A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! They truly help to give me creativity and let me know that people are interested in the story. Enjoy the next chapter and please review so I know what it is you as readers would like to see out of this story!
"Emma!"
Startled, the young princess opened her eyes and looked across the table to her mother. She had barely touched her dinner and both of her parents were staring at her.
"I'm sorry what?"
"As I was saying," Snow continued, rolling her eyes, "Have you decided what dress to wear for your birthday tomorrow night?"
Emma pushed the food around her plate, "Not yet. I figured you would just pick it out for me."
"Wise choice," her father chuckled.
"Your tutor mentioned you've been distracted lately," Snow frowned, "and you've hardly eaten in the last week. Emma what is going on with you?"
"Just birthday jitters," she answered quickly. She would never tell her parents of the blue eyes that continued to haunt her dreams. Nor would she tell them of the extremely handsome face they rested upon. She could still feel the burn of his skin on hers and the dreams were only getting more intense.
"You know," her mother smiled slightly, bringing Emma out of her daydreams once more, "I've been hearing rumours that several Kingdoms are sending their Princes for a certain Princess's hand in marriage. People began arriving a few days ago while you were hiding away in your room."
"Snow," her father warned. Most people knew that Emma tried to avoid the topic of marriage at all costs. She didn't want to marry young and waste her life away. Her mother, however, had other ideas and was under the notion that Emma would find her own Prince Charming at her birthday ball. It would be her eighteenth birthday, one marked usually by betrothal in her land.
"I'm just saying."
"Snow."
"Charming."
Emma stood up abruptly, ignoring the looks her parents threw her. She turned and walked as calmly as she could toward the doors. She paused and looked back to her parents.
"If you two will excuse but I feel that I am not welcome in this conversation of my future. I will be retiring to bed because I have to wake early tomorrow. Good night." She turned around once more and stormed back to her room, not looking at any of the strange looks she received. She pretended she couldn't hear her parents call after her.
As she entered her room she took one look around making sure everything was in order. She undressed quickly, flinging her clothing around the room. Not caring if it would become wrinkled on her floor. She put her robe on and walked out to her balcony, hoping that the cool wind could clear her mind.
She watched the dwindling lights of the village fade away as night took hold. She wished desperately that she could escape from the year that was ahead of her. She wasn't stupid and knew she would be married within the year. While her parents were not cruel to marry her off to just anyone they were realistic
and she knew that she would have to marry eventually.
She sighed and cursed herself slightly for looking forward to the man that her dreams brought her.
Killian.
She turned around and walked back into her room, pausing to glance over her shoulder. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her.
Milah. Emma. Milah. Emma. Milah. Emma. Emma. Emma. Emma.
Killian continued to let the name roll around in his head. He used it as his mantra as he woke, dazed and slightly confused, in the middle of the woods. The throbbing in his jaw made him proud in a way, knowing that this woman had bested him. It made him want her even more.
It had only taken a matter of hours to find out exactly who Emma was. The Princess of the kingdom, which was exactly his luck. It had taken only one day to bribe his way into her birthday ball. It had only been three days and he had his planned mapped out to an exact point. He wouldn't let her slip away.
He bid his time by quietly contemplating what he would do with his Princess once he had her. He waited patiently, a game that Captain Hook excelled at. He would sneak into the castle and plan his escape or watch the Princess look out from her balcony. How he wanted to steal her away right then and there.
The night of the party came and Killian took his time preparing himself. He had bought everything for the night earlier, glad that it was a masked ball. The big unveiling of the Princess was at midnight but he would have her whisked away long before that. As he finished readying himself a knock sounded at his door. He called for whoever it was and Smee stuck his head in.
"It's almost time Captain."
"I know."
"And you'll be back before midnight?"
"We will be long gone before midnight," Hook grabbed his small dagger, concealing it in his boot before making his way up to the deck, "Don't worry yourself Mr. Smee. Just make sure the Jolly Roger is ready for our departure. I should be back in no less than two hours time."
"Yes Captain."
Killian nodded to his crew before departing to the castle. He had to keep himself in check or else he would just run to the castle and snatch her away in front of everyone. He had already planned on how to get her alone, had already found a passage way he could use to get out of the castle. Tonight would go smoothly.
When Killian finally reached the ball he walked into the ballroom, throwing his dazzling smile at any woman who looked at him. He wasn't worried about her being concealed though, he would recognize her anywhere. His eyes searched the room, landing on the King and Queen dancing happily with people of both the court and the village. He liked the way they ruled, unlike the King he had turned his back on so long ago.
He stood in the shadows, ignoring the glances and flirts he had received. He scanned the room once more, his patience slowly thinning when he spotted her. She was dancing with some royal from a visiting Kingdom. She looked beautiful in a red gown that showed her curves in a way that was modest but left little to the imagination. The Prince swept her across the floor but he could see the strain in her shoulders and the false smile plastered to her face.
Jealousy sprang in him watching another man touch what was his. He had to remind himself that this was not Milah. This was Emma. Another woman who shared the beauty of his love. He waited as the song finished but before he could pounce another Prince jumped in. She looked just as uncomfortable as before but danced with him none the less.
It took nearly an hour before Emma escaped the dancing and Killian was able to follow her. She left the ballroom, heading toward the gardens he had wandered around earlier. She was alone and as he stalked behind her he made sure no one would follow them.
Killian watched as she sat down on a bench, taking her mask off. She stared at it for a few moments before throwing the mask into the nearest flower bush. She placed her face in her hands and her shoulders began to shake. He moved from the shadows now, approaching her silently.
"Are you alright?" he asked and watched as she jumped up. She turned around, clearly not recognizing him right away. She wiped at the tears that had fallen on her face.
"I'm fine." She smiled at him and his heart pounded in his chest. He was so close.
" You're not supposed to have seen me until midnight and that's still two hours away."
"I'm not one to follow the rules." He smirked at her and walked forward. She moved back, going to the flower bush she had thrown her mask into.
"I should really get back to the ball," she said, still searching for her mask, "They'll be looking for me."
"Oh we're quite alone here," Killian commented, grabbing the powder from his satchel. Just a pinch of it and Emma would be asleep for hours.
"I'm sorry but do I know you?" She asked as she turned back, fastening the mask on her face once more. She looked at him then, as he stood in the light. Recognition ran through her eyes and she stumbled back, almost falling into the bush.
"You."
"Me." He smirked at her, taking another step forward.
"Leave me alone." She looked around wildly, trying to find a way to escape.
"No. I don't think I will." She bolted to his right but he reached out and caught her arm. As her momentum swung her back around to him he blew the dust in her face. Immediately her eyes rolled back and she fell forward into his arms.
He caught her and stumbled back, adjusting his balance before picking her up. It took only ten minutes to make his way out of the castle. The walk back to his ship was much shorter now that he had exactly what he wanted. Anyone that passed simply thought that the young couple had too much fun at the ball and didn't question him.
As soon as he set foot on his ship they left the dock. He raced to his room, carefully going down the stairs as to not drop her. He placed her in his bed, tucking the blankets around her. Removing the mask Killian gently stroked her cheek. He wanted to touch her more, make her squirm beneath him in want but knew he had to take his time. She may have Milah's face but she didn't have her memories.
Killian smiled down at her, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. She shifted in her sleep, sighing contentedly. She was finally his and he would never let her go.
