#and I was reading Post Captain and a passage made me start cackling on the crowded bus that I just went from lmao to wanting to kms

[kissmefriendly]

You ever go ‘Fuck why did I choose this as my career’ after one (1) single day?

[dassala]

Reward - Completed!

Holy crap, I finished it. I’m SO, SO sorry to anyone and everyone who was a fan of this story and never had resolution until now! I will be re-posting the fic in its entirety for your review. Thank you so much for reading and being patient with me!

Rated M

Read this chapter on AO3 OR Start back at Chapter 1

-- Chapter 10 --

Killian Jones lunged toward the queen, his hand reaching for the sword at his side. King David reached out and grasped his arm.

“Wait,” David hissed, tugging the man back to him, “she can’t bring back Emma if she’s dead.”

“Are you really just going to hand the kingdom over to her?” Killian’s eyes were alit with fury as he watched the older man’s expression fall.

David searched for the right words, but came up empty, “I have no choice.”

With a flick of her wrist, the young and beautiful Regina summoned a fireball. The crowd gasped and pulled away, muttering nervously. A few people managed to escape the ballroom, fleeing for the village beyond the gates.

“On your knees,” Regina hissed, her teeth flashing as she spoke. She stepped closer to the determined-looking pirate and raised a perfect eyebrow to him, “or are we going to have a barbeque?”

Slowly, Killian glanced back at David and then bent, placing one knee onto the intricate tile floor of the ballroom. He stared daggers at Regina, his jaw clenched.

The royal family carefully followed suit, bending to bow to the woman who had planned for years to usurp the throne of Misthaven.

“Guards,” she cackled with a grin, “take the disgraced royals to the dungeons. Oh, and the Pirate too.”

The dungeon was dark, save for a sliver of moonlight streaming through a tiny window. Snow wrung her hands and paced, shaking her head.

“I never…I never should have said a word to Cora but she…”

“Stop blaming yourself,” David sighed. He had been stripped of his weapons and crown. Leaning against the iron bars of the cell, he shook his head. “None of this is anyone’s fault. Regina is, and has always been, against us.”

Sitting on a bench, Killian idly toyed with a button on his jacket for a moment before standing.

“Right,” he cleared his throat, “Do you keep in shape, Your Majesty?” He directed the question to David.

The older man’s eyebrow raised, “I’m sorry?”

“Do you tend to keep up your strength? We’ll need it,” he shed his heavy leather jacket and picked up an armful of straw, tucking it inside. “We’re busting out of here.”

“How?” Snow asked, wiping at her eyes.

“Leave that to me,” he grinned and stuck his coat into the shadows, propped up to appear as if he were sleeping in the darkened corner.

Fiddling with the lock for a moment or two was all the Pirate needed to be able to spring himself and the King. He carefully closed it behind them and glanced up and down the corridor.

“I’m not sure why I’m trusting a Pirate,” David muttered quietly, peeking around Killian as they waited for the Southernmost corridor to clear.

“I’ll use my new title, if you don’t mind, mate,” Killian smirked slightly and gave the older man a wink. “Will you trust a Knight?”

David was silent with anger as they snuck down the hall and turned into the main area near the kitchens.

“What’s your plan, then?” David muttered once they were out of sight of the guards.

“I’ve come across many a magic beast in my tenure on the seas,” Killian sighed. “I’ve got an idea, but what I need is on my ship.”

“We’re on the lower level,” David whispered. He glanced around the empty hallway and gestured over his shoulder to Killian. “Come on. There’s an exterior door this way.”

“Halt!” A voice boomed from the end of the hall. Killian slowed and leaned his head back slightly, closing his eyes.

“Way to keep your eyes peeled, mate,” he grumbled at the King, who glared in return.

“In the name of Queen Regina,” the guard began, stepping toward them. David turned and laughed, shaking his head.

“I am King in this palace, and you’d do well to remember that,” he tapped his own chest with his index finger. “Get us out of here, and I will spare your life when I return to power.”

“She will incinerate me,” the guard said quietly, his sword still pointed at the two men, but trembling ever-so-slightly, “I have a family.”

“As do I,” David countered, his gaze steady. “And I promise to take care of yours if you redirect the guards from this area so we may pass to the docks.”

“We will allow you to lead us to the Queen once we’ve retrieved something from my ship. You may be rewarded by her, if it seems you’ve done her a service.” The Captain stood a bit taller, tucking his thumbs into his belt loops.

The guard watched them for a moment before nodding, “Very well. Be quick.”

The Jolly Roger remained docked in the harbor, floating peacefully upon a rolling sea as the chaos continued within the castle. The Captain glanced about carefully as the two men boarded. He climbed up the gangplank and hopped down onto the deck, followed closely by the King.

“Captain!” Vernon greeted him from the upper deck, smiling broadly. “We were afraid for your life and that of the Princess. Is all well at the castle? There are rumors…”

“No time, Vernon, but no, all is not well,” he hurried toward his quarters and climbed down into them. David followed, giving the old man a nod.

“Is that…?” a crewmate asked, watching David disappear below docks as well.

“Worry not, the Cap’n knows what he’s doin’,” Vernon ushered the younger man back to his work.

Once he was below decks, David frowned, examining the quarters. He noticed rumpled bedsheets and a skirt carelessly flung upon the floor, atop a pair of black leather trousers. His gaze narrowed as he watched the captain rummaging through a trunk near the back of the room.

“You’ve neglected to tell me that Emma was sharing your bed, Captain,” David hissed, color rising into his face. His fist clenched. “What kind of man are you, taking advantage of a lost Princess?”

Turning back to the King, Killian raised an eyebrow. “A man who is deeply in love with your daughter, Your Highness. And I believe the feeling is mutual.” Standing, he clasped a vial of black liquid in his hand.

The King’s expression faltered slightly and he drew in a deep breath. “You believe?”

“She has not said it, in so many words,” Killian replied, glancing at the floor, “but she had been trying to decide between staying here or..sailing with me.”

“I assumed she meant she had bartered passage with you, but...now I see,” David replied quietly. He shook his head. “What is your plan?”

Lifting the vial, Killian twisted it in his hand before holding it out to the tall man in front of him. “This is Squid Ink. It can stop even the most powerful of magicians and witches in their tracks. For...a moment or two.”

“Enough time to kill her?”

The Pirate looked up at the King and nodded carefully. “Aye, if that’s what you’ll have me do.”

“As a Pirate, I assume you’ve killed before,” David shrugged.

In his past, of course, Killian had laid waste to a few men in the heat of a fight or to rid the world of a witness to his crimes. He had been careless and selfish. “I have.”

“Good, then you can be of service to us,” David adjusted his cloak and eyed the young man, “and then you may leave. Without my daughter. And never come back.”

Killian’s eyebrow raised slowly. “Your Highness, I don’t know if I can do that…”

“You will,” the King lifted his chin slightly, “or I will have you...handled. I cannot have my daughter attached to a Pirate when she is set to inherit the throne of Misthaven. I will pay you handsomely to leave.”

“I think you’re forgetting, Mate, that your daughter is under a curse,” the Pirate shook his head, “doesn’t do a lot of good for you to protect her right now.”

“And it doesn’t do a lot of good for you to stay. If you pretend to lay any claim to her in her prone state, there could be a movement to place you on my throne. That I will not have.”

“I’ve no claim to Emma,” Killian said through gritted teeth, “she is a free woman. I’d never assume her to be my possession.”

“Tell me,” David sighed, “is the boy your son?”

Out of spite, Killian considered lying and saying Henry was his own. However, he would not lie to the King. “He is not.”

“Good,” gesturing out the door, King David smiled, “I believe we have a deal, then. Save this kingdom, be rewarded handsomely, and be gone.”

A commotion above decks pulled Killian’s gaze from the other man’s icy blue eyes. He climbed up to the main deck and found himself instantly at the tip of a blade. The guard they had met in the castle was aboard the Jolly, waiting for the pair of men to surface.

“You are to be returned to Her Royal Highness, Queen Regina,” the guard said, somewhat uneasily. “This way.”

--

Killian wrestled against his handcuffs as he and the King were thrown into the throne room, both men landing upon their knees before Regina, who had changed into a sultry red gown and leather leggings. She bent low in front of Killian and placed a finger beneath his chin.

“Have you seen my favorite new piece of art?” Turning his head with her fingertip, she gestured toward Emma, placed in a glass coffin near the other end of the room. “She will be my constant source of youth and beauty. Thank you so much for bringing her back to me.”

“Youth, perhaps,” he shrugged, “beauty may take a few more maidens, in your case.”

With her spike-heeled boot, Regina kicked the Pirate square in the chest, knocking him onto his back. He grunted as the air was knocked from his lungs.

“Fool!” She shouted at him, throwing her arms in the air. “I could have spared you. Made you a part of this court.”

“I’ll pass,” he wheezed, wriggling back to his knees, his hands still clasped behind his back.

“Regina you cannot possibly get away with this,” David spat at her, moving to stand from his prone position.

“I can, and I will,” Regina laughed, removing the King’s cuffs with a flick of her wrist. “Bring in Snow White. I want to watch her say goodbye to her true love before I wrench his pretty head from his neck.”

The color drained from the King’s face. He slid his hand slowly into his cloak, glancing over at Killian for a bit of guidance.

The Pirate carefully stumbled to his feet, clearing his throat to distract the Evil Queen. “So you’re going to keep the Princess to remind yourself of what you’ll never be, eh?”

“Keep talking, Pirate, and I’ll make sure a few parts of you hang on the wall next to her body,” she hissed, pointing at him.

Killian glanced back at David and made an uncorking motion behind his back. He wiggled his fingers to signal for the King to toss the squid ink at Regina.

David fumbled slightly in trying to remove the cork, grabbing the attention of the Evil Queen. Queen Snow was, at that moment, brought into the room.

“What is it you’re trying, unsuccessfully to do, David?” Snatching the still-corked bottle from the King, she narrowed her gaze at it. “Oooh, I see. A feeble attempt to stop me. Well-thought.” Regina rolled her eyes and tucked the vial into her cleavage, shaking her head.

“You’ll never succeed, Regina!” Snow shouted, struggling against the guards who carried her. David was pale and his expression was apologetic.

Killian sighed heavily, wondering exactly how he could get the squid ink back into his possession. “Your highness,” he spoke finally, lifting his head to look at Regina.

Regina turned, her eyebrow arching as she acknowledged the address. “Do you have something to add, Pirate?”

“I’ve changed me mind,” he let a sly smirk cross his features. “I’m thinking perhaps it’s better to be on the winning team.”

“Ah,” Regina nodded and crooked a finger, “prove it. Bow to me. Worship me.”

Upon her request, Killian stepped forward. Behind him, he could hear David cursing under his breath and spitting upon the ground. Guards quickly grasped his arms, pulling them tight as he writhed in furious agony. Undeterred, he carefully knelt before the beautiful dark-haired woman. His coat brushed the ground, and he bent at the neck. “Your Majesty, I am your servant,” he breathed lowly. He glanced back up at her after a moment.

“I may have use for you yet,” Regina hummed pleasantly. She bent to place a finger under his chin, lifting it slowly to bring the man to his feet. “You are quite a pretty thing.”

It took every ounce of his strength not to simply smash his head into her chest and shatter the bottle of squid ink. There was a chance it would not work. No, this required a bit of finesse. He smiled at her and gave a wink. “As her Majesty wishes,” he replied.

Regina flicked her wrist. A large structure appeared in the corner of Killian’s vision. Snow gasped and David screamed, both of them struggling against their captors.

“Him first,” Regina said in a sing-song voice, gesturing to the King. Snow White was sobbing, falling to her knees.

“I hope the both of you burn in hell,” David spat as he was dragged toward the structure. Killian finally turned to watch as the King was situated in the guillotine the Evil Queen had conjured. It was now or never. The ink was in her bustier. There did not seem to be enough time to get it by conventional seduction. Glancing at Regina, Killian paused. Upon the lapel of her dress, there was a gold pin. The pin she had pulled from Emma’s hair, ranting of her brilliant curse. If he had one opportunity, this was it.

“Your Majesty,” Killian interrupted, stepping closer to the Evil Queen. “Is this entirely necessary? Cannot we merely jail them and let them waste away?”

Regina sneered. “Then they’d be together,” she hissed, “and the last thing I want is for them to be together.”

“Then separate them,” he reached up and flicked some of her shiny dark hair behind her shoulder, trailing his finger slightly over her exposed collarbone, “and they will die in misery, apart.” He looked into her dark eyes, red-rimmed with anger.

“I like the way you think, Captain, but I’ll pass,” Regina raised her arm to signal for David’s decapitation. Killian had one chance to get this right. He snagged the pin from her lapel, and in one sweeping motion, he jammed it into her exposed chest. The Evil Queen screamed. A burst of cold, hollow energy came from her body, throwing him far away from her. He collapsed into a heap upon the stones of the throne room floor.

Snow White cringed and ducked, feeling the pulse hitting her and the guards as well. Their hands released her as they, all three, tumbled onto their backs. As she gained her bearings, Snow grasped a sword from one of the guards and pulled it from the sheath. She stood and held the blade outstretched, her eyes immediately flicking toward David.

The King was still knelt upon the ground, his head still attached.

“David!” She screamed and ran to him, pulling her husband back from the deadly device.

“What happened?” David asked, flinging his arms around his wife. He cradled her head in his hand and looked around the room, where guards were groaning and attempting to push themselves to their feet.

“I don’t know,” Snow whispered. She glanced around, only to find Regina on her back in the center of the room. “Regina…”

David quickly got to his feet and snagged a weapon from another incapacitated soldier. He stood over the sorceress and kicked her with the toe of his boot. “Up, Regina!”

There was no movement from the woman. She was still as the stone beneath her.

“Is she dead?” Snow asked with a shaky breath.

“I...I don’t know,” David muttered. He bent and examined the pin that was shoved into the woman’s chest. “The Captain...he...he did this.”

Snow gasped. She turned quickly, looking for Captain Jones.

“Captain!” She shouted, running to the unconscious man. She bent and shook his shoulders. “Captain, you did it! You defeated her!”

The Captain groaned and rolled onto his side, coughing. He gasped for air. “Did Emma…?”

David had turned to their daughter. Snow stood and watched the older man as he mournfully laid his hands on the glass top of the shrine Regina had created. Emma had not stirred, and she looked less alive than ever.

Yes, Killian had defeated the Evil Queen, but she had won first. He got to his feet and shuffled toward the King. Emma’s skin had gone more pale than before, and her hair no longer had its golden shine. With a frustrated shove, David opened the coffin. He reached to touch Emma’s face.

“I wish you’d have never left us,” he whispered. “But then you may not have found your Captain.”

Killian stood by watching, his eyebrows lifting in surprise as he listened.

“He did what he needed to do to save us all,” David continued. “I wish Regina had not exacted her revenge. But again, wishes mean nothing. Oh Emma, I love you.”

Bending, the King kissed his daughter’s forehead. Another pulse of energy moved through the room, this one warm and full of life. With a gasp, Emma opened her eyes. She breathed deeply, glancing around. “Daddy?” She asked.

“Emma!” The King flung his arms around his daughter and pulled her into his grasp. He held her tightly. “Oh Emma!”

“What happened?” She asked groggily, hugging her father in return.

“Regina,” David growled low under his breath. “Regina happened. But you’re okay. You’re fine. We’re all fine.”

“Where’s Henry?” Emma frantically looked around.

“Asleep, upstairs,” a guard noted, getting to his feet. Along with his colleagues, he bent to one knee and lowered his head. “Your highness, forgive us.”

David nodded slightly, lost in thought. “I’ll get to you later.”

“Swan,” a bruised Killian Jones stepped slightly forward, “good to see you among the living again.”

“Killian!” Jumping down off of the pedestal, Emma threw her arms around her Captain. He winced, but held her close. “Thank goodness.”

“He saved us all,” Snow noted, stepping forward and placing a hand on her daughter’s back. Emma turned and pulled her mother into a tight embrace. “Captain Jones put Regina under her own spell and saved us.”

“‘Twas nothing, your highness,” Killian noted with a smirk. “I’d do anything for the Princess. I love her, after all.”

Emma blushed. It was a relief to all to see color in her face once more. The Princess stepped to her Pirate and slid her hand into his. “Mother, Father...may I ask that Killian be permitted to stay here, with me? I’m...I’m in love with him, as well.”

“How could I object?” David smiled. “Let’s make sure the Evil Queen is firmly under her spell, and then tuck her away in her own glass coffin. Let us put her where no one will find her.”

--

Much to Emma’s surprise, not many of her parents’ subjects asked any questions regarding Henry’s parentage. Most everyone assumed Killian to be the boy’s father. And in a rather covert fashion, King David and Queen Snow came up with a way to put any and all doubts to rest. And the Princess and her Pirate were not at all opposed to the idea.

You Are Cordially Invited

To the Renewal of Vows

For

Princess Emma of Misthaven

And

Sir Killian Jones

Public Courtyard

Noon

March the First