Gideon finds them both with their ears pressed to the heavy wooden door leading to the Queen’s office. Emma’s hand is wrapped around Leo’s mouth – he tried to lick it, to which she answers with a zap of magic that’d made him yelped, and then they’d spent thirty full seconds arguing silently. They’re both quite now, and Gideon just stares at them.
“What are you doing?” he asks, startling both siblings at the same time.
They shush him, and Leo waves for him to move closer. Gideon does so with a frown, obviously still confused as to why they are acting in such a way. As far as Emma remembers, her mother’s office has always been opened to the both of them, both because their mother has nothing to hide and because she believes in learning through observing. Emma has sat through many a diplomatic meeting in this office, drinking in her mother’s every word, every action while talking to foreign dignitaries.
“Killian’s inside,” Leo whispers.
Three simple words, but more than enough for Gideon’s eyes to widen and for him to move closer immediately, and to press his ear against the door too. Emma’s birthday was only a few days ago, and the castle is back to its peaceful self now. She kept Killian’s proposal secret for an entire two days before the urge to tell Alexandra was too strong, and soon both Leo and Gideon were in the know too. They have been eagerly waiting for Killian to finally find the nerve to ask for a private audience with the queen.
It is more about decorum and traditions than anything else, Emma knows – especially since her lady mother hand-picked Killian herself, introducing him to Emma and letting destiny do the rest. He doesn’t need anyone’s permission but Emma’s to ask for he hand, yet a meeting with the queen was in order. Emma loves how proper and old-fashioned he can be at time, making him all the more endearing in her eyes.
“You all look ridiculous,” comes a voice to their left.
It All Starts With a Dance 