Chapter 1

Emma stood on her balcony connected to her room, watching all the ships that closed in to the harbor of the village. She brushed her blonde hair and her white nightgown floated around her in the morning wind. The sun had found its way out of the horizon and up on to the sky along with few clouds which lay the castle sunbathing in the morning sun.

"You seem to have a sea of lovers." Killian asked as he put his arms around her waist. Emma nodded and leaned the back of her head onto his naked chest.

"Unfortunately." She sighed. "I knew my parents planned to find me a husband, but I didn't think they would actually go through with it."

"You're soon 19, love; it's time for you to find someone to share the rest of your life with." He said. She turned in his arms to look into his blue eyes.

"I know, but I thought I would have more time. More time to be with you." Emma smiled and kissed him which he gladly returned.

"I should probably go soon before anyone finds me in the princess' room." Killian said against her lips. He could feel her pout, but she gave him another kiss before walking inside with him.

"I guess it would be a huge shock if my parents, or anyone for that matter, found my servant here. It's a discussion I'd rather not have." Emma said as she looked through her closet for a dress. Killian smirked to her as he buttoned his shirt.

"You father would have killed me." He said and came up behind her. "Especially if he found out that I have shared your bed for almost a year and a half now." Emma rolled her eyes and he kissed her cheek. "I'll see you later." With that he walked out of her room. Emma had known Killian since they were both 15 and he got a servant job at the castle. She accidentally bumped into him a few days after he started working there and they immediately hit it off. It was after two years after, they started sleeping together and they had become something more than just friends.

Emma picked a dress and her maid, Marion helped her get it on. The dress she had picked was Killian's favorite. It was ocean blue with little crystals, but she suspected he only liked it because of the cleavage. After struggling to get it on, Emma walked down stairs to meet her parents in the ballroom. Snow and David were busy with planning a ball for Emma to meet all the bachelors that has come to meet her.

"Oh, Emma, you look lovely!" Snow beamed as she saw her daughter walk towards them.

"Thanks, mom." Emma said and hugged her parents before looking around the huge room. "Do I have to? I am perfectly capable to find someone I love by my own, you know."

"Of course we know, sweetheart, but it's tradition." Her father, David, said and Emma nodded with a sigh.

"We are now going to give the young gentleman a tour around the castle when they arrive at the harbor, so you have some time to yourself before you have to meet them." Snow said and hushed her away. Emma rolled her eyes and walked out to the hallway outside the ballroom before heading to the almost forgotten library at the other side of the castle.

"Swan." Killian called after her and Emma held her hand out to him. "Where are you going?"

"Library." She said and took a step closer to him. He raised an eyebrow at her and caressed her cheek with his other hand.

"You are supposed to find your True Love today, Swan, and you want to spend it with me. I'm flattered." He smirked, but Emma only shook her head.

"Not that! I have time to myself before I have to meet all those men, so I thought why not spend it in a quiet place where no one comes anymore except for the maids." Emma explained and Killian nodded.

"Well, it was probably for the best. I'm still not done for the day." He said and smiled. Emma slowly leaned in and kissed him softly.

"Probably for the best." She whispered against his lips before pulling away and heading to the library without looking back, knowing he would follow her. She counted to three inside her and when she reached zero, she heard him call after her.

"Swan, wait up." He said and came up beside her. He saw her knowing smile that was on her lips and he sighed. "You really have me in the palm of your hand, don't you?"

"Yes, I have and I'm going to enjoy that as long as I can." She said and grabbed his hand before dragging him after her. The library was a little dusty with full of books that Emma could never read the whole way through.

"In all the time I've known you; I have never understood why you don't come here to read. So many books!" Killian said as he watched Emma open the secret doorway to a room above them. He and Emma had spent a great deal up there when they were younger.

"I don't like to read, but my parents think I do and that's the only way I can come here. Who knows? Maybe I can't come up here anymore when I get a husband." Emma said and gave him a signal to follow her up the curvy staircase. The room on top of the stairs wasn't very big, but it was enough for them both. It had little windows facing to the ocean in front of the castle and a couch, he and Emma had carried up there from the library, stood facing towards them. They both sat down in the couch, looking outside.

"How do you suppose it will be? When you get a husband." Killian asked as Emma leaned her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her while resting his own head on hers.

"Different, but between us…" Emma started, but didn't know how to continue. "I don't know. I don't want you to leave."

"We can't go on when you're married, Emma." Killian said and pulled her closer. "It's not right."

"Don't you think I know that? I would nothing more than to wait, just a little bit more." She said. "I could tell my parents, but that wouldn't end well for any of us."

"So it's only one option left than." Killian sighed, trying to ignore the heartbreaking feeling that welled up in him.

"We can't be together." Emma said, almost shocked of the words. She buried her face into his neck while holding him close.