The forest was alive with the chirping of crickets and owls. The pathway was lit by the full radiance of the white moonlight. Emma stumbled down the foliage-covered path towards the grounds where all of the royal families lodged. Her feet were blistering and sore from the four hours spent jammed in stilettos. Charming and Snow were still at the ball, of course, dancing away the minutes and hours as if it were all one great blur. To them it probably felt that way. Emma was just grateful that she packed a change of clothes so she wouldn't have to trek through the wilderness in her dress. If she had to look at another ball gown in the next week, she was sure she'd drown herself in the lake.
They had been at the retreat for a week now. Her parents got along great with the other monarchs that attended. The retreat was all the imp's doing, as was everything nowadays it seemed. He loved being the center of attention; the orchestrator of everyone's plans. It was no secret that Emma's dad couldn't stand Rumplestiltskin. Emma had no problem abiding by her father's wishes and avoiding the man, he was positively manic. Despite the obvious need not to piss him off by refusing his invitation for the summer retreat, Charming and Snow sincerely enjoyed the company of the other families. It wasn't just about appeasing Rumplestiltskin's ominous wish to attend his little summer get-together. The opportunity for all the powerful monarchs to spend a summer retreat together on peaceful terms just couldn't be passed off.
A harsh gust of wind blew right through her, nearly knocking her off balance. Emma shuddered back a chill and battled to keep walking. She had to get back to the cabin. It was also the only true escape from all the craziness.
Just as she rounded the corner that led towards the lodgings, Emma caught sight of a wavering figure up ahead. She kept her attention nervously fixed to the ground, though couldn't help but add a little pep in her step due to her curious nature. The man ahead of her was barely making any ground with whatever it was that he was carrying. Though he was tall and seemingly fit, Emma had a knack for spotting a guy in trouble. She hurried up ahead when it looked like the man was about to fall over and drop everything. "Hey," she shouted and reached out for a barrel. "You need help with that?"
Now that she could see him properly in the light, Emma recognized him to be none other than her waiter. "Jack," she muttered with shock. His full name was Jack Sparrow actually. He was Emma's age, eighteen, which made it even worse for her to try to converse with him. His dark brown hair was borderline shaggy. His blue eyes were hidden under the masking layer of black grease. Of course, he wasn't the most dangerous kid Emma had run into before, but he had enough of a reputation to go under the radar of a princess. There were many rogues, scoundrels and felons working at the retreat that summer. It seemed escaping a deal with Rumplestiltskin meant paying for it through other means.
"Aye," he nodded and gripped his arms around the single barrel. "No need to go through the trouble. Just leave it there. I'll come back for it."
"No," she shook her head, "it's not like I'm doing anything. I'll help you."
"I appreciate the sentiment, princess, but you aren't allowed where I'm headed. It's staff only."
"I'm helping you carry up a barrel of liquor, not crashing the party."
Jack nervously glanced up at the old stone mill ahead. The windows on the ground floor glowed from the warm lantern lights inside. From where they stood, the cheerful melody of the fiddle could be heard. Jack turned back and looked at her. "Alright but you can't speak a word about this, you understand?"
She nodded and secured her hold around the small barrel. As they walked up the path in silence, the music got louder and louder. Emma felt her heart begin to skip with the anticipation. Jack shot her one last amused look before turning and pushing the door open with his back.
Pirates, brothel whores, farm hands, and other lower class adolescents crowded what appeared to be a small pub. There was a band, or rather an informal group of boys, sitting in the corner of the room performing fiddles, drums, basses, and other string instruments that were foreign to Emma. Much to her surprise, there wasn't a sheet of music in front of them. What the...
"C'mon Emma, over here," Jack beckoned for her to follow him across the dance floor. As hard as Emma tried, she couldn't help but look up and meet hostile glares of the people her own age. Some of them looked confused while others were annoyed. She wasn't wearing her ball gown anymore, but there was still no denying her identity with this crowd. Having served her family breakfast, lunch and dinner, they knew damn well where she belonged.
And it sure wasn't here.
Emma carefully set the barrel down on the table, only to be swarmed by thirsty dancers eagerly grabbing for the nozzles. Jack grabbed her arm and yanked her out of the way, giving the guests a clear path to the ale. Emma grumbled and brushed off her shirt. "Thirsty much?"
"This is no place for formalities, as I'm sure you've noticed, princess."
The door entrance suddenly slammed open on the other side of the pub. People cheered and crowded around the two people that entered. Teenagers poured themselves drinks and toasted in the air for the two newcomers Emma still couldn't see. In the thickness of their excited welcoming, the crowd obliged the two people a pathway to the dance floor. The music picked up, serving as its own welcome to the two new dance partners as they made their way to the center of the action.
Emma's heart jumped with recognition when the two figures finally came into sight; they were the two dancers she saw earlier in the ballroom. The girl's dark curly hair was no longer pinned in an elaborate bun; it flowed wildly out beyond her shoulders. Her eyes shined blue, her grin matched that of her partner's. Hanging at her hips, the white cotton dress flowed down to her ankles and swayed freely with every light step she took. She threw her arms up over her partner's shoulders, vocalizing her excitement in laughter. The guy had already discarded the jacket that he had worn at the ball, leaving nothing but a loose white undershirt that stuck to the moisture beaded along his chest. He grinned devilishly and molded his body against hers, wasting absolutely no time in the song. Unlike before in the ballroom, where they danced with precision and swift light steps, they were now grinding against each other slowly in one fashioned unit. His arms explored the bare exposed frame of her back as his head dropped to the crook of her neck.
Watching them dance so intimately felt intrusive though at the same time it was like an art. They read each other, moved together so perfectly. The beat of the fiddler hastened. Picking up on the cue, he picked his partner up and childishly swung her around. Her dress billowed magnificently in the air and commanded the attention of everyone around them. With a faster pace, the couple was able to show off their footwork and cohesiveness. Dancers formed a circle around them and cheered drunken chants of encouragement.
"Allow me to apologize on his account," Jack grumbled by Emma's side. "My cousin's a bit of a show-off, isn't he?"
"He's your cousin?"
"Aye, his name is Killian. The girl he's with is Milah. The perfect couple, no?"
"Yeah."
"Actually no," Jack chuckled and shook his head. "Not really… They were once. Times have changed. Now they're more like brother-sister. They look out for each other; take care of the other. I guess that's all you really need when you already have so little." Emma nodded numbly, still transfixed with his face. He laughed boyishly and threw Milah up in the air. The girl spread her arms out like a bird, relishing in the whip of wind that breezed through her wild curls. The drummer calmed the beat, communicating to the other musicians and the dancers that the end of the song was drawing near. Detecting the slowing transition, Milah stretched her body out straight up and let him lower her down. Her frame brushed his body; her face provocatively grazed against his lips. The crowd responded with cooing, whistles and snickers.
They stayed like that in the silence between the two songs; wrapped around each other, breathing with triumphant euphoric smiles. In that moment they felt like they were on top of the world. That much was evident to everyone in the pub, including Emma. People began massing on the dance floor as the next song picked up, though the pair of them seemed done for moment. Killian held Milah's hand and cooly led her off from the building crowd towards the drinks.
"Killian!" Jack shouted and beckoned for him to come over. No, please no. He looked over to his younger cousin standing by Emma's side and acknowledged him with a nod. Once they both had a drink in hand, Killian and Milah shuffled through the mass of people conversing until they finally reached Jack and Emma.
Killian's eyes immediately narrowed in on Emma. "What the bloody hell is she doing here, cousin?"
"Her name's Emma."
The woman's eyes widened with apprehension. "Do you realize what kind of trouble we could get into if word gets out about this place?"
Jack shifted his weight uncomfortably at a loss for words. "Hey," Emma butted in, "I'm not going to tell anyone. It's not like I want my parents knowing I was here."
Milah glared at Emma, her arms crossed uncomfortably. Her clear blue eyes didn't show signs of anger as much as they reflected concern and fear. "Let's hope not. Some of us can't afford to lose this job."
One of the other boys, another scoundrel by the looks of it, pulled Milah's arm and beckoned her to join him on the dance floor as the fiddlers began another cheerful melody. Killian gave Emma another cautious look-over before turning and finding another single lady on the floor.
Emma felt her heart throb as he walked away. Why did she care how he looked at her? She barely knew the guy. There was something different about him though. He was the definition of the guy that stood on the other side of the line that her parents had always taught her not to cross. He wasn't safe. On the contrary he was mysterious… dangerous… free.
Jack grinned curiously at Emma's googly-eyed expression after his cousin and offered his hand. "Care to join me, milady?"
"You sure that's alright?"
"You're already here. What harm would it do?"
Emma rolled her eyes with a grin and took his hand. Jack led them through a few couples before settling into an open space. His fingers wove around hers as he took another step closer to her. Her gaze darted nervously around at the other dancers. "Wait. I don't know if I can do this," she mumbled under her breath. "I've never really, you know, tried this before."
"You have to just go with the music." He stepped one way and then moved the other, expecting her to immediately catch on. She followed his steps hesitantly, trying her hardest not to overthink it. Dancing has always been about thinking with her. It was what she was taught to do. Think the steps. Remember the transitions. What she was doing now was uncharted territory.
Jack chuckled and put his hands on her hips in an effort to lead her. "You know, for someone who was raised with dance lessons you're not much for rhythm, highness."
"Shut up," she snapped as her cheeks blushed red. "This doesn't make any sense."
"Does it have to?" He challenged her with a raised eyebrow before catching the eye of the person approaching them.
"Really cousin, you're doing her more of a disservice than anything." Before Emma could acknowledge the mocking voice, another hand wrapped around her hip and spun her around. In a split-second she was just inches away from his smug grin, "Allow me." No longer in the safety of Jack's gentle grasp, Emma's fingers were now curled around his rough knuckles. Oh god, oh god, oh god. Okay too close. Her head was screaming with excitement as his face hovered mere inches away from hers. His blue eyes darted down to her lips and then back up to her horrified eyes. "So you want to learn how to dance, Princess?"
Her lips curled into her mouth, dry with nerves. "I just… I don't really know…" He silenced her with a gentle finger to her mouth.
"Easy love, it's not all that challenging." He dug his thigh between her legs and pulled her back into him. She was tempted to listen to the thoughts that screamed in her head to run. She didn't belong here. She wasn't supposed to be doing this. There wasn't anything sensible or decent about this.
He gave her no choice but to follow his lead. Unlike Jack, who knew the definition of boundaries, Killian wasn't fazed by their intimate closeness. She swallowed nervously and calculated her steps, desperate to avoid stepping on his toes or tripping over her own feet. He frowned and spun her around so that she was facing away. His forearm slid around her stomach and pressed her back against his lean chest. Dear God.
"It's not enough to know the steps, princess. You have to feel it," he purred in her ear. She damn well felt something. She felt her core begin to melt as the lower half of his torso pressed against her back. He spun her back around and pulled her close enough to smell the sweet rum on his breath.
Emma felt her body trembling with uncertainty, the knowledge of how wrong this was. If her father knew where she was right now... what she was doing... Her clammy grasp around his fingers tightened as she felt the weight on her legs lose balance. Stay focused Emma, think. One two three four one-
He shook his head and brought two fingers up to his eyes. "Look here, darling. Allow me to take care of the rest." Those two hypnotic blue eyes caught the glow from the lanterns behind her, bringing them to life beneath the shroud of black hovering under his lashes. His gaze was intense; she couldn't look away even she wanted to. He smirked with a raised brow, relishing in her innocence, before wrapping an arm around her back and holding her even closer until she was barely standing on her own. He swayed to the left, then the right. The transition shook her by surprise. What was he doing? Where was the sense in this kind of dancing?
"This is no bloody, waltz." His fingers tightened around her waist, helping to guide her into sync. "There's no need to control. Let go of yourself, princess."
Her muscles relaxed, her legs went wobbly. "Okay, okay," she whispered half out of breath. She shut her eyes and sucked in the thick humid air. As the vibrating bass beat into her ear, the beat crept under her skin. Her body slowly began to respond to it, obeying the lyrics beckoning to her. Leaning her weight against his frame, Emma let finally him take control. His leg pressed against her, guiding her into a rhythmic movement back and forth. She swung her arms over his shoulders and leaned her head back, letting the warm air between them blow through the cleavage of her shirt. "That's it, love," she heard him whisper.
This was dangerous. His other hand slid behind her neck to pull her back close to his face. This was wrong. Her legs tightened around his thigh. This was exciting. She felt his fingers grip her waist hungrily. She could no longer suppress the grin that now widened across her face. Killian leaned in closer and whispered in her ear, "See darling, there's nothing to it."
God, she felt weightless. The triumphant euphoria surged within her being as the two of them continued their dance, swaying to one side and then the other. She didn't want it to ever end.
The crowd erupted in applause, turning to the musicians in the corner with cheers and claps. Emma didn't even notice the song had ended before Killian swiftly untwined their bodies and paced away from her without a departing word.
"Emma!" Jack yelled while he unmercifully pushed through a few couples to reach her. "Emma, your parents are looking for you. You have to go!"
She shook her head out of the daze. "Wait, what?"
"Yeah, you have to leave now before we all get in trouble."
Emma looked around for Killian, just to get one final glance before having to leave. Her eyes scoured the crowded pub but she had no luck. The pub was jammed with people, far more than there should have been. Just like that, he was gone. And unfortunately so was she.
Okay so this is my first attempt at an AU! I am so so very nervous to post it because I honestly have no clue whether it's worth anything or not. As you might have noticed, I have taken some characters and played around with their age a bit (Emma is around eighteen and Killian/Milah are in their early twenties). I also erased the connection between Milah and Rumplestiltskin, just to make it work in the story.
Please please please tell me what you think! Reviews are what fuels my motivation to write! :)