Chapter Text
Princess Emma was only 5 years old when she met her true love, though she did not know it.
Dave Jones had requested an audience with King David and Queen Snow not long after Emma's birthday. He was a fair haired blue eyed naval captain with two young boys, one about 12 and the other 6. The eldest son was fair haired with a strong willed demeanor, standing upright like his father when he and his brother were ushered into the throne room. The younger son was a raven haired mischief maker who clung tightly to his father's pant leg, intimidated by the large palace.
When they halted in front of the king and queen, Dave bowed low as did his eldest son.
“King David, Queen Snow,” Dave acknowledged, “I come before you bearing great plight.”
The royals glanced at each other, curious as to why he sought an audience with them. Young Princess Emma sat between them on her smaller throne, squirming in her seat, itching to go play.
King David spoke to their subject in what only could be described as his booming royal voice, “Captain Dave Jones, we will hear your plight and do what we can to ease it.”
Dave nodded, and gestured beside him, “May I introduce my sons, Liam and Killian Jones?”
Emma chose that moment to shriek and point at the youngest son as she hopped up from her tiny throne, “Boy!”
Queen Snow was startled by her daughter's outburst, and tried to grasp at her as Emma darted forward, “Emma!” she exclaimed.
But the princess paid no mind as she ran forward, her giggles trailing behind her. When young Killian Jones saw that a girl was headed straight for him, he did what any sensible six year old boy would do, he ran in the other direction.
The royals watched in half horror, half amusement as their only daughter gave chase to the only child her age that she had seen in several months.
Dave Jones tried to stop his son from running about, but was stopped by a chuckle from the king and a giggle from the queen.
Queen Snow spoke, watching her daughter dart about the throne room after the boy, “I apologize for my daughter, Captain. She's very spirited, and it would seem, today, very restless.”
Dave bowed his head, “Tis fine with me your highnesses, though it is my sons I come to you about.”
Queen Snow nodded, bidding him to continue.
“My wife has recently died, your Grace, and I fear for my boys and their upbringing. My life is pledged to captain the vessel you have given me. However I wish to ask your permission to take my boys with me, taking them on as my cabin boys,” he pleaded.
The monarchs exchanged a look, and Queen Snow sent a nod to her husband.
David replied, “We understand the pain of loosing a mother, Captain, and we also know the importance of a young boy to have his father. We will allow you to take young Liam aboard your vessel to teach him the ways of sailing. Should he prove useful and worthy, he may rise in the ranks throughout the years.”
Dave bowed his head, “Thank you, your majesty. But what of young Killian?” His head turned to watch his youngest son play with the young princess, still darting about.
Emma giggled as she chased Killian behind both her parents thrones, the boy trying desperately to hide from the girl.
King David then leaned forward to catch his daughter fast by her waist, to set her upon his lap, holding her firm against her protesting wiggles.
Dave motioned sternly for Killian to return to his side, to which the young boy obeyed.
The king then spoke, “Unfortunately, we can't allow a boy so young to be present on our naval vessels. We believe that is not the safest place for someone almost as young as our daughter. As parents ourselves, we simply could not let this happen.”
Dave looked about desperately, hugging Killian to his side, “But there must be some way...”
The queen smiled gently at the sea captain, “If you would allow us, we would be glad to take Killian in, and instruct him until he is old enough to venture out on the seas.”
Dave's eyes lit up, “You...you would do that for my son?”
The King smiled and nodded,, still expending effort to keep his daughter from squirming out of his lap, “Indeed. He seems a bright boy, and my daughter seems to have taken a liking to him. We would be glad to give him instruction.”
“But what would he learn?” asked the sea captain.
Snow beamed, “He would learn how to cook and clean, learn how to fight from our knights. And when you are in port, you and Liam will always be welcome here at the castle.”
Dave Jones hugged Killian to him tightly, grabbing Liam and hugging him just as tightly.
“Yes. Your majesties are truly kind and generous rulers. Thank you for helping me with my sons,” he told them, looking up from hugging his sons.
And so it was for three years.
Killian Jones spent most of his days following servants around, learning how to do small tasks. The rest of them was spent running from the excitable princess whenever she caught sight of him. He tugged on her blonde braids to get her off him every time she tackled him to the ground. He spent a fair amount of time with his elder brother when he was left behind on more dangerous missions their father went on. While Killian learned to clean and cook, Liam was taught swordplay and the knight's code.
He shared a bedroom with the princess, much to his dismay. He was horrified to be surrounded by so many frills, thinking that if he were to destroy any of them, surely the king and queen would turn him out. Not to mention, Emma was terrible about leaving her dresses and toys everywhere.
Killian and Emma played together often after he was earnestly convinced she didn't have cooties. They were often found wrestling, playing house, climbing the ground's trees. She shared secrets with him, and he killed the monsters in their closet.
They were read to often. Most nights before bed, when they were nestled in their beds. Often in the library, where they also learned to read together. He always preferred tales of true love, always adoring when he could convince David and Snow to recount how they fell in love. She preferred tales of freedom and adventure (and though she would never admit it, love as well).
When she got them into trouble, Emma was surprisingly protective of Killian. She always took the blame, regardless of whether or not it was her fault. Most of the time when he tried to take credit, she stomped on his foot in order to cut him off. King David and Queen Snow often had to bite back laughter at their daughter's antics and spirited defense of Killian.
It was the autumn of when Emma first turned eight when they were first separated. Emma was to be sent to the neighboring kingdom of her pseudo Aunt Ariel and Uncle Eric to receive princess lessons. It was the hardest goodbye she ever had to give to her best friend, and many tears were shed before she got on the Jewel with Liam and Dave. When Emma wrote to her parents, she always carefully didn't ask about Killian. They, however, always saw her unspoken question, and was sure to mention Killian's progress around the castle.
When Emma returned, she was ten years old. She greeted her parents as she stepped off the ship, happily snuggling into their embrace. When they released her, it was a nonstop torrent of everything she had learned. When she slowed her chattering halfway to the castle, she demanded to know everything that had gone on in her absence. Her parents told her that she would soon start archery and swordplay practice with them. Emma was extremely pleased. So much so that as soon as she got to the castle she immediately hunted for Killian.
When she found him, his back was turned, and was covered in flour. She immediately hugged him from behind.
When he tensed beneath her hands, she only snuggled closer, “Killian! I'm home!”
He firmly squirmed out of her grasp to look at her properly.
“Hello, princess,” he said stiffly.
Emma raised a brow, “Is there something wrong?”
Killian's jaw ticked, “No, princess.”
She tapped her foot impatiently, “You only call me princess when we're in trouble. What's wrong.”
His expression turned sulky when he realized that he couldn't hide much from Emma, “Liam teased me while you were gone.”
Her eyebrows knit in confusion, “Whatever for?”
He looked anywhere but her, “Said I liked you. And the other boys tease me about you too.”
“But....you do like me. Don't you?” Emma asked.
Killian's eyes widened in horror, “NO! No I don't! You're obnoxious and mean. You always chase me around and get me in trouble,” his expression turned into a sneer. “Besides, princess, you're a girl.”
“And what's that got to do with anything?” Emma demanded.
Killian scoffed, “All the boys know that girls are gross!”
Emma's jaw dropped in surprise.
Her expression turned dangerous, “You...you...you are going to pay for that Killian Jones!”
Always astute, Killian turned tail and ran.
Emma gave chase through the castle, intent on knocking sense into him. Killian thought that finally he had grown enough that his lanky legs would give him some advantage over Emma's shorter stature. However, his hopes were dashed when he saw how easily Emma kept up with him, charging after him like some deranged bull.
She finally caught him after he ran into the throne room and collided with King David on his way in. He glanced off of David's chest and was tackled to the ground by an angry princess.
“How dare you say girls are gross!” Emma screeched, punctuating every word with a punch.
He caught her wrists and began wrestling her for control of the situation.
“Get off me!” he yelled.
“Take it back!” Emma screamed.
Snow and David looked at each other then leaped into the situation.
Snow stood Emma up, after pealing her off Killian, pinning her arms firmly behind her back. Emma fought back of course, her legs kicked high, trying to get in another shot to Killian's chest.
David had put Killian in a half nelson, surprised as he fought back as well.
“What is going on?!” David yelled over the two children.
“He said girls are gross!” Emma spat.
“They are!” Killian yelled back, still struggling against David's grasp.
Emma fought back against her mother's tightening hold, “How dare you! Girls are much cleaner than boys anyways.”
“Girls are mean!”
“Boys are stupid!”
“Girls are annoying!”
“Boys are self absorbed!”
Snow caught David's eye above the still struggling children and smiled wryly. Her expression was mirrored on her husband's face.
“Alright,” Snow said after a minute. “You two need to apologize to each other. Emma, you are going to apologize to Killian for punching him when I release you. You are going to do this with the grace and poise of a princess, because a princess recognizes her mistakes. Am I understood?”
She became limp in her mother's grasp, knowing that her tone brooked no argument. Her head bowed and tossed away from Killian and her father in front of her. She pursed her lips, not intending to answer.
Snow shook her in her grasp and said warningly, “Emma.”
“Fine.”
She was released and she flexed her shoulders, a hand reaching up to massage her neck tendon. When she was done getting comfortable, she finally pinned Killian with a glare. She noticed with a fury that he had become limp as well, fixing her with a satisfied smirk.
Emma bowed low and spoke in her most princess-y voice she could muster, “My humblest apologies to you, dear Killian. It is my hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
David then took his queue from Snow and said to Killian in a stern tone, “And you, my boy, are going to accept her apology. Then you are going to apologize for what you said and kiss her hand. Because that's good form. Understand?”
Killian responded much the same way Emma had, avoiding looking at Emma's now smug look.
“Killian!” David said sharply.
“Yes, King David,” Killian replied sullenly.
David released Killian and shoved him towards Emma.
He refused to look at her when he said, “Apology accepted, princess. I also apologize for hurting your feelings.”
Emma stuck her hand out imperiously, expecting a gentle kiss on her hand.
He gulped in response and grabbed her hand and mashed his lips onto her fingers. He made a show of wiping his mouth on his sleeve afterwards.
David rolled his eyes and put his arm around Killian's slight shoulders, “Come on, boy. It's time for you to start your practice with the knights. You've been in the kitchen long enough.”
Emma stuck her tongue out at him as he left with her father.
Her mother sighed and told her, “It's a good thing I had plans to start your archery practice today. Come on, Emma. Let's get started.”