Killian Jones stared at his brother in disbelief. "You never said I had to dress up, you just said dance." He gave the fancy suit with shiny silver waistcoat and white blouse with ruffled cuffs an equal look of disbelief. They were attending the Princess' Birthday Ball, it's not every day two ordinary Navy officers get invited to a royal ball but Liam had rescued the young prince when he fell from the docks into the water nearly drowning till Liam jumped in and saved him like the hero he was... After that the king and queen had insisted they attend the ball as thank you. Liam of course would attend in his dress uniform but Killian only 16 and not yet in the Navy, Would wear a suit.

Liam laughed, "Of course you have to dress up. You have to make an impression on the King and Queen. You'll embarrass the whole Navy if you dress like a slob and dance like a goon."

Killian scowled." I don't dance like a goon. "His scowl deepened and a hint of red blushed his cheeks and the tips of his ears while his older brother laughed at him. Killian streaked a hand through his long black hair that was tied at the nape of his neck with a brown strip of leather and cursed. "I thought he bloody Navy was about sailing not dancing." He scoffed. His black hair was thick and usually unruly even when tied back his blue eyes were the color of the sea that they sail upon day after day and the cause of many female broken hearts port after port. Their mother had told him as a lad that he had a face to make the Angels weep.

At seventeen Killian thought he knew it all had girls sighing over him everywhere they went Liam like to remind him that someday he would find his match a girl that was not fooled by his good looks and charm. And boy did he have the charm. Liam thought he must've inherited it from his father. He just hoped that Killian used it for far better reasons than their father.

"The Navy is about so much more than sailing, Brother. Sailing is just a part of it. We also serve and protect the royal family and," Liam drew the word out to assure that his brother listened to him. Well to assure you do not embarrass me or the Navy I am going to teach you to dance. Just pretend I'm a girl. Maybe the princess I hear she is a beauty. Long golden locks big green eyes tall for her age. Perhaps you can woo her with your charm and angelic looks."

"Bugger off." Killian punched Liam in the shoulder and Liam feigned injury laughing at his little brother before taking a dance position. Killian glanced all around to be sure no one was looking before hesitantly stepping closer to his brother he stood just close enough to Liam to touch his hand.

"The first rule of dancing is to pick a partner who knows what they are doing." Liam stated as he attempted to move around the deck with his baby brother.

Liam jerked him closer "You can't bloody well dance with a princess standing six feet away from her." He scolded the younger man. Killian was nearly five years his junior but it was enough of an age gap that made Liam protective of his brother especially since they were all each other had in this world. They shared a bond that never could be ignored. "One-Two-Three, One-Two-Three…" Liam counted off a beat and moved around the deck of the Jewel with Killian while absently humming a waltz. Half way through Killian had stopped stepping on his toes and was gracefully following Liam through the waltz. "Killy at this rate you would make a fine gentle lady. Take the lead let's see you become the man, Lead the princess or every other woman in the room across the floor in such a fluid movement that other men will be jealous and their wives envious, Brother."

Killian stumbled through taking the lead lacking confidence at first, but by the time they were done Killian had gracefully stepped up to take the lead.

"See not a goon insight, Liam." Killian stated boastfully about his dancing skills.

Liam grinned and clapped his brother's shoulder. "Aye, let's just get you dressed before you make any other comments about not being a goon."

"Oh Emma!" Snow White exclaimed tearing up slightly, "You look beautiful." She grasped both of Emma's hands urging her to turn. "You're so grown up, my baby is growing up." Snow brushed tears off her face. David, Emma's father walked over pulled the small woman in his arms and looked at his daughter with tears brimming in his own eyes.

"Emma, you are beautiful." He leaned forward and cupped the back of her neck kissing her forehead. Emma smiled and rolled her eyes at her sappy parents.

"You guys act like you're it's my wedding not my 14th birthday. Come on, please don't embarrass me." Her mother's tears dried up instantly.

"Embarrass you? The thought never crossed our mind." Snow winked at her husband and left Emma to roll her eyes again.

Emma turned to look at her reflection in the mirror while her parents and several other guests were announced. She would be last as her mother insisted she make an entrance. She brushed invisible lint from the front of her dress as an excuse to feel the soft fabric again. The green fabric sported a slight off the shoulder design and flowing sheer sleeves that featured a slit up the forearm the full skirt was made up of layers of sheer fabric over a green silk underskirt. The bodice had a gold lace design that sparkled in the candlelight of the room.

"Presenting Her Royal Highness Princess Emma of Misthaven" the caller announced. Emma gathered her skirts and rushed to the curtain as it was pulled back for her Entrance. She walked through to stand next to her father and looked out over the crowd that had gathered. In the very front were a Navy officer and a younger man appearing to be around 16. He was handsome standing at the base of the stairs.

The King and Queen made their departure down the stairs to the ballroom and Emma hastily followed gracefully descending the stairs then the young man looked up and Met her eyes Incredible blue eyes met Her green eyes and she tilted her back with a gasp. Everyone had bowed but him. He smirked at her. She watched him as he finally dropped to a mocking bow. She was watching him as she walked down the stairs and didn't realize that she had missed a step until she felt herself falling forward.

Killian looked up as the princess glided down the stairs and he felt her watching him he looked up and met her eyes she was beautiful and she was falling he instantly held out both arms catching her as fell right into his arms. She was a mall soft handful and his face turned bright read when he realized that his hand was cupping her small round breast and his other arm was slid intimately against her backside. He quickly set her on her feet and she stared at him in surprise for what seemed like a long time. Luckily everyone was still bowed and only she and he knew what had happened. She walked away as everyone stood she glanced back at him and smiled at how the tips of his ears had turned bright red. Not only was he gorgeous he was adorable as well.

Emma danced with suitor after suitor and while she dance with a young man from a neighboring kingdom, she glanced over the shoulder of the boy she couldn't remember his name Felix? No, Gregory. No Randolph, and found a pair of blue eyes watching her form across the room and she jerked her head away suddenly ramming the young suitor in the nose. Emma jerked away suddenly as he grabbed his nose and stared at her with disdain. "Randolph I'm so sorry."

"Albert." He said rubbing the bridge of his nose grateful it wasn't bleeding.

"What?" Emma asked.

"My name is Albert, not Randolph. I believe I will allow you a leave Your Highness. I would care for some punch."

"Oh… umm, here I'll help you." Emma reached out for his arm and he jerked it away with a curt no thank you. Emma sighed and looked up where her parents stood. Her father smiled clearly entertained and her mother did not look happy. Feeling the urge to flee Emma ran from the ballroom and to the garden where she dropped to a bench.

Killian watched the exchange and once her parents were otherwise distracted he slipped out the door to where the princess sat. Her head was bent and he shoulders were shaking Killian quietly cleared his throat and offered her his handkerchief. The princess lifted her head and looked at him. He felt a smile cross his lips when he noticed she was laughing not crying. "Quite the show, Your Highness," Killian stated softly.

"Oh dear, poor Albert, I can't believe that happened." Emma bit her lip to help contain the laughter. But it didn't work and soon she was laughing so hard she had to sit to keep from falling. Killian smiled and sat down beside her forgetting everything his brother had taught him that day about royalty and not being too familiar.

"You looked like you would rather be anywhere but dancing with the pimply faced kid."

"Ugh, I just hate all the formality of these things I love dancing but I hate being forced to dance with suitors. My parents insist I marry for love not to better our Kingdom. But I would rather just go run barefoot in a field of wildflowers or race my Horse, Buttercup far and wide and just be free."

Killian looked at her he was certain she shouldn't be sitting in the garden at night alone with a strange man she didn't know. But she was so engaging her blonde hair was all done up in a fancy braid that ran down her back with gold ribbons entwined into it and the shoulders were mostly bare. She was absolutely the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

"I'm Killian, Killian Jones. MY brother Liam and I were invited by your father."

"Yes I know," Emma laughed at his scowl. "I'm Emma."

"Yes, I know," he said causing her to bite her lip again a smile dimpling in her cheek.

"I recognized your brother before I fell at you. Sorry about that by the way."

He raised one eyebrow and tilted his head "Quite all right Luv, I've never had a woman throw herself at me before."

Emma cursed her fair skin as she felt heat creep up to blush her cheeks. "I'm sure" She said with a smile.

"Aren't princesses supposed to be graceful?"

"I'm no ordinary princess. Haven't you heard? I'm the savior. I'm supposed to save the world." She said it with a hint of sarcasm and Killian felt his lips twitch. He liked her.

"Could be worse," Killian d

"What do you mean?" Emma asked.

"I have to live up to my brother, He saved your youngest brother from drowning yesterday which is how I ended up in a suit and tie I would rather burn than wear, instead of sailing the sea like he said we would be two days ago."

"My family is very grateful to your brother for saving Leo. He's too wild He never should have been anywhere near the docks. But regardless I am glad your brother saved my brother. After all if he hadn't you never would be here at the ball and I would've fallen flat on my face. I would've been the laughing stock of the ball, my birthday ball."

"Happy Birthday Your Highness," Killian said standing to bow formally he blew it with the scowl Emma couldn't help but laugh. She stood and grabbed his hands.

"Dance with me." She demanded.

"As you wish, Your Highness." Killian pulled her into a waltz and just as he had earlier that day with Liam he led her around the garden in a graceful waltz. They danced to the music wafting out of the terrace doors of the castle. Killian held her hand in his and rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. He stared into her eyes and she stared into his and they both forgot the garden bench they had been sitting on just fifteen minutes earlier.

They forgot about it until Emma tripped over it sending them both crashing to the grass. Emma sat in the grass and dropped her head back looking up at the stars. I love the stars it's like a whole different universe up there waiting for someone to discover it. My father gave me a book on constellations two years ago I've read it a hundred times and still I can't figure it out. "She said staring up at the stars. Her hair had come loose in few spots and Killian watched the wistful look on her face and the carefree joy on her face as she laughed. He had never been in love so he had nothing to compare it to but she was pretty sure he had fallen when she fell into his arms.

Emma felt him staring at her and turned her head to face him. She saw the look in his eyes, She was fourteen now. She knew what it meant when her heart beat quickened and she felt butterflies in her stomach. She leaned forward to him.

"Emma!" Her mother cried out. Surely she did not see her daughter sitting in the grass in a ball gown, (how does one even sit on the ground in a ball gown? She wondered) almost kissing the sixteen year old brother of the dashing Navy Lieutenant. Both children jumped apart as if they were shot. The young man surged to his feet immediately bowing. Emma slowly gained her feet and giggled.

Snow sighed, it could be worse. "Emma, I will see you and Mr. Jones inside within the next five minutes or I will send your father out here. " She turned and walked to the castle with a sinking feeling that this was not going to be the last time her daughter would get caught kissing a young man. She remembered a few certain young men in her past and a few other stolen kisses before her stepmother sent her out to be killed.

Emma turned to Killian. I have to go but I hope I'll see you again. "She rose up on her toes to kiss his cheek and as she was lowering back to her feet he caught her lips with his for a sweet kiss filled with innocence and first love.

"I leave tomorrow with Liam at dawn, I don't know when I'll be back but I'll never forget you."

Emma smiled at him and he smiled back they walked to the castle hands entwined and fingers laced together the strings of first love playing in their hearts.

The Jewel of the realm departed promptly at dawn the next day. Emma and the King were on deck to see them off. Killian approached Emma and the king and bowed. "Might I speak to the princess, Your Majesty?" David looked at the eagerness in his daughter's eyes and bit back a groan, but alas he consented who was he to stand in the way of first love?

Killian tucked Emma's hand into the crook of his arm as they strolled a few inches from her father and his brother, two overprotective guardians. He stopped at the bow of the boat and turned Emma toward him, "Emma, I have to go with Liam, but I'll return as soon as I can. I hope to see you when I return. Get to know you, so I may be allowed to court you. If you want me to that is…" Killian looked hopeful.

"Of course I want that, but I'll miss you." Emma looked at him under her lashes. "Can I write to you?"

"Aye lass, but how?" Killian asked. Emma smiled and pointed to a cloth covered cage.

"This is a messenger pigeon, my mother trains them. Send me a letter just tie it to the bird's leg. He will find me and I write back because he will find you."

"Thank you, Emma." Killian watched as a thin tear slid down her cheek. He wanted to kiss her and hold her and make her tears go away but he couldn't. It wasn't appropriate he was just a sailor not even a member of the Royal Navy yet. One more year and he would be. Then he would almost be worthy enough to court the princess.

He held her hands and looked into her eyes conveying a million words with one long look. Emma reached up her toes and placed a soft kiss on his lips then wrapped her arms around him in a hard hug. "Come back to me" she whispered in his ear.

David glared at the scene and cleared his throat loudly. Emma looking properly chastised returned to where he awaited. Her blue morning gown and Navy cloak kept the chill off her but nothing would take the look of love from her eyes. He groaned aloud this time. Fourteen, she was fourteen what did she know about love at fourteen? Looking at her tears falling down her cheeks and the torn look on the young man's face made him sigh. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her tight to his side. He placed a tender kiss on her temple. They watched the ship pull away from the docks and he thought though she may be growing up, she would always be his baby.