A/N Hey! Welcome to my new story! I'm super excited about this, and I've got a lot of new ideas spinning around in my head just waiting to get out. So in this chapter, there's a ball. Pretty exciting way to start a fic, am I right? Anyway, I may or may not have gotten some inspiration from the live action Cinderella for it...shh, don't tell. It's alright, you should like it. Anyway, enjoy. As always, thanks for reading and feel free to leave a review.

Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon A Time, its characters, storyline, etc.

Emma didn't quite understand what the big deal was. Sure, this was her 'coming out' ball, but it wasn't like she was going to meet her future husband at the ball.

She was fully aware that her status made trusting people extremely difficult. She never really knew if someone actually liked her or simply befriended her because of her title, and this wasn't something that she enjoyed trying to figure out. Yes, she did have the uncanny ability to detect when someone was lying, but that was only for specific things that people said, rather than entire relationships.

So when her mother and father, King and Queen of the White Kingdom, were running around frantically trying to perfect simply everything, Emma couldn't help but roll her eyes at their insanity. "Is this entirely necessary?" She asked before she could stop herself.

Her mother stopped dead in her tracks. "Emma," Her tone was one of warning. "You know how important this ball is. Almost every eligible bachelor in the realm will be here tonight," Snow reminded her.

"Your mother is right," Charming agreed.

"Now, it's time for you to get ready. We will see you in a few hours, okay?" Emma only nodded at her mother, trying not to think about the hours that she was about to spend preparing for the ball. She sighed, picking up her skirts and heading up to her rooms without saying another word.

~CS~

Emma stood in her chambers, staring at herself in the mirror. She couldn't help it, she just looked so different. Her cheeks were rosier, her hair off her shoulders in a neat and elegant bun, and the bright red of her dress made the gold in her hair shine even more. She took a deep breath, at least as deeply as she could in a corset like this one, before thanking Sophie, her handmaiden, and exiting her room.

For this particular ball, Emma would enter unaccompanied, something that she did not really enjoy. Mostly, because this meant that she would have to choose someone for the first dance, someone she probably did not know or like. She tried not to shudder at that.

"Ready?" Her mother asked as they prepared for their grand entrance.

Emma nodded. "As I'll ever be," She mumbled.

Her parents went first and she followed behind shortly after. She pretended to acknowledge the mass of onlookers, though all she really did was look at the tops of their heads, a trick her mother had taught her to soothe her nerves.

With time to mingle before having to choose her dance partner, she accompanied her mother for lack of a better option. She ignored the turned heads and hopeful looks coming from those around her. Though many of her potential suitors looked as though they wanted to approach her, they did not, and decided to keep their distance. Afterall, it was customary for the princess herself to pick her dance partner.

Bored of the discussion her mother was having, Emma excused herself and moved to join into the conversation her father had already started with a captain from their navy. "Ah, Emma." Her father greeted her. "This is Captain Liam Jones of our navy."

"Your Royal Highness, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The captain bowed humbly, before taking her hand and placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles. She bowed her head in acknowledgement.

"Yours as well, Captain Jones."

The King clapped a hand on Liam's shoulder. "Don't you have a brother, Jones? He's your lieutenant, I believe?"

"You must be referring to my little brother, Killian."

"I believe you mean younger, Liam." The voice that came from behind the captain belonged to a tall man with dark, messy hair. When Emma saw him, it was almost as if all the air in the room was sucked out. His eyes were a deep blue like the sea, and when they met hers, he bowed immediately. He took her hand just as his brother did. "I am Lieutenant Killian Jones, Your Highness."

It took her a moment, but she found her voice. "It is lovely to meet you, Lieutenant."

He straightened himself, releasing her hand. "Believe me, Princess, the pleasure is all mine." And then she was lost in his eyes, and she swore right then and there that she would never see anything more beautiful in her life than him.

"Emma?" Her father pulled her from Killian's gaze. "Have you found your dance partner yet? It's time,"

"Um," She looked back at the lieutenant. "I don't suppose that you know how to waltz, Lieutenant Jones?"

"Actually, I can waltz very well, Your Highness." He paused. "If I may say so myself,"

"Would you be so kind as to accept my offer to join me in the first dance of the evening?" She asked boldly.

"I would be honored, Princess." She smiled at his authenticity. Even lords and knights often danced with her simply because it was expected, not because they wanted to, as it seemed Lieutenant Jones did. She took the arm he had offered her and allowed him to lead the way.

They made their way to the center of the ballroom, and waited for the announcement. When it came, saying that it was officially time for the first dance of the evening, Emma and Killian prepared for the music. It began not a moment later, and they moved together smoothly. His hand on the small of her back made her a bit too excited as they began to twirl around the floor.

"You dance quite well, Lieutenant." Emma complimented. She swore that she almost saw him blush.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I'd prefer if you would call me Killian, however."

"Only," She paused. "If you call me Emma."

"I couldn't-"

"If you must, at least refer to me as such when it is just us," She compromised. "Sometimes, I fear that my real name is 'Your Highness' or 'Princess'. It is comforting to be called by my own name every once in awhile." She saw a flicker of something in his eye, something like sympathy.

"As you wish, Emma." This made her smile.

They continued to move with the music, no longer two separate people but one single entity. Together, things felt unmistakably right.

The dance seemed to fill her with a life that she didn't know was inside of her, a passion she had never seen before. It was over far quicker than either of them preferred. When the dance ended, they were both slightly breathless, staring at each other even as others filled in around them, the next dance beginning.

"I am in need of some air. Would you care to escort me to the balconies?"

He nodded. "Of course, Emma."

The night air was cool around them, and the fresh darkness had already begun to reveal a few stars. Emma released his arm and stepped to the edge of the balcony, resting her arms on the stone that kept her from the rest of the world. She looked up to the stars above her, closing her eyes as the wind created a pleasant breeze that cooled her features. She was already starting to get hot in her dress, and it was only the beginning of the ball.

She felt Killian move to stand beside her, looking up to examine the stars as well. "I love the stars." She murmured.

"Aye," He nodded. "So beautiful," Though when he said this, he was no longer looking at the stars, but at Emma. When she met his gaze, she was glad that the darkness hid her blush. "I am intrigued, Your Hi-Emma," He corrected himself immediately. "You don't seem all too pleased to be here, at this ball."

She sighed, breathing in the fresh air. "No, I am afraid that I don't typically like balls such as these," His silence encouraged her to continue. "It is...a challenge to meet so many people. To act as Princess for such an extended period of time, to dismiss suitors and determine who is simply talking to me because I am Princess of the White Kingdom." She said, but felt as though she was coming off as ungrateful. "Do not mistaken me, I know that I am lucky to be in such a position, but a life like this is...lonely." She added. "There are few that I can trust, and I do not jump to do so." She finished.

"I can only imagine," He whispered, the sympathy returning.

"But enough about me," She said quickly. "How long are you docked for?"

"Until your father sends us away," He told her. "He said it would be at least a month, so I am unsure." He paused for a moment. "I hope it is not too forward of me to say this, Emma, but I wish to see you again before we depart."

"That is not too forward of you, Killian." She assured. "I would enjoy it immensely if I could see you again."

"I'm afraid I should find my way back to my brother, I fear that he may come searching." Killian laughed lightheartedly.

"Of course. I think I will appreciate the stars a bit longer."

"Then I bid you farewell, my Princess," He took her hand once more, placing a kiss on her knuckles as he did before. "If you wish, Emma, find me before the ball comes to a close. I would be happy to join you in another dance."

"I will, Lieutenant. Tell your brother that I am sorry that I've kept you so long,"

"Of course, Emma, though I believe that he will understand the reason for my absence." And with a smile, he was gone, leaving Emma and her thoughts with only the stars as company.