a/n: Well, I *did* say it would be half a year before I posted the Unmistaken sequel! If you haven't read that yet, I highly recommend it before digging into this one (it's just a one-shot — it's quick and fluffy, I promise!) I'm going to be aiming for updates every couple of weeks from now through the hiatus. Because the world can never have enough Lieutenant Duckling. Not ever.

Princess Emma, first of her name, heir to the throne of her kingdom, and only child of their royal majesties Queen Snow White and King James, bit her lip and grinned as she looked out from her balcony to the city and harbour below. There was a treaty signing this week between her kingdom and the Southern Isles and the castle had been bustling for days in preparation for the event. While several of her kingdom's ships were docked in the harbour, it was a Southern Isles brig that had captured her attention.

Almost a year and a half ago, the night before her 21st birthday, Emma had snuck out of the castle using a powerful glamour charm to disguise both her voice and appearance. It was a feat she'd perfected over the years on days when her heart wanted more than could be found within the castle walls. That particular night, however, she'd met Lieutenant Killian Jones. At the time he'd been serving under his brother aboard the Jewel of the Realm but now he had returned as captain of that vessel. Both Killian and his brother Liam — now captain of the Nautica — had come to act as ambassadors on behalf of their king and ratify a mutual protection and trade treaty that would strengthen ties between the two kingdoms.

She couldn't wait to see him again. The Jones brothers had been specifically requested for this mission, and Emma knew that underneath all the business of trade deals, protection from piracy, and free ports there was one part of the treaty which allowed for officers in good standing to immigrate and maintain their rank in their new kingdom's military. Over the past year she'd been more involved in the treaty process than she normally was, even begging her parents to let her go to the Southern Isles as ambassador to finalize the negotiations, but it was that one clause that all her hopes hinged on. It meant that if he still wanted to — if he still wanted her — he could stay.

Emma knew that he was concerned with how their courtship would appear were he to rely solely on the favour of her parents. Despite turning down a promotion previously in order to continue sailing with his brother, Killian had taken the rank of captain almost immediately upon returning to his kingdom. The treaty was designed for his rank to transfer automatically and hopefully reduce the amount of court gossip — at least in terms of his standing. He didn't want for her parents to give him command of a ship simply because of her.

The treaty clause was one small thing that she could give him in return for all he'd have to give up in order to court her. He'd be leaving his brother, after all, and the life that he had built for himself in the Southern Isles. If she hadn't been a princess — if she'd simply been the "Lady Swan" he addressed his letters to — she'd have gone with him in a heartbeat. They'd known each other for so short a time… but he was the only one outside her family who was able to see through the magic of the glamour charm. The strength of his love for her was the only explanation they'd been able to come up with for how that was even possible. Their meeting had been a near-disaster at first, but once they'd cleared through the confusion the rest of time she'd been able to spend with him had her smiling again just at the memory of it.

Emma would be going to the docks with her father in the morning to officially greet their guests but she knew where Killian would be tonight if his duties afforded him the opportunity to come ashore. They'd first met at The Unlucky Oyster, a lively dockside tavern with nightly music, and that was exactly where she intended to go tonight. While they hadn't arranged such a meeting in their last correspondence, she knew with every fibre of her being that that was where he'd go. The chance to spend time with him free from gossip and protocol was simply too rare to pass up.

Not wanting the company of a chaperone, Emma hadn't asked her parents for permission but she had to assume they knew she'd sneak into the city as soon as her schedule was clear. She was already dressed in a plain, simple dress and brown cloak and had the glamour charm's delicate silver circle and accompanying chain fastened securely around her neck. So long as the necklace was touching her skin, she was safe from being recognized as the princess.

Except by the one person she most wanted to see.

Climbing over the edge of the balcony, Emma caught hold of the nearest tree limb and swung herself up into the canopy. It had stopped raining about an hour ago, but the branches were still slick and she prayed it wouldn't freeze overnight and make her return more difficult. She climbed down cautiously, her feet landing softly in the castle's main courtyard. It was quiet at this time of night, but the castle never fully slept and there were always workers moving in and out of the various servant gates. Slipping through one of them relatively unnoticed, Emma quickly made her way across the bridge and into the city.

Killian sat next to his brother, back against the tavern wall, silently cursing the men who stood blocking his view of the door. The night was cool — moisture hanging in the air from rain earlier and vestiges of winter that kept their grip on the city and refused to completely give way to spring. As a result, most of The Unlucky Oyster's patrons had opted to stay indoors rather than spill out into the small square adjacent the tavern. The lack of space made it infinitely harder to watch for if she came through the door.

His last voyage to the Enchanted Forest had resulted in two weeks of flirtation and whispered promises (to write each time he made port, to never go a day without thinking of her) with the kingdom's crown princess and now he was mere hours from seeing her again. They'd gotten into port earlier in the day and word had come down that the king and his daughter would greet both crews at the docks first thing the next morning to extend an official welcome and invitation to a royal ball. Yet the knowledge that he'd see her the next day, that he'd have the chance to dance with her again, did absolutely nothing to quell his hopes of seeing her sooner.

The tavern was where they'd first met, before he'd known she was the princess. He kept telling himself that he didn't want her to sneak out as she had that night. He wanted her safe more than anything… but he'd not turn down any chance the gods gave him of seeing her. There had been no sign of her yet, however, and he hadn't even told her where he'd be. Groaning, Killian leaned his head back against the wall and fiddled with the handle of his drink.

Beside him, Liam chuckled. "You'll see her on the morrow, little brother."

"Younger brother," he correct automatically, though with little fervour.

"Aye aye, Captain Younger Brother. Do try not to frown into your drink overmuch, this may well be the last time the Jones brothers celebrate a successful voyage together."

Liam wasn't wrong on that front. It was widely expected that the elder Jones would be raised from captain of the Nautica to the rank of admiral upon returning to the Southern Isles, and given what Killian knew of the treaty arrangements (as well as his own intentions towards Princess Emma), it was entirely likely that he would not be accompanying the Jewel of the Realm on its return voyage. Though he and Liam hadn't sailed together since his brother had been given command of the Nautica and Killian had taken over as captain of the Jewel, it was strange to consider that they could soon be serving different — if allied — kingdoms.

A flash of gold on the edge of his vision made him sit up straight, angling his head to try and get a better view. The woman who'd caught his eye was on the far side of the room with her back to him, apparently speaking with the bartender.

Each night for the past seventeen months, Killian had tried to conjure a mental image of the princess before sleep so that she might grace his dreams. Now, the mere chance that she may be here made his breath catch in his throat. Just as he was debating going over and possibly making a fool of himself, she turned slightly, allowing him to see her profile. Killian grinned; he'd not forget her face for the world.

"Excuse me, brother. There's someone I need to go see."

"She's here?" Liam leaned over to try and get a view. "She doesn't look the same as last time."

"It changes periodically, I think," he answered, already moving around the table.

Behind him, his brother snorted. "I will never bloody get used to this."

Killian ignored him, focusing his attention instead on not losing track of her as he made his way among the other tables and bar patrons. He didn't think she had seen him yet, and he took the chance to adjust his collar and run a hand through his hair, suddenly regretting that he hadn't put more care into his appearance before disembarking. He was almost close enough to be heard above the crowd when she turned his way and he delighted in the way her face lit up when she caught sight of him. Killian closed the distance between them as quickly as he could and for a long moment they simply stood in each other's presence.

"I was hoping you'd be here," he said, more breathless than his pride would have liked.

Emma blushed with a smile. "So was I."

Killian took her hand in his, lifting it gently to his lips and pressing a lingering kiss to her knuckles. She held his gaze, and instead of drawing her hand away as he straightened, she moved it to his cheek and closed the space between them.

Gods, but he'd been dreaming about her mouth. They'd stolen numerous kisses before he'd left and the closer they'd gotten to the Jewel's departure the harder he'd tried to memorize the feel of her lips on his. More than once in the intervening months the memory of her face, the feel of her lips, and the softness of her skin had made him take himself in hand and he struggled to clamp down on the stirring in his groin that their renewed intimacy brought on.

Pulling back, Killian brushed his thumb along the dent in her chin, tracing the edge of her lower lip. "You are even more beautiful than I remember."

"You're not so bad yourself. Captain looks good on you." She cocked her head to the side, fingers toying with the hair at the base of his scalp. "You cut your hair."

"Aye," he said, resisting the urge to scratch behind his ear. Liam had told him point blank upon his promotion that captains did not have ponytails and he'd agreed to let his brother cut it that same day. It was a mistake he'd not make again — his hair had come out lopsided and too short and he'd not taken his hat off for months.

"I like it." There was another pause and then she laughed, taking both of his hands in hers. "I feel as though there's so much to talk about that I don't even know where to begin."

"How about a re-introduction?"

They both turned as an older woman approached and he noticed the way that Emma's shoulders fell before she drew herself back up. It was obvious she knew the newcomer, and Killian was fairly certain that he recognized her from the castle. Like the princess, she was dressed in deceptively simple clothes, though her chestnut hair was mostly hidden by an ornate red cloak.

Beside him, Emma sighed. "Killian, this is my godmother, Lady 'Red' Lucas. Aunt Red, this is Captain Killian Jones."

He opened his mouth to greet her but Emma cut him off, turning back to her godmother. "Have you come to drag me home?"

Red gave a wide smile. "Yes. But now that I'm here, I think I'll have a drink first. Should I get us a table?"

"We have one, actually," he said, stepping in to point over to where Liam was still sitting. "My brother is just over there."

"Wonderful."

Killian placed his hand on the small of Emma's back and they both watched as their newly designated chaperone walked straight over and introduced herself to Liam.

"I thought your parents were the only other ones who could see you."

"They are. Red… smells me." His brows pinched together in confusion and she glanced up at him with a shrug. "It's complicated."

"I get the feeling a great many things about you are."

Emma gave a sad smile. "Not everything, though."

He smiled back, fingers brushing the chain of her glamour charm as he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Emma slipped her arm into his and together they walked over to join Liam and her godmother.

Emma should have guessed that they'd send Aunt Red after her. Rumplestiltskin's magic kept her from being recognized based off of her voice or appearance but it had never extended to her scent and it didn't need to be a full moon for her aunt to be able to track her through the city.

She considered it a small mercy that she hadn't brought Grumpy with her.

Thankfully, it didn't seem like she had too much to complain about. Red would never embarrass her in front of the brothers, and she and Liam seemed to get along well. Emma smiled and leaned into Killian, tucking herself into his side as his arm settled around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

It was amazing how easily they fit together. It was also everything she could have hoped for. They'd had only weeks together following her 21st birthday, but had already picked up right where they'd left off. While it would have been wonderful to sneak off as they had the night they'd met, she'd known that both the bad weather and the presence of his brother would make it unlikely. It didn't matter — they would have plenty of time together during the week. What mattered was that he was here, and they were together, and she could still taste him on her lips even after drinking almost a full pint of the tavern's finest brew.

Wrapping both hands around her tankard of cream ale, Emma pulled her attention back to the story Liam was telling of the journey from the Southern Isles. It had taken them over a week longer to make the trip this time — the Nautica was large and impressive, but it lacked the Jewel of the Realm's speed.

"He may be an admiral, but his lordship was much relieved when we were able to skirt the edge of the storm. I don't think he's much one for lengthy sea voyages."

She blinked, certain she had missed something in the conversation. "I'm sorry, who?"

"My little brother didn't tell you about our special guest?"

Killian frowned. "There was hardly time to send a letter before our leaving, brother. No ships were headed this way that would have arrived ahead of us."

"What special guest? I don't understand," she pushed, ignoring Killian's protest. A sinking feeling was settling in her stomach that she knew had nothing to do with the ale.

"Prince Hans, our king's youngest son."

"Why?" she sputtered.

Red shot her a look and Killian's lips twitched, but it was Liam who answered. "To sign the treaty on behalf of his father, of course. And presumably also attempt to win your heart."

Emma rolled her eyes in frustration and took a deep breath, forcing the air out sharply through her nose. King Anders Westergaard III was known for his seemingly endless supply of sons. On their first trip to the Enchanted Forest, Liam had delivered a missive from the king proposing a match between her and any one of his unmarried heirs. Her parents, thankfully, had sent the captain back with a letter explaining that they would neither force their daughter into an arranged marriage, nor send her on a lengthy and potentially dangerous sea journey to meet the princes. Emma had thought that would be the end of it. Both of her parents knew about Killian, after all, and they hadn't pushed her to accept any suitors during the time he'd been gone.

Apparently, she'd been wrong and there was one more prince to contend with before she could be free.

Next to her, Killian was frowning and picking at something stuck to the table. She reached for his hand, giving it a quick squeeze. He squeezed back immediately but didn't raise his eyes.

Emma sighed and stared into the bottom of her nearly empty tankard. She wanted him to know that Prince Hans wouldn't change anything. Or at least, not anything that mattered. So what if she would have to be polite and courteous to his lordship during the week? If she couldn't be open about her feelings for Killian just yet? It would happen soon enough if he decided to stay and be with her.

"I think I'm going to need another drink."