Captain Swan One Shots

A Chance at Love: Part 2/2

Emma had been lying awake beneath the makeshift shelter of leaves and branches for hours. She was staring at the back of Killian's head, replaying their near kiss over and over again in her head. She yearned to know what he felt like, tasted like. They hadn't even known each other a full day, but somehow he had stirred feelings within her that she had never experienced before.

"Killian? Are you awake?"

Much like her, he had been lying awake for hours, thinking of her. He had been with many women, but none, not even Milah, had awakened such strong feelings within him. And certainly not in such a short period of time.

He turned around to face her. "Aye."

"What happens now?" she asked. "Your ship is too damaged to use."

"We still have several emergency rowboats that are unscathed. We can use them to get home. It isn't far now."

Emma nodded. "And I will have to face the music. I will have to marry Prince Neal."

Killian's tongue lashed at his lips. "You don't have to, Emma. Speak to your parents. Make them understand."

"I've already tried countless times. If I return, I will have no choice."

Killian paused for a long moment. "There is another choice."

Emma's eyes narrowed at him. "What do you mean?"

"I don't have to return you home. I can take you anywhere you want, princess."

Emma's eyes widened. "You would do that for me?"

Killian bobbed his head. "Aye."

"But that means you would be giving up the payment my father promised you. What was it exactly?"

"The purple diamond," he replied softly.

Emma's mouth dropped open in shock. "The purple diamond? But it's so rare and valuable. It's sought after by many."

"I've been seeking it for years," he said.

Emma stared at him for a long moment. "You would give that up for me?"

Killian bobbed his head and whispered. "Aye, that I would."

"But why? You're a pirate and you would have earned it. You would have earned a treasure you've been seeking for so long."

Killian dropped his eyes and whispered, "Perhaps I finally realized some things are more important than treasure."

Emma lowered her eyes to the ground and swallowed roughly. "You'll never be able to return to our kingdom. My father will send his men to find us both. You won't be safe."

Killian raised his eyes and met hers. "It'd be worth it to procure your freedom."

Emma sucked in a breath and shook her head. "But you would never be truly free again, Killian. You would have to look over your shoulder constantly. And the same goes for me. My father would stop at nothing to find me. Is that true freedom? I would also lose my family. We may not always agree, but they are still my family and I love them."

"And what exactly did you think would happen when you ran out of your wedding and escaped via rowboat? What was your plan, princess?"

Emma shrugged. "I didn't exactly have one."

"That much is rather obvious." He paused and asked softly, "So now you choose to go back then?"

Emma slowly nodded. "Yes."

"Even if it means you'll be forced into a loveless marriage?"

Emma shrugged in resignation. "Maybe my mother was right. Sometimes royalty must makes sacrifices for the good of our people. Joining our two kingdoms will benefit them. Maybe I need to look at the needs of them, rather than my own."