King David and Queen Snow stood with a small assembly on the shore to see Captain Jones off on his first privateer voyage – charting new seas and new lands to the east.

"There you are Jones," David said, "Is your ship ready? The tide will be going soon."

"Aye, she's nearly ready. So I come to bid your Highnesses farewell." He bowed. Every bit the straight-laced naval officer - he was even in the blue and white navy uniform.

"We still haven't heard your decision on your prize. A pirate like you – I thought you'd be haggling me for more." David teased, Killian wasn't a pirate anymore though, he was a privateer, big difference.

Killian laughed. "No, Your Magesty. I've made my choice. But I thought show it to you just before I sail -Pomp and circumstance and all that – It'd be boring if I just said, 'Oh, I've decided on that somesuch thing' The prize will be the last piece of cargo brought aboard the ship."

David nodded, "Sounds ceremonial enough."

"Best of luck Captain," said Snow, " And," she spoke earnestly, "thank you for bringing our daughter back to us. Both of them actually. "

David missed the conspiratorial smirks that passed between his wife and the privateer.

"Well your husband would have taken my head off if I had come back with only one of them."

"Where is Emma?" asked Snow, looking around. "She can't still be packing."

Killian decided now was the best time to make his exit. "I'll go tend to the final preparing my ship. I'm sure she'll be here soon."

Stroke of luck, Emma arrived on the scene just after Killian reached the end of the pier where the Jolly Roger sat moored. He hissed to Mr. Smee, "Smee? Is all prepared?"

"Aye cap'n. The ship is ready to go. But if we don't go soon we'll lose the tide and it'll be hours before we can get out to open sea."

"I know. Just have all hands ready to cast off the minute I'm on board. Got it?"

"Aye, aye sir."

Hook turned. Emma was walking across the beach towards her parents, but changed her trajectory as when she saw Hook on the pier. Perfect.

Hook thought a little slower than necessary. Emma was lured about three quarters down the pier when they met. He gave her his best dashing rapscallion grin. "Come to kiss me goodbye, love?"

Emma smiled at his quip – she had heard a million others like it before from him. "You wish buddy."

"Well, a man can try."

They stood facing each other. Was she thinking about their awkward parting the other night?

She wore her tunic, pants, and boots again. "No regalia?" He asked, " I thought you were going on princess' bridal journey? Doesn't that merit something a little more fashionable?" Always the flourishing hand, the hook near his belt.

"The carriage ride take two days – If I have to ride down a bumpy road for two days, I'm going to be comfortable."

"Ah yes, the beginning of the journey may be bumpy- but the rest should be …smooth sailing."

Emma smiled at his nautical metaphor. She wished she didn't have to say goodbye – the thought of this being their last meeting for perhaps years tugged painfully at her chest, and even when they did meet again – it wouldn't be the same. She'd be married, a queen, stuck in Valemon's kingdom and he would be a privateer sailing the seas without a care in the world. Would he ever think back on her, in that life?

Hook wanted to get her farther out onto the pier. "Care to come say good bye to the Jolly?"

"That's ok." She knew that seeing the old ship, would hit her heart hard with nostaligia. She changed the subject. "You gonna tell me what reward you chose? Tell me you didn't pick the never-ending wine cup."

"I can't tell you that Swan." He chided," I haven't even told your father my decision yet. It's supposed to be a surprise. I'm going to show it off to that little assembly there as I sail by." He gestured to where the king, queen, and entourage sat.

Emma took a step back. "Well I guess I'll have to go join them if –"

"Swan- wait!" He caught her arm, arresting her backwards progress. He smiled at her, and took a sauntering step forward, "I suppose, since we've been partners so long, I could let you in on what my little prize is." He put in smoothly.

Emma crossed her arms. "So, what is it?"

Hook pulled her closer, far closer than was strictly necessary as there was hardly anyone in hearing range of their voices. A bit of her hair tickled his nose when he leaned in, he paused briefly and then whispered low into her ear-

"You."

"Wha-" Emma started to say, starting to pull her head away, but she gave a yelp half a second later as Killian Jones leaned down, hooked right arm around her knees, threw her over his shoulder, and ran like heck down the pier towards the Jolly Roger. Emma bouncing over this shoulder with his length strides.

It was a matter of seconds before he had lept aboard calling out, "Cast off boys! Captain and cargo aboard!"

"Hook! Hook! This isn't funny put me down!" Emma squirmed, but Killian held tight.

When David saw the pirate, no privateer, no pirate, leaping onto his ship with Emma over his shoulder. It didn't take him long to figure out that this was an abduction. "Jones!" he yelled sprinting for the pier. But the Jolly was already pulling away from it's end, David had no choice but to run along the beach parallel to the Jolly's course. "Jones! What are you doing?"

The pirate turned, spreading his free arm magnanimously, bowing to David while keeping Emma hung over his shoulder. He called out, "Thank you your Magesty for your generosity! I am truly humbled! Not the most traditional way of the father giving away the bride, but never fear – I'll take good care of her!",

"Jones! Bring her back this instant or so help me I'll…" But the grin on the pirate's face told David that there would be no turning back for the Jolly Roger. "And thank you for your warm send off!"

David made a sound of frustration. He turned to one of his guards. "How soon can we get a boat to go after him?"

The guard swallowed, "None of our faster boats are here- we'd miss the tide before we could get any of them out…and anyway, he just took our best captain."

"Jones! Put. Me. Down. Now. Jones! Do you hear me? Are you crazy? I'm not your prize. Put me down! Said Emma still kicking. "What are you-"

"A moment, my dear." He said, he was using his hook to pick away at the seam that held the sole of her left boot on, successfully removing little dagger hidden there, just in case. Of course from their adventures he knew that she had it hidden there.

"Hey! That's mine!" she protested. 'Hook put me down r-"

"If the lady insists. " he said, putting her down and just as quickly pushing her towards his first mate. "Secure the cargo Mr. Smee. I must go to my cabin and dress for the occasion."

Night feel soon – but lanterns lit up the Jolly Roger all around. It was a bright spot on the vast open sea. The crew were having a party. Plenty of rum, games, and sea shanty singing. Captain Hook had his desk chair brought up from his cabin and placed on the higher deck. Back all his pirate leather glory, (the red vest for a more festive occasion) he sat there, for all the world like the pirate king surveying his little floating kingdom with pride. He sang out uproariously with the rest of them, laughing, toasting, and grinning away at the princess that he had kidnapped – who was sitting in the midst of it , bound to mast -the "secured cargo", and looking none too happy. Her threats fell on deaf ears – actually, they seemed to rather amuse the pirate.

The sea shanty ended, glasses were drained, and Captain Hook stood up raising his hand to give a speech. "My loyal crew of….privateers. " Chuckles abounded. "Thank you for being here tonight to join me on this fresh adventure and to celebrate the acquisition of this most fine prize." Emma harrumphed as Hook raised his glass to her and the pirates, privateers, whatever, drank. She was more annoyed than actually angry – having known Jones long enough to know he didn't mean her any harm. But she was worried – what about the contract, the threat of war on her kingdom? All those innocent lives! Not to mention being restrained by a rope that pinned her arms to her sides and held her to the mast made her quite uncomfortable. The least they could do was offer her a drink. Not that she'd accept it anyway – not from her celebrating kidnappers. She had to sit there fuming until Jones finally got around to explaining himself – and it had better be good.

Emma was not known for her patience. "Had enough fun Hook? Cut me loose." she called over to him.

"Ah, but you make such a lovely mast ornament. Doesn't she lads?" He smirked walking down the stairs and over to her, not wanting to end the game just yet. The pirates laughed as only pirates can. Still pirates. Definitely still pirates.

"Jones, I swear –"

"Yes, of that I'm sure, " he said, standing right infront of her now. "But save the vows for the actual wedding, darling"

Emma's jaw dropped – what?

"A ship's captain is one of the few men who can perform his own wedding" he commented to his crew, " Lucky me!" More pirate cheers.

"What? If you think that –"Emma sputtered. The pirate couldn't be serious. She was engaged to someone else! Surely David's granting him a prize didn't merit…

"Mrs. Jones…," the captain mused, using his hook to play with her hair," I rather like the sound of that."

He couldn't be serious. Emma quashed down the secret part of her wished that he was.

"Now," said the pirate captain, a little more business like" We must make preparations for the wedding! If you'll follow me my love." He slashed the ropes with his sword and took her arm – leading her to his cabin. Laughter and pirate voices followed them all the way down, but were muffled when Hook closed the hatch and suddenly winced when Emma punched him harm hard on the arm.

"Ouch. Bloody – "

"Are you insane?!" she asked. Now that they were alone she had every intention of venting her anger on him. "Do you have any idea what this will do to my family? The kingdom? You are so-"

"Love, I can explain."

"Oh really? Because this had better be good. I've have a mind to cut off your other hand."

Hook walked over to his desk and opened on of the drawers, "I know you're angry Swan. Perhaps even as angry as I was last night. But you haven't tried to kill me because this is just the same as what would have happened had you stayed home. Trapped on a carriage by a contract rather than trapped on a ship in the middle of the ocean."

"But my family-", still shouting

"Will be fine Swan. Look here." He pulled a familiar piece of paper out of his desk. The old marriage contract – signed by two kings, a prince, and a pirate turned privateer.

"How did you – "

"My prize Swan. " He said. "I took your, ah, former fiancé down to the treasury last night. And gave him his choice of any treasure in there in exchange for this…and …everything that comes with it." He wiggled his eyebrows at her at the last part.

"But-"

"Turns out he didn't relish the idea of a forced marriage either. Although he does have fine taste in astronomy equipment."

"W-What about the merger?"

"He has a guarantee that your two kingdoms will continue to do trade – but he doesn't want a divided marriage to rule a larger kingdom."

Emma stared at Killian openmouthed. She didn't have to marry Valemon? Was is true? Could she trust Hook that this was real?

"You can trust me, love." He said, sensing her thoughts. "And I won't have you marry me unless you want to. " He held up the contract. "This abomination is going to be tied to a rock and dropped in the ocean. It won't bother you again. I know how much you hate having your choices taken away from you Swan. And so this one is yours - if you wish it I will turn my ship around this minute to bring you home, or, you could stay. The choice is all yours love. And I will abide by it- whatever it is. But I will make a suggestion."

He took a deep breath, coming around the desk, to look her in the eye. "From the first day I met you and you attacked my ship I knew that you were different from any other woman I had ever met. You let me go that day – but I had no idea how completely you would steal my heart. I love you Emma Swan. More than I've loved ever loved anything or anyone. I don't have much, not a kingdom or a crown- This choice was the best that I could give you. And Emma, love, it's yours. Completely."

He had gotten down on one knee on the cabin floor, pulled a small silver ring with a small sapphire on it from his pocket and held it up, speaking in complete sincerity and soberness," Emma Swan, will you marry me?"

Emma's heart was going a mile a minute. She looked into those blue eyes, and saw no lie. No deceit. And it unlocked the feelings deep inside her that she had been shutting out for so long. Feelings for him. The way he smiled. The way he laughed. Complimented her. Protected her. His humility. His bravado. The way he had thrown himself into danger beside her time and time again, supporting her so many times. How he loved her. Made her feel alive. And now, how he had saved her from a terrible fate.

"Yes." She said in an exhale.

Slowly, surely, and reverentially he slid the ring onto her finger. It sparkled there. Perfect. As if it had been made for her hand. He pulled himself to his feet, cradled her face and kissed her slowly, tenderly, with all the love in his heart. A perfect moment.

When they broke apart, Emma giggled and threw her arms around him. He laughed with pure joy and spun her around several times before kissing her again enthusiastically. He lost himself in the kiss, reveling in his newfound ability to hold her so close. He would love her till his final breath. He was hers – completely. And now she was to be his. His. It was as if he was trying to express the depth of his emotion through that one kiss – if that were possible.

"My parents!" she said suddenly, breaking the kiss. "They-"

"I took the liberty of informing your mother before-hand of my plan. I even asked her permission to marry you. Your father…well, I couldn't resist seeing his face when I carried you off. I'm sure she explained everything to him."

He leaned in to kiss her again but she pushed him back. "Speaking of which," Emma said, a slight tease to her voice, " if you're so fond of letting me make my own decisions – why the cloak and dagger? Carrying me off? Timing it so my family couldn't follow? And the mast, Jones?"

Killian chuckled, brushing her nose with his, the corners of his mouth turning up, looking teasingly down into her eyes, "Never could resist a bit of dramatics. And I was pretty sure you'd forgive me."

Emma gaped, That cocky… , he knew her too well.

He stole another kiss, just in case she was having second thoughts about forgiving him, and then a few more, and held her close. Reveling in the moment. His cheek resting against her forehead. They had a perfect, few quiet moments before Killian broke the silence.

"Love?" he murmured not opening his eyes just yet.

"Hmm?"

His eyes peeked open. "As much as I've enjoyed being your fiancé for the last few minutes – I've never believed in long engagements." He pulled away to look at her. "So I'm going to go out on deck and make the necessary preparations while you get dressed."

"Dressed? You mean-"

Killian grinned roguishly. "I may have bribed one of your maids into packing your wedding dress and some of your belongings onto the ship last night."

Emma's eyes darted to the trunk sitting against the wall that she only now recognized as her own. She smiled at his audacity. "You didn't – you didn't look at it did you?"

"Of course not love, " he said, kissing her on the forehead before heading for the ladder up to the deck, "Couldn't bring bad luck down on myself the night before I planned to steal away my bride!"

Emma bit her lip – excited, thrilled. Before she started to get ready.

Killian sighed and made his way to the middle of the ship where sat the archway of flowers that Snow White had suggested he "borrow" from the palace for the occasion.

"Nervous cap'n?" asked one of his crew, seeing him take a draft from his rum flask.

"I'm not nervous – just impatient."

"No offense cap'n, but you deserve it. You made her wait a few hours before telling her what was going on."

True. Killian made his way to the hatch that led down to the captains quarters and banged on it with his fist. "You ready yet?"

"Normally I'd have, like, six maids to help me on with this thing and do my hair," her voice came through the hatch, " This is the only time I plan on getting married, so forgive me if I want to look presentable. "

"I don't care what you look like, I want you to get up here and become my wife!" Ooo, 'wife'. He might have a new favorite word.

"Ten more minutes! I promise!"

Ten minutes. Ten minutes torture. He could do that right?

"I'll make it up to you. But this is my wedding too, you know."

"Ah, when you say you'll 'make it up to me' –"

"Do not finish that sentence Hook. Just go be a good groom and stand nervously by the altar."

He sighed. He could never deny her anything (unless he was in the action of abducting her from marrying another man). "As you wish, my love."

The story of Princess Emma's abduction and marriage to the privateer, pirate, whatever term you prefer to use, became Killian Jones' favorite to tell – with Emma on his arm making comments and amendments the whole way through. It was the first story that their children could remember hearing from their parents, told at every social function by someone, it caused David's face to resemble Grumpy's for the first two years before he told it with as much laughter as anyone else, Prince Valemon told it with surprising clarity and diction the night he met the love of his life, and it caused many kings and queens across the Enchanted forest to ban their daughters from the piers of any harbor they came across, and to amend whenever they offered rewards to any of their friends, servants, or privateers that the offer did not include their daughter's hand.

Shelllee24, EuphoriaLily, SolemnlySwearToManageMischief, Colinodonewithyou, SomethingNewDarling, and Guest – thank you for your reviews! You can still review now that the story is over, btw – I won't complain.