Chapter 1:

~Who are you, in the night as dark as your leather coat?~

"Life is very interesting… in the end, some of your greatest pains, become your greatest strengths." - Drew Barrymore

Emma looked out at the tree's and fallen leaves. She didn't understand fall, but she knew that it was her favorite season. Something about watching a leaf turn orange, and red was beautiful to her. Often whenever she got to leave the palace she would stare out of her window and watch the leaves fall, and hit the ground like a new born bird learning how to fly. Emma rested her arms on her elbows as she watched a flock of geese fly south. It was that time of the month, where it got cold and the birds left to be warm. She silently urged the tiniest bird follwoing the flock to keep flying, to not give up. She lowered her head a bit and found the Dark One's Castle. It was pure marbel, but easy to break into. The Dark One didn't have to worry about that though, no one dared defy him. Not even his own son, not really. Emma closed her eyes and thought about Neal's happy but terrified face when she told him she might be pregnant. She was three days late, and decided that she shouldn't wate any longer.

Now she had to tell him that she wasn't really pregnant. She could picture his crushed face, but also his relieved face. She didn't know which one she would recieve, or which one she wanted to recieve. She was only 23 and she didn't want to have a kid yet, especially with someone who might not want to have one with her. She knew that Neal loved her, but she didn't trust him much as she should. Nervously she twirled her engagement ring around her finger. Slowly she slipped it off and stared at it. She loved Neal, but she wasn't really ready to have a future with him. At 23 all she wanted to do was go riding in the forest, and have a real sword fight with some guy who wouldn't stop staring at her ass. Snow and Charming wouldn't let her go into town without two heavily trained guards. Emma sat up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her hair was up in a ponytail, that her father hated. He always said it was too "provacative", but Emma liked it. She was young and a princess, the way she saw it she wasn't really getting any opportunity to tempt anyone anyway, so what did it matter.

"Princess, we're here." Kevin, opened the door and stepped aside so that Emma could come out of of the carrige. Emma hadn;t even realized the carrige had stopped, but she smiled and took Kevin's hand as he led her down the stair lift. Her pink ( Snow's choice ) visiting dress carresed the ground behind her as she made her way over to Neal and Rumple who stood side by side. Emma took Neal's arm and they all turned towards the castle. Rumple didn't even eye her warily first. They led her to the main room close to the entrance. Rumple slowly bowed and kissed her hand before taking his leave. Neal turned to her and she saw the concern in his eyes. "Are you...?" He started but Emma shook her head. "Nope," she reached over to him and took his hand. "But hey, I'm sure it'll happen soon, ok? I know how much you want a kid." If someone asked her why she said that, she wouldn't be able to deny that it was becase she wanted to see how he'd react. Neal beamed at her and took her in his arms. "I love you Emma, and I promise I would take care of that baby like my life depended on it. Which, I'm sure it does." Shocked she looked up at him. "You'd really want to have a kid with me."

"Emma, of course I would. I love you. All of you." Neal said, and he glanced up at the grandfather clock on the wall. "I'm sorry Emma, Rumple actually has a meeting with Regina right about now, and you know she hates you. I don't want her to hurt you, so..." Emma smiled and got on her tip toes and planted a quick kiss to Neal's lips. "I get it. I'll go...and I love you too Neal." Emma didn't know if she meant the words, but she knew she cared for him, now all she had to do was shape that into love. Emma told Neal to let her escort herself, so he did. Emma with a sigh ignored Kevin's offered hand and ploped down in the carrige softly. Emma leaned back and looked out at the Dark One's Castle. Neal told Emma he loved her, and she said it back. Did she mean it? Does she really love him? Emma closed her eyes and sighed.

The fact that she doubted it, probably meant that she didn't. It didn't actually matter how she felt for Neal. What mattered was that she was with Neal to keep Rumple from hurtung her parents Kingdom. She didn't have to love to protect her people, all she had to do was decide. Emma jumped as the carriage went over a large bump and then halted to a stop. Confused, Emma glanced out the window and waited for someone to appear and tell her what happend. No one ever did. Caustiously, Emma got up and opened the carriage door. She glanced around looking for Kevin. "Kevin!" she called out into the fading sunset. Kevin didn't answer. Now scared, Emma jumped down from the carriage and looked around. She found herself eye to eye with a tall man in a viking mask. Emma held up her hands and glanced around for Kevin, or anybody. "I don't have any money, sorry." she said as he took a step towards her. She knew that the only thing vikings wanted was land and money. "Oh, little Princess that's not what I want." he snapped his fingers and Emma found a white cloth being held to her mouth. Before she knew it the world around her was growing dark.

Emma woke curled up in a ball in a wooden cage covered in a blue cloth. Slowly she stood, confused. Her head hurt as she tried to see through the cloth unsucsessfuly. She glanced down and found that she was wearing a black British Riding Habit, and her hair was down. "Hey!" she screamed and grasped the wooden bars. She heard a small scuffle to her right and turned her head instinctivly towards the sound. A seconds later the cloth was removed and the hot sun beamed down on her. She yelped and moved her arm to cover the sunlight from her eyes. She looked out in front of her to find crowds and crowds of people staring at her, muttering silently. "One Princess, extremely useful for sales, work you need done, getting money from the King and Queen, maybe even the Evil Queen." Emma turned to the person talking and laughed. The person talking stoped and looked at her. "For exactly six gold coins!" they said and one hand shot up. "I'll take her." A rough voice came from in the crowd. Emma's eyes landed on the most handome man she had ever seen. Blue peircing eyes focused on her, a light beard, and...a hook. Emma's eyes fell to the hook on his left hand. Startled Emma's eyes narrowed as the man walked to the front of the stage and handed whoever just sold me for six gold coins.

Emma watched the man with the hook open her cage door and motion for her to exit, but she just stood there looking at him with narrowed eyes. "Who are you?" she asked, and he laughed. A sound that sent a flutter through her stomach. "I'll tell you that when you leave that cage." Emma just crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow. "Who are you?" she asked again, and startled at this defiancy he raised his eyebrow and then grinned. "Fine, love. I'm Killian Jones, but most people like to call me Hook. Now come on, she's waiting for us." Emma glanced around her at the village she was in. It was obviously a viking village. She thought about staying here versus going with Killian. Going with Killian won. Slighly irritated that she now had to trust the famous pirate with a hook for a hand, she truged out of the cage and didnt hide her shock when Killian handed her a sword. At her hesitation his eyebrows raised. "You do know how to use one right?" Emma scoffed and took the sword. "Of course, don't take me for an idiot pirate." she said and followed after Killian who was already moving.

He led her to the harbor and a huge ship. Killian spread his arms wide and beamed. "Here she is, my pride and joy, The Jolly Roger!" Emma looked over at the ship. She didn't actually think it was that great, but she wasn't rude enough to say it. Emma turned to the pirate and placed her hand on her hip. "What do you want with me Hook? Why did you buy me?" she asked and he turned to her, lowing his arms to his side. "That, love, is something we will come to when we get there." Killian winked at her and leads Emma on his ship. He introduced her to his crew, but didn't tell them her last name is Swan. Emma's guess, he dosen't want them to know who she is. Killian called the stubly man in a red hat over to him and tells him something. The man stumbled over to Emma and bowed quickly. "I'm Smee, it's not everyday I see a beautiful woman on this ship." Killian elbowed him and Smee shook his head. "Anyway, I've been asked to show you to your quarters."

Emma collapsed on her new bed and stared up at the wooden ceiling. In what she thought was less than 24 hours she got captured and sold by vikings to the famous Killian Jones, who won't reveal the meaning for buying her. 'Was she going to be trapped in this room until she was of use?' she asked herself. She didn't know, and she wished she knew why Hook wanted her. People were going to look for her, and Emma didn't understand why she would be worth dealing with all of that. She closed her eyes and tried to figure out why Hook was so famous. He was known for having his hand cut off by Rumplestiltskin, maybe he wanted revenge for his hand, but how did Emma fit into that? Emma sighed and got up. She was in some clothes from the other world now. A tank top and pj pants, and they were slightly embarassing to wear in public, but she liked the attention. Emma wanted to know why she was wanted so badly that it would be worth running from the King and Queen's. Lots of people would have my head for money if they knew who she was.

A knock comes from the door which Emma thought led to a closet. Killian's figure appeared in the room and Emma crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Why are you here?" she asked loudly, with narrowed eyes. "To tell you that we've set sail, and also my room is on the other side of this door, so don't even think of trying anthing, becase I can hear every word. Ok then, night." He started to turn but Emma crossed the room and layed her hand on his arm. "Wait." She said and he stopped. "Why did you buy me?" Emma asked and dread rose in her stomach in fear of his answer. Killian smiled and leaned foreward. "If you want me to stay, just ask." Emma's eyes went wide and she practically shoved him back in his room. She slammed the door and sank to the floor. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail and pulled her legs to her chest. She was amazed she could still curl up like a cat. Emma's eyes filled with tears. She wanted to be home, in her mothers warm embrace. She wanted to watch her parents argue about whether or not she should be learning how to use a sword. She wanted to be held by someone. She wanted someone to tell her that she'd make it home, but no one was there to do that. So Emma cried her way to sleep.

At somepoint in the night Killian opened the door conecting they're rooms and saw her on the ground. Gently, Killian lifted her up and set her on her bed. Instantly she embraced the pillow and pulled it to her. Killian ignored the smile tugging at his lips at the sight. He'd heard her crying softly, and wanted to do something, but he doubted that he was trusted enough for anything with her yet. Right now, he was the guy who bought her and refused to tell her why. "I'm sorry Emma," he whispered softly and stroked her loose hair with her hand. "But I can't tell you why I have you right now, just that I'm the ass that's keeping you from your family." Killian pulled his hand away from her hair and retreated silently back into his room. Killian closed his eyes and pressed his back againt the door. She didn't remember him.

Thanks for reading this XOXO! It was hard, and I'm sure there are a few mistakes, but I did it! *brohighfive*! Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! More to come~ just hang on for the ride and the wait ;). OXOOXOXOXOXOXOOXXXXXOXOOXOXOOXO