True Love: God Approved

Chapter 25

* Emma's POV *

I was on my way out for my daily ride when I saw one of the guards arguing with a man who had his back to me. I hurried over, worried that things would get out of control. He didn't have the nest temper.

"Hey," I interrupted and they both looked at me, my eyes on the guard. "What's the problem?"

"Swan," the man breathed an I looked over at him, something strangely familiar about him. "You're here. You're alright."

"Uhm, yes?" I said with a bit of confusion. "I-I'm sorry, do we know each other?"

"You don't remember me, do you?" He sighed, sounding utterly defeated and I just raised my eyebrows. "Then I think you and I should talk. Preferably alone if you're comfortable with that."

"Uhm, I guess that's alright," I agreed, something about his eyes putting me at ease. "I'm just about to go riding, you can come if you like."

"Thank you," he nodded, lifting my hand to kiss my knuckles gently and giving me a small smirk when I turned bright red. "After you, m'lady."

I tried to shake it off, leading him to the stables. I greeted my horse cheerfully the way I did every day, petting her muzzle as she huffed with excitement. I hadn't been riding as much since I found out I was pregnant, but today I needed the peace. It didn't seem I was going to get that, though. I got up in my saddle and he quickly followed suit, trotting out after me.

"So," I prompted him as he came up next to me and we entered the forrest. "You say we know each other. Is that why you haven't told me your name?"

"Killian Jones," he chuckled lightly, the sound of his voice making me feel more at ease than I had in months. "And yes, we know each other. Quite well actually."

"Really?" I half smiled, looking over at him and finding him watching me. "And how exactly do we know each other? Are we friends? Enemies? Long lost soulmates?"

"The last one is probably closest," he said sheepishly and my teasing smile fell. "We're engaged, Swan, and that child inside you is mine."

"What?" I asked in disbelief, pulling my horse to a stop. No one was supposed to know about the baby. "W-what are you talking about? We're not... I'm not..."

"I know it's hard to believe," he sighed. "But you have a ring on a chain that you wear around your neck, I gave that to you to keep you safe. The opal ring your hand should be on your other hand, it was my mother's and I proposed to you almost a month ago. You have a tattoo on your left wrist of a flower you got when you were seventeen right before you had your son.

"I think I'm gunna be sick," I mumbled, quickly getting off my horse and feeling him pull my hair back as I got sick next to the nearest tree. I wiped my mouth and held my stomach, closing my eyes so I didn't have to look at him. "How do you know those things about me? I haven't even told my parents I'm pregnant yet."

"I know you, Emma. Look at me, use your superpower and see I'm not lying," he said gently, putting his hand on my cheek when I looked up through my eyelashes. "You're my girl, my Swan. You know me better than I know myself, you just have to trust me."

"Then why don't I remember?" I asked quietly, tears gathering in my eyes as I studied his even and loving gaze. "If all this is true, and we really are together, why don't I remember any of it?"

"I don't know, love," he sighed, wiping a tear as it fell with his thumb. "But until we find out I'm more than willing to walk you through it. We met here in the Enchanted Forrest, but we didn't exactly get along."

"Why not?" I asked with a sniffle, surprising myself with the fact that I wasn't pulling away from him. "Was I different then?"

"A bit," he smiled softly. "But so was I. It took us a while to even realize how we felt and even longer to get together, but I wouldn't trade it for the world."

I put both my hands on his cheeks, the feeling of his scruff under my fingertips being another oddly familiar sensation as I looked at him. I could tell he was telling the truth, I just had absolutely no explanation for all of this. I leaned closer out of instinct, my lips just about to brush his when I heard horses and quickly pulled away from him.

"Emma, what are you doing out here?" My father asked as he and a few men came riding up, not giving me a chance. "You can't just ride off with a stranger, let alone a pirate. Get back to the castle, your mother is waiting for you."

"Sorry, daddy," I said quietly, whispering to Killian as he handed my my horse's reigns. "Find me after dark, I'll be waiting."

*Killian's POV *

"Find me after dark," Emma whispered to me. "I'll be waiting."

"Who are you, pirate?" David immediately questioned me as I watched her ride away, glancing back at me before disappearing. "What were you doing out here with my daughter?"

"We were just talking," I assured him but he didn't look convinced. "Honestly, it was a simple conversation. I give you my word."

"As if the word of a pirate can even be trusted?" He spat at me and I had to fight not to roll my eyes. Typical Dave. "Just don't go near her again or you'll suffer the consequences, undstood?"

"Aye, I'm not daft, mate," I sighed and they rode away, not hearing the rest of my sentence. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to listen."

I headed back to my ship, once again ignoring the men all over the deck. I dug through everything in my quarters having my prayers answered when I found a few snapshots tucked into the frame of my bed. I could tell by the look in Emma's eyes when she looked at me that she wanted to believe what I told her, but now I had proof.

*Emma's POV *

"There you are, sweetie," my mom greeted me with relief as I came inside. "Where have you been?"

"I was just out for a ride," I assured her as she followed me towards my room. "I'm fine, really. I just think I'm going to lie down for a while. I'll see you in the morning."

She was hesitant but let me go, watching me as I went into my room and locked the door. I took off my corset and sat on my bed, letting out a breath of relief. Hiding pregnancy at this point was harder than I thought it'd be. Honestly, if I thought about it, I couldn't even remember getting pregnant. None of this made sense anymore.

I changed into my nicest silk nightgown, trying for some reason I had yet to discern to look good when I met with Killian. I waited until dark and snuck from my balcony down to the garden, sitting on the edge of the fountain to wait for him to show up.