A Cinderella Story

Chapter 17

Since Emma and Killian got together again, they spent all their time together. Feeding Lilli-together. Eating-together. Riding-together. Everything-together.

Today, at this moment, Killian and Emma were in the garden, with Lilli. They observed the flowers and plants as well as watching Lilli pet the bunnies.

The garden is laden with many flowers- roses, hibiscus, and even the purple flowers that smell really good, it bears fruit- bananas to be exact, is bubbling with life- it may be my house but its shared with squirrels, kingfishers, and sometimes even monitor lizards without even knowing it. They make their way towards the fishes to see how they are doing; red, blue, and gold hidden underneath the layers of water plants.

"She looks just like you." Emma smiled. Killian chuckled. "She has your appreciation for nature." Emma nodded. "Yes she does. But we both get that from my mother: Snow White."

Lilli waddled over to Emma and Killian. "Bubby." She giggled. Killian smiled. "Bunny, Lilli. It's bunny."

"Bubby." Lilli repeated. Emma laughed.

***
Back in the dungeon, Zelena was working on a way to get Cora out. Regina kept guard. The shackles on Cora's wrists were magic blocking.

"Hurry up." Cora was impatient. "I can't be in this place for another minute.

"I'm working as fast as I can, mother." Zelena responded, not breaking concentration.

Regina came quickly. "Hide. Someone's coming." Waving their hands, both sisters were gone in red and green smoke. A guard walked over to the cells. He looked around. "Cora. What are you doing here?" Cora looked at him confused. "Who are you?" She asked. "It's me, Damien." Cora grinned. "Damien." She said excitedly. Damien unlocked the door and took off the shackles.

Cora put his heart back in and disappeared.

***

"Killian!" Liam called from the lookout.

Killian looked up. "Yes, Liam?"

"Father wants you and Emma inside. Now. He has urgent matters to discuss."

Emma and Killian look at one another. Carrying Lilli, they head inside.

"Father." Killian said approaching Brennen. "Ah yes, my son." Brennen smiled softly. "What is it you wish to discuss with us?"

"During the battle, an agreement has come to stand. A treaty; alliance between the two kingdoms."

"What kind of an agreement?" Emma asked.

"My prince betrothed to their princess."

Killian grabbed Emma's hand and held it tightly. "Never."

"This is not up for discussion." Brennen stood his ground.

"Has the princess agreed?" Emma asked. Killian looked at her, with disbelief.

"I believe so."

"Let them meet." Liam says walking into the room. "If Killian falls in love with her within a  week, he will marry her and if not, he marries Emma."

"I'm not going to let that happen." Emma objected. "We may not be engaged but we know where our hearts lie. Killian and I have a daughter. I'm not going to let him walk out of her life like how Henry's father did."

"I thought he died in battle."

Emma shook her head. "That's what I told people. It's what we all did. But it was a lie."

"We'll talk about this later." Brennen sharply exhaled, said a few choice words then walked out of the room.

"Swan, why lie?" Killian asked.

Emma sighed. "Because to August, I was just some other princess he could take over. No dignity being a women. He used me and when he found I was carrying his baby, he didn't care one bit. Treated me worse than before. So, I ran away. The engagement was a lie. The love wasn't real." She was uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, Swan." Killian pulled her gently in for a hug.

Emma hugged him back. "Thanks, Killian." Killian nodded. 

"Emma, Killian, we have pressing matters." Brennen interrupted. 

"What do you want us to do?" Emma asked.

"If you love my son, you will let him go." 

"It's not happening!" Killian angered. "I am not leaving Emma, Henry and Lilli."

Emma thought about it. "He and the princess will live here?" 

Brennen nodded. "Yes. The lady in your current chambers and Killian in his."

"Killian, I love you. So much. We'll still be in the same kingdom together. Just in different parts. You'll still see the kids and me. Just not as often. Maybe, one day, I'll find that love again. That love I felt with you. I don't want to see this kingdom bow down to its enemy. If this marriage unites two kingdoms as allies then it must be done."

"Are you out of your mind, Swan?" 

"It's the only way. I would rather lose you to marriage than death."

Killian sighed. He understood. He didn't want Emma to go through what she went through a long time ago. From his coat pocket, he pulled out her engagement ring. He took her hand in his and set the ring in her palm. "There's no one else I want to wear that ring." He folded her fingers and closed her hand around the ring. "You will always be mine, Swan."

Emma took the ring and put it on her ring finger. "I love you, Killian Jones." She placed her hands on either side of his face, resting them on his cheeks. She stood on her toes, leaned in and kissed him. "I always will." She landed back on her heels, full foot on the ground, and walked away, out of the great hall. 

She went to her quarters, packed everything. Not leaving a scrap behind, and went down to the village. Henry was carrying Lilli. They found a nice, small space for them to live in.

"Father this is insane!" Killian was still angry at his father. "You know I want to marry Emma. You know the troubles she endured to be here. She risked everything."

"I understand why you're angry, but I'm doing what is best for this kingdom."

"What's best for this kingdom is for Emma to become queen alongside me. We don't know how the princess of that other kingdom is with its people. She could be a cruel monster for all we know. Emma knows what is good in people's hearts. She saw the good in me, father. She showed me that I have changed. And for the better. She gave up her magic, for me. Emma Swan may not know how to run a kingdom like her parents, but she knows the difference from right and wrong and she knows to be forgiving and loyal."

"I know, son. And I'm sorry. What's done is done. You will marry the princess at high noon, one week from today." 

Killian turned on his heel and headed out the doors. "Then I will spend the week with my love and our children."