Red Rebellion

Epilogue 19

One year later . . .

The table was quiet enough for David and Snow to suspect something to be troubling the hosts of their Christmas Eve dinner even before the appetizers were served. James sat across from Elizabeth, though he was too caught up in his own food to focus on anything beyond his plate. Dinner had come and gone; however not much had been said in the past hour. Once her thin patience ran over its last minute, Snow put her fork down. "Alright what is going on? I haven't heard much of anything from any of you tonight."

"Nothing that can be helped, I'm afraid," Killian answered solemnly.

"Oh honestly," Snow rolled her eyes while putting her napkin down over her plate. "It's Christmas Eve and you all are acting like there's been a death in the family."

David nodded with a cautious smile. "Whatever it is, it can't be as bad as you all are making it out to be, can it?"

"Nothing is worse than having both my Swans angry with me," Killian looked up at the two girls on the other side of the table. Emma glared back only for a moment before stabbing another steamed carrot with her fork. Elizabeth did not even take the time to acknowledge his statement, keeping her icy narrowed gaze down at her plate.

David chuckled, "What have you done now, Jones?"

"Regina has requested an emergency shipment in case the storm proves worse than predicted."

"The storm coming in next week?"

"Aye," Killian's gaze lingered on Emma. "I've got my duties, my responsibility to uphold. As First Captain, venturing to the Queen's kingdom falls under my charge. It would not be honorable to delay the shipment for personal affairs."

"But it's Christmas," Snow looked up at him bewildered. "It isn't fair of her to ask you to leave your family tomorrow. The storm won't be coming for another week and her kingdom is only a two-day sail."

David sighed at his wife before turning to Killian. "Leaving tomorrow won't be necessary. Snow can send a bird to Regina with a letter explaining my personal order of your delay."

"It's a storm, David," Killian frowned. "While I agree I do not look forward to spending Christmas night on the black waters alone, it can't be helped. People need the essentials to get by and I don't intend on keeping them waiting by my own accord."

Elizabeth stabbed her roast beef with her fork hard enough to scratch the surface of her plate. She silently shoved the cut meat in her mouth without giving her father so much as a single look. Emma frowned, at first contemplating whether there was anything she could say though she knew nothing would calm her daughter's raging nerves.

"Oh come now, love," Killian spoke softly to Elizabeth. "I wouldn't have you looking so grim while I am here with you all to celebrate. I'll still be here in the morning."

"Yeah for what, an hour? I know you; you'll want to leave the house early at ten to look over the Roger for a third time," Elizabeth muttered after swallowing down her food. "This isn't fair."

Emma rested a hand over Elizabeth's shoulder. "Lizzie, we've already talked about this...-"

"Oh don't tell me you're taking his side now," she snapped at Emma. "You don't have to lie just because everyone else is here."

"Don't you talk to your mother in that tone," Killian growled, silencing her daughter's rage back down to sizzling silence. She glared up at her father before looking back down to her plate.

The family exchanged uncomfortable glances between Killian and Elizabeth before the grace of the doorbell broke the silence in the room. One of the house workers let themselves into the dining area. "A Miss Bell is here to see you, sir," he spoke stiffly.