After All

Chapter 15

The Charming's went to the big hall and sat in fluffy cushions next to a warm fireplace. Servants brought them hot cocoa with cinnamon and vanilla cookies served in a fine porcelain dinner service. Emma found the welcome quite pleasant and didn't think twice about having a sip of the hot drink and nipping one of the cookies. 

I missed these too. She thought after relishing the food in her mouth. 

"We need to talk about so many things but I'm sure all you want right now is take a rest and we understand" Snow assured caressing her daughter's hand. 

"Actually I'm not tired" The princess stated, leaving the cup on the table "I really want us to talk about what happened. You first"

David and Snow told Emma about their rescue, the terrible moments they went through during her absence and the gloom that covered the kingdom after the notice of her supposed death. Emma was listening carefully, paying attention at every single word they said until she began fearing about the moment when she had to speak about her life during the last months. She would have to speak about Hook sooner or later. 

Perhaps they'll forget about it. Maybe I can put as an excuse my tiredness and go to sleep. 

"But you are here now. I just send the messengers to spread the news of your return through the whole realm. We should prepare a celebration" Charming said proudly "Six months were a long time for..." He suddenly stopped, frowning his eyebrows. 

"David?" His wife asked concerned. 

"Six months. What did you do during that time?" 

Oh damn it. 

"David! It doesn't matter!" Snow exclaimed "She's safe and sound here with us. Let's leave the past behind and live the present"

"Yes but we don't know how she got out of the water and survived by herself. It... It kind of concerns me"

Snow's smile began to fade as she had a second thought about his words. He was right. 

"If you've been alive all this time..." The Queen began "Why not coming back before? Why doing it until now?" She said almost nostalgically. 

Emma lowered her gaze, a frightening feeling conquering her soul slowly. 

She had to speak the truth, otherwise she would lie to her parents, which she didn't want to. It was going to be painful and even terrible for them, but it had to be done. 

"I was rescued by a group of pirates" Emma looked at her parents, who had a shocking expression on their faces "They didn't hurt me. They treated me well"

"What else?" David asked with caution. 

"We went to Neverland. We came back... Well... Only the Captain, the ship and me did. There was some deal and- anyway, we returned and... We sailed through other realms, some time went by, we made it to Arendelle... And yeah, basically that's the story" she was nervous. Emma felt her hands shaking as she spoke. 

"You traveled alone with this... Captain for six months?" Snow asked, hoping Emma's answer was negative. 

"No" She replied quickly in a defensive tone "Yes, yes I did. But Killian... he wasn't a bad guy"

"Wasn't?"

"We had a discussion before I left some hours ago but he..."

She began to remember the good times she had with Killian Jones, their adventures, the treasures, the nights they spent together in the Jolly Roger... His soft lips, his tender voice, his shimmery blue eyes. 
She felt a nod in her throat soon as Hook's last words came to her mind. He had hurt her but she didn't hate him. How could she? 
Emma wanted to cry but managed to conceal it, her parents were still looking at her. 

"Darling..." David said "Is there something else we need to know about this man, this... pirate?"

It was too much for her to handle. Emma's eyes went tearful again as she bit her lower lip. She nodded and placed her right hand on her chest. Snow and David thought about the worst. 

Nonetheless, Emma's reply wasn't what they expected. 

"I love him" she finally spoke in a whisper. 

Both the King and Queen were speechless, not being able to believe what she had just said. Her daughter's words were like a sharp sword stabbing their hearts. 

"Emma... You don't mean it" Snow said. 

"I do, mother. I fell in love with Captain Hook" She answered between her sobs "But I should've came back home as soon as I could. I thought we could have a life together but..." 

She looked at her parents once more. They had expressions Emma could not understand. Confused? Angry? Horrified? 

"Before I left I told him that meeting him was the biggest mistake I had ever made but I lied. I don't regret it, not even a little"

Snow White and Charming were perplexed. 

"Now I see you would've never approved of him" Emma said wiping away her tears. 

"We can't believe yet what you've said" Snow said rising up her voice "You were gone for half a year! Suddenly you come back telling us you chose to stay with a pirate and not return with us! What is going on?!" She realized how loud she was speaking so she lowered her voice "Help me understand what is happening"

David gazed at her daughter, his jaw clenched. 

"I love Killian Jones. Our lives can't be together because we belong to different worlds. I know it's not a fair explanation but I can't find another way to say it so, it's puzzling for me too"

Emma walked outside the hall and trotted to her room, locking the door before sliding down. 

She had mixed feelings at the same time. Happy to be back. Mad at her parents. Sad for losing Killian. Angry at him. Tired of her sobs. She felt her world was falling apart. 

"What the hell is going on?! This is too much. I didn't ask for this!" She yelled. 

Her window suddenly opened, making her startle. Cold air swirled through her bedroom as she stood up and looked at the outside. Shaking her head she closed the window. Emma turned back and saw a man standing right in front of her with a grin on his face. She gasped in horror, covering her mouth with one of her trembly hands. 

"You? What are you doing here?" She asked with fear. 

Meanwhile, Killian was arriving to the castle on horseback. He knew Emma's life was in danger. He needed to warn her and the Kings.