Title: Love & Lies

Author: Steph aka CaptainSwanLuver

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Killian/Emma

Characters: Killian, Emma, , August, Belle, Robin, Gold, Regina

Category: Romance/Drama/Humor

Disclaimer: I do this out of a love for this couple. No infringement is intended.

Spoilers: Nope!

Summary: Emma Swan is the star of the failing soap "Love & Lies". Killian Jones is the star of their rival soap. In order to raise ratings, Killian is hired to star on Emma's soap. They immediately clash. Will sparks fly too?

Note: I can't wait until this hiatus is over! Until we have our couple back on our screens soons, fanfics will have to do. Here's an alternate universe one for you. Hope you enjoy it! ~Steph

…Love & Lies: Part 1/11…

Emma Swan, the star of the failing soap, 'Love & Lies', stared at herself in the mirror. She smiled at her reflection. She had to admit she looked damn good.

Emma didn't think that was vain of her, just a simple fact. She had developed a reputation as being a diva and difficult to work with, but she always felt it was undeserved. She simply thought of herself as a strong, tough, opinionated woman who doesn't allow people to walk all over.

One of the interns stuck her head into her dressing room, pulling Emma from her thoughts.

"Ms. Swan, they're ready for you."

"I'll be right there."

Emma gave herself one last look in the mirror. She picked up her cup of coffee - something she could not make it through a morning without - then stood up and headed to the door. She opened the door and stepped outside, just as she was taking a sip of her coffee.

She immediately slammed right into someone's chest. The top of her coffee cup came flying off and its contents spilled all over her white dress.

Emma stared down at her ruined outfit. "Look what you've done! You need to watch where you're going!"

"Sorry, love," came a British voice.

Emma raised her head and met the eyes of Killian Jones. Killian was the star of their rival soap, "The Fun and the Flirty". He was gorgeous and he knew it. He also had a reputation as a womanizer.

"Killian Jones," he said, extending his hand.

"I know who you are," she replied sharply, swiping at her dress.

He grinned and Emma couldn't help but notice his heart-stopping smile.

"I see my reputation precedes me."

Emma rolled her eyes. "It does, but we've actually met before."

Killian took a step closer to her. She looked into his sparkling blue eyes and swallowed hard.

"I'm afraid that isn't possible. I would never forget meeting a woman as beautiful as yourself."

Emma stifled a groan. "It was at the Daytime Emmys last year. You hit on me. I'm not surprised you don't remember. You were very drunk and hitting on everything with two legs and breasts."

Killian shrugged his shoulders. "Apologies, love. I hope to make a better second impression."

Emma gestured at her stained clothes. "Epic fail."

"Third impression?" he asked with a lopsided grin and a cocked eyebrow.

Emma shook her head. "I don't have time for this. They're ready for me on set and now I have to change."

She turned on her heel to go back into her dressing room when his voice stopped her.

"Your reputation precedes you too."

She spun around and leveled him with a glare. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I heard you were difficult. Seems it was not an exaggeration."

Emma crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, I am a woman who stands up for herself and speaks her mind, so I am automatically labeled as difficult."

He offered her a toothy grin. "Apologies. You seem like a ray of sunshine."

Emma eyed him for a long moment. "Wait. What are you even doing here anyway? Last time I checked, you're on our rival soap."

Killian's eyes swept across her face, admiring her beautiful features. "Well, I believe your information is outdated, love. I didn't renew my contract with 'The Fun and the Flirty'."

Emma chuckled. "I guess they finally realized you're all surface and no substance."

He arched his brow. "Oh, is that so? Is that why I have three Emmys to your…" He paused, pretending to count on his fingers. "Oh, wait, that's right. To your zero."

Emma had been nominated 10 times and lost every one. It was a sore subject with her.

She groaned. "The Emmys mean nothing. It's all political. It's not about talent."

"Whatever makes you feel better."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "So I guess since you're out of work now, you came here to beg for a job. Well, you can turn right back around and crawl back into the hole you came out of. We're not hiring."

Killian smiled at her. "You've got it all wrong, love. I didn't renew my contract because your soap offered me double what I was making on mine."

Emma's mouth hung open. "Excuse me? That must be more than I make."

"Considerably more," he replied, his eyes twinkling.

She shook her head. "I…I don't understand. I've been on this show since I was fourteen. That's sixteen years of my life. My character, Eva Rollins, has carried this show for years. I am the star of this soap."

"Not anymore," he replied. "You see, your show is on the brink of cancellation and the powers that be knew they needed something - or, more precisely, someone - to bring up the ratings. Enter yours truly."

Emma clenched her jaw. "Typical. All they care about is appealing to the women sitting at home who want to gawk at handsome, half-naked men. It doesn't matter if they can't act."

"Three Emmys," he said, holding up three fingers.

"You know what? This isn't happening. Not if I have anything to say about it."

With that, Emma stalked off to the executive producer's office.

Killian watched her go, a grin upon his lips.

…

Emma stormed into Regina Mills' office without knocking.

Regina smirked at her. "Well, well, well. I was wondering when you'd grace me with your presence. What took you so long?"

Emma's eyes flared. "Killian Jones?! You hired Killian Jones?! And you gave him more money than I make? To top it all off, you didn't even have the decency to tell me ahead of time!"

Regina leaned forward, folding her hands on her desk. "Perhaps you're a bit confused, Ms. Swan, but I don't have to run my hiring decisions by you."

"He can't even act! He's just a pretty face."

"A pretty face with three Emmys and a legion of dedicated female fans who will follow him wherever he goes. That is what we need, Ms. Swan. In case you've been living under a rock, our ratings are dismal. What better way to raise them than by stealing away the eye candy from our timeslot rival? The network already informed me that if we don't get our ratings up, then we won't be around this time next year. Then we'll both be out of a job."

Emma crossed her arms defiantly. "It's obvious that I am not respected or appreciated around here, so whether or not we're around in a year means nothing to me because I quit!"

Regina's eyes narrowed at her. "Go ahead. We'll sue you for breach of contract."

Emma sighed in defeat. "Fine, but I refuse to share the screen with him. Keep him away from me."

Regina grinned, as Emma stormed out of her office.

…

Emma was so angry she felt her hands clenching and unclenching as she walked down the hallway. The intern from earlier appeared by her side.

"They're going crazy on set. You need to come now."

Emma gestured to her stained dress. "Well, our new so-called eye candy ruined my outfit, so I have to change. Tell them they're going to have to wait."

"Okay, but hurry," she said, and turned in the opposite direction.

Emma stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth dropping open at what was taking place at her dressing room. One of the workers was putting up a nameplate on the door. Above hers.

She stalked over to him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"My job," he said, as he finished nailing in Killian Jones above Emma Swan.

"This is my dressing room!"

"I just do what I'm told," he said, as he walked away.

Emma threw open the door and glared at Killian. He was sitting in her chair, his feet propped up on her make-up table.

"Get out," she said through gritted teeth. "This is my dressing room."

He shrugged his shoulders, crossing his arms over his chest, and settling more comfortably into the seat.

"Our dressing room."

"This has been my dressing room for sixteen years. You've been here - what? Sixteen minutes? Get out!"

Killian stood up and came to stand so close to her she could feel his warm breath on her skin. It was distracting.

"Apparently, all of the dressing rooms are taken. Since yours is by far the largest, they told me to share it with you until one becomes available for me."

"That could take months. Years even."

Killian patted her shoulder. "I suppose you're stuck with me then, roomie."

Emma groaned in defeat. "I don't have time for this. You've already made me late to set. I need to change."

He moved to her make-up table and sat on the edge. He gestured to her with his hand. "Proceed."

Her eyes widened. "In front of you? You must be crazy."

"Trust me, love, you don't have anything I haven't seen many, many times before."

"You're a pig. Leave."

"Sorry, I don't have anywhere else to go."

"How about home? It's not like you start filming today."

"True, but I was told they want me to stay for fittings."

"Just wait outside while I get changed before I make it so your handsome face won't be fit for anything but radio."

Killian chuckled, as he gave her a nod of his head. "Feisty, I like that."

He gestured to a screen in the corner.

"Look, if you're so shy, then I believe those are for changing behind."

Emma gritted her teeth together so hard she was surprised she didn't crack several of them.

Without a word, she ripped a dress off the rack and walked behind the screen. Killian watched as her arms flailed behind it. She dropped the ruined dress onto the floor. His eyes stared at the screen, imagining what her beautiful body must look like behind it.

She finished changing and emerged from behind the screen in a skintight red dress. Killian swallowed hard.

"You clean up nicely."

Emma bent down to pick up her dress, then walked over to him, shoving it into his chest.

She smirked at him. "I'll expect it back tomorrow dry cleaned. If the stain can't be removed, then you can reimburse me."

"Doesn't the show provide your wardrobe?"

"They do, but I keep everything I wear. I never appear on screen in the same outfit twice. So that dress is mine now."

"I see. Well, I'll take great care of it."

Emma didn't say another word to him as she left the dressing room and headed for the set. Killian took the dress and dropped it into the trash can.

…

Three hours later, Emma returned from set and groaned at the sight of Killian still in her dressing room.

"You're still here?"

"They wanted me to do some promo photos after the fittings."

Emma rolled her eyes. "They sure aren't wasting any time. I'm done for the day. I'm not scheduled to work again until Wednesday so enjoy your weekend doing whatever it is you do and I guess I will see you then."

She picked up her purse and was about to leave the dressing room when she heard a knock.

She opened the door and smiled at the man who stood behind it.

"Hey," August said. "Ready to go?"

Emma discreetly tried to block his view of the dressing room and placed her hand on his chest to push him back into the hallway.

"Yup, I'm all-…"

"Aren't you going to introduce me?" she heard a voice come from behind her.

Emma sighed in frustration and opened the door, revealing Killian to August.

"Killian Jones, this is my boyfriend, August Booth. He plays Tad Woodsworth, a photographer and my onscreen husband."

Killian raised his eyebrows at that. August eyed Killian, as he extended his hand.

Emma went on. "August, this is Killian Jones. He just signed with the show."

August nodded. "I know who you are. I've admired your work for some time."

Killian grinned, as Emma rolled her eyes. "Thanks, mate."

"Our ratings could certainly use the help," August said.

Killian gestured between Emma and August. "So, how long have you two been together?"

"Five years," August said. "Right after I started with the show. We've been married two years on the show."

Killian nodded. "Five years. That's quite impressive. Do you two live together? Wedding bells in your future?"

Emma dropped her gaze to the ground. "I really don't think that's any of your business."

August shrugged. "It's okay. He's just trying to get to know his new co-stars. We do not live together and we have no immediate plans to marry. Of course, that is not from lack of trying on my part. I've asked Emma to move in with me three times and proposed twice, but I was turned down each time."

Emma felt her face redden. Killian's eyes moved to her. "Wow, mate, that's rough."

August put his arm around Emma's shoulders. "I'm a patient man and Emma's worth waiting for. When she's ready, I'll be waiting."

Emma looked up at him and forced a smile. "You know what I'm ready to do? Leave."

August nodded. "Okay, let's go. Nice to meet you, Killian. I look forward to working with you and getting to know you better."

Killian smiled. "Aye, I look forward to the same."

With that, Emma and August walked out of the room and down the hall. Killian's eyes followed them until they turned the corner.

…

Wednesday morning, Emma walked into her dressing room and stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth dropping open at what she saw.

The room had been transformed. All of her belongings were now pushed onto one half of the room. Her couch and chaise lounge sat in the middle of her side, making it nearly impossible to navigate the room. The other half now had a black leather recliner, mini fridge, and a foosball table. A dart board was on one wall and a 42 inch flat screen TV was on the opposite wall.

Her make-up table, which spanned one entire wall was still there, but all of her make-up and toiletries had been pushed onto her half and the other half was filled with DVDs, video games, and hair gel.

Emma's fists clenched and her nostrils flared.

"What do you think?" she heard come from behind her.

Emma spun around and offered Killian a glare that should have left him a dead man.

"Is this a dressing room or a man cave?" she asked through gritted teeth.

Killian spoke with a flourish of his hand. "It's much improved, don't you agree?"

"No, I don't agree! There's no room for any of my things."

"You can rearrange your side however you like. I felt this was the fairest way to do things."

Emma stepped close to him. "Fair? I've had this dressing room for sixteen years and now I am forced to share it with an overgrown frat boy. What about that is fair?"

Killian grinned at her. "Has anyone ever told you that you're even more beautiful when you're angry?"

Emma was taken aback by the comment. She lowered her gaze and took a step backwards. "I don't think that was an appropriate comment."

"What?" he asked with a raised brow. "I can't say you're beautiful?"

Emma gestured between them. "I obviously have no choice but to tolerate you in my dressing room, but I do not have to speak to you or get to know you on a personal level. So that means no more asking me about my personal life or my relationship with my boyfriend. Or commenting on how I look. As for our professional relationship, well, I have already informed the executive producer that I will not be sharing screen time with you."

Killian waited a beat. "Are you done?"

"Yes."

"Good," he said, holding up a script. "Because I have to go over my lines."

Emma's eyes widened. "They've already written you into the show?"

He shrugged. "No time to waste."

"Who are you playing?"

"Tyler Harland. Male model."

Emma let out a snort. "Little old for a male model, don't you think?"

"Well, Eva Rollins, famous fashion designer, doesn't seem to think so," he said, pointing at the words on the page.

Emma's eyes narrowed at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It says here on the page that Eva Rollins takes an immediate interest in Tyler."

Emma grabbed the script from his hands. Her mouth grew wide. "Your first scene is with me."

Killian grinned knowingly. "Ah, that's right. You play Eva Rollins. I suppose we will be sharing the screen then."

Emma's jaw tightened. "I can't believe this. After I specifically said I didn't want to work with you."

"Hard to believe anyone would ever describe you as a diva or difficult to work with."

Emma leveled him with a glare. "You don't know anything about me."

"And you seem determined to make sure it remains that way."

Emma dropped her eyes, her voice softening. "I know what people say about me, but they don't understand where I came from. I didn't have an easy childhood and I fought tooth and nail to get to the top. And, even then, things weren't easy, things happened that I had no choice but to deal with. But I am where I am today because I don't let people walk all over me. If that makes me a diva or difficult to work with then so be it."

His eyes scanned her face for a long moment. "What happened to you?" he whispered.

Emma swallowed hard and shook her head, intent on changing the subject since she'd already revealed far more about herself to him than she ever intended.

"What were you told about your character?" she asked, gnawing on her lower lip worriedly.

"Well, apparently, Eva and Tyler are going to become involved in a tawdry love affair."

"What?!" Emma screamed. "My character has been happily married to Tad for two years. We're a very popular couple. They can't do this!"

Killian shrugged. "Fans don't want to watch happy couples, Emma. They want drama and lies and love triangles."

"That's just insulting to our viewers."

"Face it, love, happy is dull. Much like your relationship with June."

"June?"

"Your boyfriend."

"You mean August?"

"Ah, I knew he was named after a month."

"He was named after Augustus Caesar, emperor of Rome."

"And so was the month."

Emma shook her head. "Forget about August."

He grinned. "Gladly."

"I don't know what Regina is thinking. You don't raise ratings by pissing off your loyal viewers."

"It's about getting the fans talking. If they go on Twitter spewing angry comments, then that means they're watching and it's good buzz for the show."

"Well, I think it's going to backfire," she said.

Killian stepped close to her. "They're pairing up the two hottest stars in daytime, Emma. What could possibly go wrong?"

Emma swallowed hard at the thought.

…

End of Part 1

Thanks for reading! I'd love to know your thoughts! ~Steph