"What are you doing here," demanded Emma. She grabbed Killian's hand, not only as an act of defiance, but as a source of comfort.

"I was checking up on my son's fiancé, and it looks as if I made a wise decision by doing so," said Rumple.

Killian stepped forward and pulled Emma behind him. "Dark One, if you have no further business here, I must kindly ask you to leave the ship."

Rumple laughed. "How very brave," he said, "the lieutenant would do anything to protect his Princess."

"I would," said Killian.

"How touching, I wasn't aware that the Princess's heart was held by someone else when she agreed to marry my son. It's a shame that "Twoo Wuv" has to be separated."

"Did you come just to mock us," asked Emma, from behind Killian's shoulder.

"No," said Rumple. "Quite the contrary. You see my son has little interest in marrying you. He is in love with a certain fairy. Now what does this have to do with you, you may ask? I'll tell you." The imp conjured a potion bottle.

"I have since run out of the True Love potion I made so many years ago. I'm looking to restock."

Emma blinked. "What can we do about that?"

"Isn't it obvious?" asked Rumple. I need a new, fresh source of True Love. It is the most powerful magic in all the realms. If you comply, I will release you from the engagement and you can be with your common lieutenant."

Emma nodded.

Rumple grinned a plucked a long blonde hair from Emma's head, and then with a little more force he took one from Killian. "Now let us see if this is potent enough to grant you your freedom." He dropped the hairs into the vial, and the blue potion began to glow, turning a bright shade of violet, flecked with gold.

"Ah, it is even more potent than that of your parents. Congratulations, Princess. It seems that the two of you have bested your parents."

Emma smiled at Killian and gripped his hand tighter. "So, this is all you need?"

"Indeed it is," said Rumple, pocketing the vial. "But be warned. True Love must be fought for. Your journey to your happy ending will not be easy, but you may rest assured that for the time being, you, nor your kingdom, are not in debt to the Dark One."

"Thank you," said Emma.

Rumple bowed, "Believe me, dearie, I am the one who should be thanking you. Goodbye." Then he disappeared in a black puff of smoke.

Emma and Killian stared at each other for a long moment, breathing each other in.

"We're free," said Emma, and then she was kissing him like she had never kissed him before. When she pulled away, she did not let go, but remained there, pressed against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"Emma," he said, his lips ghosting across her forehead. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Killian," whispered Emma into his chest.

"Now we have to face your parents," said Killian.

"They already love you, Killian, and once we tell them what happened with Rumple they will not stand in our way. No one believes in True Love more than my parents."

"I'm still only a simple Navy Officer," said Killian.

"No. You are so much more than that," she said. "You are a man of honor. You are brave and selfless. You are the man that I love. Besides, my father was a shepherd and my mother was a bandit. But look at them now, King and Queen of a thriving and prosperous kingdom."

"Your words mean the world to me, my love," said Killian.

"You mean the world to me," said Emma.

"You should get some rest," he said, stroking her hair as Emma sighed against his chest.

"I'm not sleepy," she said.

"Liar," he shot back.

"I want to stay here with you, Killian," said Emma.

"We have all the time in the world, my love," he said. "You rest and I will wake Liam and some of the crew. We will turn this ship around and set a course for home."

"Home," said Emma, with a smile.

"Home," said Killian, kissing her lightly. "Sleep well, my princess."

Emma kissed him again before letting go. "Goodnight, Killian."

-/-

The Jewel of the Realm pulled back into port three days later. Snow White and Charming's castle could be seen in the distance from the dock.

Emma's heart leapt into her throat at the thought of bringing Killian home to her parents. She knew that they would approve of him, but she was still a bit nervous.

Liam had expressed his joy for the two of them aboard The Jewel. He clapped his brother on the shoulder. "Well, little brother, consider yourself lucky, for when you do propose, you can be assured of a positive response."

Emma grinned. "Unless he does something to upset me that day," she teased.

Liam grinned. "You are what Killian needs, Princess. Someone to get him to loosen up a bit. Someone that keeps him on his toes."

"I assure you, Captain, I will constantly keep him on his toes," said Emma, prodding Killian gently in the chest. "I'll even loosen the strings on his uniform."

Killian flushed at Emma's innuendo. He was still a proper lieutenant after all, though perhaps he was a bit less proper where Emma was concerned.

Liam grinned and embraced Emma.

"You've done well, Killian. I wish you luck for your audience with the King and Queen."

"Thank you, brother," said Killian, offering Emma his arm. "Shall we go, Your Highness?"

"I'd be honored, good sir," she said, taking his arm. "Thank you for everything, Captain."

"It was a pleasure to have you aboard, Princess."

-/-

"Snow, Charming," said Grumpy, coming into the throne room. "The Princess has returned to the kingdom."

"What?" asked Snow. "How is that possible?"

"Something happened on the voyage. "I just received word from the harbormaster that The Jewel of the Realm pulled into port this morning."

"Is she alright?"

"Yes, she is safe. I do not know anything more save for the fact that Lieutenant Jones is escorting her home as we speak."

"What does this mean?" asked Charming, after Grumpy bowed and left the room.

"It means that Emma wants a chance to find True Love," said Snow, with confidence. She had seen her daughter's reluctance to marry the son of the Dark One. She had also, on occasion, seen the longing glances between her daughter and the young lieutenant. There were some things that a mother just knew.

"Do you think it could be Jones?"

"Perhaps," said Snow. "They grew up together, and they understand each other. That's a pretty good start."

"That it is, Snow, that it is. I suppose we will just have to wait and see."

-/-

"Calm down, Killian," said Emma, squeezing his hand and kissing his cheek.

"But-"

Emma laid a finger on his lips. "Shh," said Emma. "Let's go see them. They will understand."

"As you wish," said Killian. He took a deep breath before allowing Emma to pull him into the throne room.

Emma ran into her mother and father's arms, and Killian smiled at the joyous family reunion.

Charming stepped away from his wife and daughter, only to offer his hand to Killian. "Thank you for bringing my daughter home safely, Lieutenant."

"It was a pleasure, your Majesty," said Killian with a low bow.

Snow smiled at the young man, and once again saw how he and her daughter were looking at each other. Something had changed between the two of them. They were gravitating towards each other.

"Emma, what has happened?" asked Snow.

"Rumplestiltskin released me from the engagement," said Emma.

"How is that possible," asked Charming, knowing better than most that no one broke deals with the Dark One.

"He came aboard The Jewel," said Emma, blushing slightly as she remembered what he had interrupted. "He said that Baelfire did not want to marry me either, so he offered me a deal."

Snow's eyes widened with worry, "Oh, Emma, what sort of deal did you make."

Emma understood where her mother was coming from. "It was nothing like that," she said quickly. "He said he was looking to make another True Love potion, and he agreed to release me from my engagement if what Lieutenant Jones and I had was strong enough to do the trick. He took hairs from our head and made a potion."

"And," said Charming and Snow expectantly.

"He said that our kingdom was released from his debt. He took the potion, thanked me, and disappeared."

"Well, Jones, my boy, it seems that you not only ensured the safety of my daughter, but that you won her heart in the process," said Charming, clapping him on the shoulder. "Welcome to the family, son."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. You give me great honor," said Killian.

Emma's eyes lit up as she looked between he parents and Killian. "You mean we have your blessing?"

Snow smiled warmly. "Of course," she said. "Your father and I would never stand in the way of True Love. We will organize a ball to make it all official." Her gaze turned to Killian, "And you will be promoted to Captain. You have served the kingdom, and this family well, Killian."

"Thank you, mother, father," said Emma, hugging both of her parents before moving to stand beside Killian.

"It is not every day that our daughter finds her True Love," said Snow.

"Now I'm sure Emma would like to rest. You may escort the Princess to her chambers, Jones. Then a carriage will take you back to the ship."

Killian smiled at the King and Queen. It meant the world to him that he had their blessing. Of course, he still had to officially propose, but there would be time for that later.

Emma and Killian left the throne room, ready to begin their lives and face their future.

Together.