lieutenant. Liam had always thought Killian would climb the ranks to be a captain. When Liam had been alive Killian refused, wanting to only ever sail with his brother and then he'd become a pirate. Once that had happened Killian had pushed his brother's desire away, too ashamed and too hell-bent on revenge to return to what Liam had wanted for him. Several centuries later, years of pain and blood and anger, and things had come full circle. He was the pirate captain of Prince James's Navy now.