Disclaimer: Reluctantly I have to admit that I don't own these characters. They are property of others far luckier than myself.

Twenty-four hours to go. Who's as excited as I am?

You are were a bit light with the reviews for the last chapter. Hopefully you like this one better.

Emma watched Killian sleep for a while before she became restless and began cleaning. She tackled the galley first. It was a decent sized galley, much larger than what the Jolly Roger had. The more she learned the ship the more she concluded that everything about Emma's Swan was larger than the Jolly Roger.

Once she got into it, she found herself enjoying cleaning her namesake.

"Hey, Mom," Henry made his way into the galley.

"Hi, Henry," Emma dropped her sponge in surprise, "What brings you back to the docks?"

"Wanted to check on Killian," Henry replied, "He looked really pale earlier. Did everything go okay at the hospital?"

"He's on the mend," Emma assured him, "Doc said that he cracked a couple of ribs on top of what I'd already treated. He'll need to rest for a while."

"Can I help?" Henry offered his services.

"I'm just doing a bit of cleaning to keep myself busy," Emma replied, "You don't need to help."

"But I want to," Henry stated, "Killian says that all sailors aboard his ship should carry their weight, including scrubbing what needs to be scrubbed."

"You're really into this sailing thing, aren't you?"

"It's fun," Henry replied.

"Then by all means, grab a sponge and get scrubbing," Emma motioned towards the bag of supplies she'd purchased earlier. Mother and son worked side by side for the better part of an hour before Killian emerged from his cabin.

"What is that peculiar smell?" he sniffed into the air.

"It's the smell of clean," Emma whipped at the sweat on her forehead with the back of her arm.

"I'm unfamiliar with that particular smell."

"It's Pine-sol," Henry stated, "It's a popular brand of cleaner in this realm."

"To what do we owe the pleasure, Lad?" Killian was pleasantly surprised to see Emma's son on board.

"I thought I'd help get Emma's Swan ship shape," Henry replied.

"Isn't that thoughtful of him," Emma was beaming with motherly pride.

"Aye," Killian agreed.

"Are you getting hungry?" Emma asked, "It's nearly dinner time."

"I'm a bit hungry," Killian replied.

"I'll get cleaned up and then we can go out to eat," Emma replied, "How does pizza sound?"

"Whatever you recommend," Killian replied. He was still becoming accustomed to Storybrooke's dining options. He usually went with Emma's recommendations. She'd rarely steered him wrong.

"Pizza it is," Emma replied, "Give me ten minutes."

"How are you feeling?" Henry asked the pirate.

"It's best when I not move too much," Killian admitted, "But it's better than it was. Doc gave me some magic pills that take the pain away for a bit. Almost better than rum."

Henry laughed in reply. "Can you show me how to tie that one knot again? I can't seem to get it quite right."

Killian nodded his head and led Henry to the deck. They worked on the various knots sailors needed to know until Emma emerged.

"Thought you left without me," Emma ruffled her son's hair.

"This is a bowline knot," Henry held up his piece of rope. He pulled out the knot quickly and tied another. "This is a clove hitch."

"Wow, that's pretty impressive," Emma replied, "Ready for pizza?"

"Yep," Henry threw the rope aside as he watched his mother grab for Killian's hand. He was glad that his mom was happy, and he was becoming more fond of Killian as time passed. He would have been happy with whoever his mom had chosen as long as she was happy, but he preferred Killian over Walsh. There was always something so boring about his mother's previous boyfriend. He'd almost seemed too good to be true, and it turned out he had been.

"You coming?" Emma asked when she noticed her son wasn't following along.

"Yeah," Henry moved quickly.

Emma was smiling from ear to ear as she walked the streets of Storybrooke with two of the most important men in her life. She was happy.

"You're looking well, Captain," Mary Margaret made note when she caught up with her daughter's boyfriend a few days after he'd return from Portsmouth.

Emma had left Killian to his own devices that morning, deeming him well enough to care for himself. He felt himself well enough to go for a walk to enjoy the warm spring air and happened upon Mary Margaret and Baby Neal sitting on a park bench doing the same.

"I am," Killian confirmed as Neal cooed on cue, "And how is Baby Neal today?"

"He's teething, so he's fussy," Mary Margaret yawned deeply, "He kept us awake most of the night…I expect Emma has been taking good care of you."

"Aye," he nodded, "I've been in excellent hands these past few days."

"So now that you have a new ship, what are your plans?" Mary Margaret inquired.

"Still weighing my options," he replied.

"Will you be sticking close to Storybrooke?"

"I have no plans to sail away, if that is what you're asking," he responded.

"You make my daughter happy," Mary Margaret stated, "I would hate for anyone to do something to take that happiness away from her. They would feel the full wrath of Snow White and Prince Charming."

"Warning received," Killian responded with a slight chuckle.

"Just looking out for my daughter," Mary Margaret smiled, "It's what mothers do."

"I would expect nothing less, Your Highness."

"So what has you walking about town today?" Mary Margaret inquired.

"Needed to walk," Killian held his side, "I've been forced to rest."

"Pretty sure that was doctor ordered," Mary Margaret snickered, "I heard that Emma threatened to tie you to the bed to keep you still."

"And not in a pleasant way," Killian laughed, "She's been taking good care of me…speaking of Emma, might I ask a favor of you."

"Certainly," Mary Margaret nodded.

"I'd like to buy something for Emma, and I believe I'll need a second opinion as I've never done this before," Killian explained.

"What kind of something, Captain?" Mary Margaret looked to the pirate nervously. She knew her daughter cared a great deal for the man sitting beside her, but she didn't think Emma was ready for marriage. "Is it small, circular and worn on a certain finger?"

Killian looked to her in confusion before it dawned on him what she was referencing. "No, nothing like that…she claims that the bed on the Swan is lumpy and uncomfortable. Quite frankly it's more comfortable than most beds I've slept on, but I want her to be comfortable on the nights she chooses to spend aboard my ship."

"You want me to help you pick out a mattress," Mary Margaret concluded.

"And bed sheets," he added, "I'd like it to be a surprise."

"I'd be happy to help," Mary Margaret stated as she laid Neal in his stroller, "And I know Baby Neal wants to help."

"The more the merrier," Killian smiled, "Lead the way."

"How's the pirate?" David asked when Emma arrived for work after spending the morning running errands.

"Stubborn beyond belief," Emma hissed, "I saw him walking in the park with Mary Margaret just a few minutes ago. I told him to take things easy today."

"You should have tied him down if you didn't want him to leave his ship," David chuckled, "He's not a man that is used to being idle."

"He's injured. He nearly died. Is it too much to ask for him to lay low for a few days?"

"Apparently it is," David continued to laugh.

"No Will this morning," Emma glanced towards the empty cells, "Did he skip town?"

"Haven't seen him since we returned to Portsmouth," David shrugged, "It's nice being able to do my work without snide comments for a change."

"Should we be worried?"

"Give it a week," David replied, "If he hasn't turned up, we'll start looking for him."

"Did I miss anything else while I was out?" Emma glanced at the pile of papers that were waiting for her.

"Noting too exciting," David shook his head, "Glad to have you back though."

"It's good to be back," Emma replied, "Have you heard anything from that cop I spoke with in Portsmouth?"

"Yeah, he called this morning. He interviewed the usual suspects, but no one he talked to had any leads to give, nor did anyone seem to have a grudge with Killian or Old Man Hallstrom," David stated.

"Maybe it really was as simple as someone not wanting Killian to buy the ship," Emma sighed, "I hope whoever is responsible is smart enough to stay out of Storybrooke. They'd be in for a rather rude welcoming if they come looking to start trouble here."

"The good news is that they'd stick out like a sore thumb," David added.

"Hopefully they'll stick out before any trouble is caused," Emma replied.

"You really care for Killian, don't you?" David stated what was becoming obvious.

"Very much," Emma nodded, "And I know he has a certain reputation…"

"You are a grown woman with the capability to make your own choices. As long as he treats you well and doesn't cause you any physical or emotional pain, I will support you and your choice, but if he hurts you, I will dice him with my sword and throw the pieces to the sharks."

"Who knew Prince Charming had such a morbid sense of justice," Emma snickered.

"I'm just protective of my family," David corrected her.

"Good to know I have your support and protection," Emma smiled.

The pair spent the rest of their time together filling out paperwork and bantering back and forth.

"Are you planning on working all day?" Mary Margaret appeared abruptly, "I don't know if either of you are aware but it's dinner time."

"What?" Emma looked at the clock in bewilderment. Sure enough, the time had flown by.

"I thought as much," her mother laughed, "How about you take some time for your family? Dinner at Granny's? Henry and Killian are saving us a table."

"I can't believe it's so late," Emma slipped into her jacket.

"Time apparently flies when you're hard at work with your father," Mary Margaret smiled, "Let's go. I'm hungry."

David grabbed his jackets and followed Mary Margaret and Emma to Granny's.

Emma's face split into a wide grin when her eyes locked with Killian's. Just seeing him caused her heart to race. She felt momentarily lightheaded until she was next to him and his arm was around her waist.

"Hello, Love," Killian kissed cheek softly, "Did you miss me?"

"More than I'll admit," was her soft reply as a brush crept up her cheeks.

"I missed you too," he whispered into her ear.

"How was school today, Henry?" Emma tried to distract herself from the pull she was feeling towards Killian.

"We've been assigned a family history project. We're supposed to choose either our mother or father and follow their ancestry back as far as we can. The person that is able to track their family back the farthest wins a prize," Henry explained.

"You've got three parents to choose from," Emma responded, "Do you know yet who you are going to pick?"

"Not yet," Henry shook his head, "I figured I'd research all three and see how far I could get before I decide."

"We can trace my family back at least ten generations," Mary Margaret stated proudly, "I'm assuming we can use our Enchanted Forest families."

"Considering everyone in this town is from the Enchanted Forest, I'd say it's required," Emma snorted.

"Not everyone, Love," he nudged her softly.

"How about you, Grandpa?" Henry asked curiously.

"A few generations," David shrugged, "Sheep herders didn't keep as good of records as royal families."

"How far back do you think Mister Gold's family can be traced?" Henry asked thoughtfully.

"Probably only to his father," Emma replied, "Neal never talked about his family."

"Regina's family tree might go back a ways," Emma offered.

"I'll have to ask," Henry nodded.

"That's an interesting project they have you working on," Mary Margaret chimed in, "Now that the townspeople have their memories back of their old lives there should be some interesting family trees."

"For example, a boy's adopted mother was at one time his step great-grandmother, and his father's mother was in love with a pirate that is now involved with his mother," Emma asked.

"Henry isn't the only one with a family tree that twisted," Mary Margaret stated defensively.

"No, I suppose there are others," Emma conceded.

"How about your family tree, Captain?" Mary Margaret inquired, "How far back can you go?"

"To my parents just," Killian replied, "I was a young lad when I lost them both. Liam didn't know or never shared the knowledge with me of our ancestors."

"That's so sad," Mary Margaret frowned.

"I never gave it much thought," he shrugged, "Never been too concerned with my family's past. It wasn't anything I could change."

"But a person should know where they came from," Mary Margaret added, "It helps them know who they are."

"Killian Jones, former first lieutenant under Captain Liam Jones, former captain of the Jolly Roger, current captain of Emma's Swan and extremely attached to the lady sheriff of Storybrooke," Killian stated, "That's all I need to know."

David choked on his glass of water when Killian made the reference to Emma.

"Are you alright, Dad?" Emma asked while Henry patted his grandfather on the back to help clear in windpipe.

"Caught off guard," David coughed out.

"It does take a bit of getting used to," Emma replied, "But it's started to sink in."

"And you feel the same?" David asked.

"Yes," Emma confirmed as her fingers caressed the nape of Killian's neck.

"Treat her right, Pirate," David warned Killian.

"Aye," he nodded.

"Does that equal approval in this realm?" Emma asked.

"Don't go crazy just yet," David laughed, "I'm reserving approval until I see more."

"We've been seeing each other for nearly six months. How much more do you need to see?" Emma inquired.

"More," David responded.

"He's kinda hard to please, huh," Emma spoke to her mother.

"When it comes to his daughter, that's very much true," Mary Margaret agreed, "You'll be sixty before he gives approval."

"Suits me just fine," Killian replied, "I don't know that pirates should be getting approval from his lady's family. It's bad for the reputation."

"Suddenly concerned with your reputation, are you?" Emma eyed him curiously.

Killian gave her a devilish smirk in reply.

"Sheriff, Sheriff," in ran the dwarf known as Bashful. Both Emma and David responded, leaving the poor man momentarily confused. It took him moments to recover before he could deliver his message. "Trouble at the docks."

"What's wrong?" David inquired as he slid out of the booth, ready to spring into action.

Bashful didn't elaborate. Instead he motioned for the authoritative man to follow him.

"Stay here," Emma instructed her son and boyfriend before she ran along.

Henry did as he was told, but Killian did not. He followed along several steps behind, not yet recovered enough for a dash to the docks. He was worried that the commotion at the docks could put his newly acquired ship in peril.

Two local sailors were shoving each other, spouting about some nonsensical thing that they were bickering over. David and Emma immediately got in between the pair and held them back before further punches could be thrown.

"Who started this?" Emma asked calmly. Each sailor claimed the other had started the shoving match that escalated into fisticuffs. Not getting anywhere, she rolled her eyes and asked for witnesses to come forward with their observations. Four other sailors came forward, and each statement contradicted the other. "Enough," Emma responded finally. "You both can cool down in lock up."

Emma and David each cuffed their sailors with the handcuffs they'd conveniently always carried and read them their rights before marching them down the docks to the station.

Emma caught Killian lurking steps away. She rolled her eyes. She should have known he wouldn't listen to her instructions earlier. He wasn't used to anyone telling him what to do. She'd confront him on it later.

After putting their men in separate cells, they began the paperwork. The sailors were still hollering at each other.

"Save your energy," David scolded them, "You'll have all night holler at each other, and I'd rather not have my evening ruined any further."

Emma snickered when each man sat themselves down in their cots, shooting daggers at each other. "Let's hope Will doesn't turn up with a need to be locked up tonight. We're out of holding cells."

Finishing the paperwork, they turned out the lights. "We'll be back after dinner," David told the pair. "Talk thing out calmly while we're gone, and I'll consider letting you go. Any bloodshed, we'll keep you overnight."

"Any ideas what that was about?" Emma inquired while they walked back to Granny's.

"Male ego run amuck is my guess," David replied, "Those two have been going at it for years, even in the Enchanted Forest."

"Those grudges just don't die, do they?" Emma sighed.

"We're all remembering them again," David reminded her, "There is twenty eight years added to many years of feuding in the Enchanted Forest. It's a wonder they've held out this long."

Killian was waiting outside Granny's at one of the vacant tables, seemingly waiting for some sort of encounter with Emma that he'd rather have in private.

"Go easy on him," David encouraged his daughter as he made his way inside.

"Why is it that you can't follow the simplest of instructions?" Emma asked while Killian rose for the confrontation.

"It was a disturbance at the docks," Killian responded, "For all I knew, my ship was set ablaze."

"But it wasn't," Emma replied, sounding calmer than she felt, "And your gut is still being held together by whatever type of string you managed to find to sew yourself up."

"A captain doesn't allow harm to come to his ship," Killian defended himself.

"And what would you have done if your ship had been on fire?" Emma challenged him, "You can't even move about without holding onto your side."

Killian looked flummoxed by the question.

"You've gone against my wishes before and it put you in danger. You were lucky this time that it was just some simple pushing and shoving. I don't want you in danger, Killian. Why can't you see that?" Emma stated, "Why can't you understand how important your safety is to me?"

"I'm sorry, Love," Killian replied.

"I almost lost you, Killian," Emma's eyes began to tear, "Too many times in the recent past. I can't…"

"I'm here, Love," Killian reached for her hand, "I'm in one piece."

"Barely," a rogue tear trailed down her cheek.

Killian stepped into her, his arms going around her waist to bring her close.

"You know what I've lost, Killian," she broke down.

"I'm sorry," he apologized a second time. His arms tightened around her waist.

"Mom, the food's rea…" Henry came out to take in the scene and stopped abruptly, "Everything okay?"

"Your mum is rather cross with me," Killian explained, "I foolishly disobeyed her."

"But you're fine," Henry frowned in confusion.

"I'm okay," Emma wiped at her tears, "We're fine. I overreacted. I'm just such a mess right now."

"But a beautiful mess," Killian touched her cheek softly.

"Food's ready," Henry gave the message he'd come out to deliver originally.

"We'll be right there," Emma told him, "Tell your grandparents to start without us."

"Okay," Henry gave the pair their privacy.

"I'm not good with this yet," Emma replied, "I'm not used to these feelings that are coursing through me. I'm not used to caring about someone so much. I've tried for most of my life to keep these things buried because I've been hurt so many times."

"And I'm not good with listening to the instructions of those that have my best interests in mind. I've been the captain of my own life for far too long. I will work on that," he smirked.

"Does that mean I'm now captain of your life?" Emma couldn't resist teasing him.

"Co-captain," he chuckled, "I do still want some say."

"Well, your co-captain is ordering you inside because she is starving," Emma did her best to use her commanding voice.

"Aye, Captain," he guided her in with his hand at the small of her back. She could somehow feel the heat of his hand through the leather of her jacket.

TBC…

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