Authors note

So this is my very first fanfic and I have a good feeling about it. I hope everyone who reads it will enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own o.u.a.t

Lover prospects

The sun will be setting soon and Killian has no intention to spend the evening in his quarters so he leaves his ship and goes to find his crew in the tavern. The town is like a maze, the streets and alleyways going every which way, he found out that morning that the town is called Genador, a mere fishing town not even worth piracy, no wonder he didn't know about it . He finally finds it hidden down an alley "precarious" he thinks as he walks into the alley (why would they put it here?). The sign is faded but is still legible 'The Mermaid's Well' and as he walks in he sees the reason it was hidden away, obviously this is a tavern for the less reputable people (this should be fun). As he looks for at least one member of his crew to have a drink with, his heart skips a beat at what he has spotted.

The most beautiful woman Killian has ever seen with golden hair and bright green eyes, sits at a table playing cards. She shouts in victory and draws him out of his sudden stupor, she's a pirate he can see that much, but what would make someone as beautiful as her become a pirate? He walks over to her table with an easy way to start a conversation.

"May I join?" he asks with a smirk, glad that his bravado came back, she had thrown him off kilter for a moment there.

"Sure" she says with an eyebrow raised "You're from that other ship right? What's your name?" her eyebrow is still raised. A challenge?

"Killian Jones. Captain Killian Jones. And you?"

"Captain Emma Swan" she says shuffling the cards and doling them out. "Nice to meet you Captain Jones"

Not just a pirate but a pirate captain, this woman's going to be quite the puzzle. Emma places a bet and everyone matches it, a knowing devilish grin on her face. Had she stacked the deck? Yep this is going to get interesting.

"So Captain Jones, what brings you to Genador? I've not seen your ship here before" she asks over her cards, an indecipherable look in her eyes and a smile on her face.

"Why you want to know?" He's challenging her now, throwing another coin onto the pile and raising his eyebrow. He feels drawn to her and he doesn't know why, he's trying to ignore it but it's hard when it's the reason he came over.

Emma looked him over considering him for a moment then placed her cards on the table face down. They all followed, the two men on the other side of the table folding as well, Killian and the boy on the other side of Emma showing their cards. The boy had won that round taking the small pile of coins, a bright smile on his face. Emma had a similar smile, bright a beautiful and hiding something, the smile isn't entirely reaching her eyes. A hint of sadness is suppressed behind her beautiful green irises.

"You know I'd tell you why I asked but I'm afraid my reason is incredibl….."

"Captain Swan, fancy seeing you here!" she was interrupted by a shout at the door, A tall man with oily unkempt hair and a drooping brown moustache was swaggering toward them. "For fucks sake" Emma muttered as she saw him, recognition written across her features. She knows him?

"Nathaniel, go back to the ship" Emma whispered, the boy next to her reacting immediately, nodding, getting out of his seat and leaving the tavern. "A pleasure as always, sheriff" her voice dripping with sarcasm as she's tilting her head, pursing her lips and giving the man a hard stare.

Killian had noticed that Emma had shifted slightly, she just prepared herself for attack…

The moment she saw him she knew getting out of the tavern wasn't going to be easy, sheriff Vanguard is always looking for a fight, especially with her. She was actually starting to enjoy herself, playing cards with a few of her crew, Killian showing up had topped it but then this pompous prat showed up. The pain from Baelfire's death had finally started to fade and knew it wasn't the alcohol that caused it, as soon as Killian showed up, the feeling started to subside. Guess fate didn't want that to happen.

"What are you doing back in town, Swan? Thought I told you never to come back" the disdain on his face is clear, the sneer, the way he just ruffled his oily curls. Yep he's mad alight and he hates Emma's guts

"Oh but I just love fucking with you, seeing the frustration on your face when I win, it was just too funny to resist" she grinned. She knows she going to win, she always does, especially when he's running on blind rage. He always makes mistakes when he's angry

"You made a huge mistake coming back here Swan" he's turning red with rage now. Emma shot the two crew members across the table a glance and they prepared themselves for a fight, gripping their swords and waiting for a signal. She looked at Killian he had already prepared, obviously he's helping.

"But you're the one who sought me out Vanguard"

"Well this is the last time I'll have to do that" he sneered drawing his sword

Emma was up in an instant followed by the two crewmen and Killian, her sword clashed with Vanguard's striking sparks as they make contact. Killian and the crewmen were each taking on a person of their own, the sheriff had brought three lackeys with him and they were standing at the sidelines until the weapons were drawn. Obviously he was hoping he could out number her.

"Is that so?" she says as she raises her sword against another attack "I've fought with merrows mate, you're nothing compared to those monstrosities!"

Because of her taunting words Vanguard grows even angrier and slashes out in a parry of violent swings, which was his mistake. Emma went for his hand, slicing it off at the wrist, instantly disarming him.

He screamed in pain as he fell to his knees grasping at his now severed limb. Emma lifted her bloodied sword under his chin lifting his head to look her in the eyes, the threat was clear, she was considering killing him and by the way visibly paled and not just from blood loss he could see it in her eyes. The other fights around them had stopped, clearly Vanguards lackeys were no match for her crewmen or Killian Jones.

They were all watching, her crewmen, the other people that were in the tavern with scared looks on their face and Killian. He looked worried, he could see the look in her eyes, the consideration of killing the foolish man who dared attack her, but Emma saw something else hope. Hope that she won't choose the path of darkness and kill the man, hope that she will do the honourable thing and spare him.

For a moment staring into the deep blue eyes of the man she just met the pain that haunted her, the memories that kept her awake at night had vanished and she saw a flash of light amongst an ocean of darkness.

"I better never see you again, or I sparing you will have just been a delay for your death" she said as she finally made her decision. Sparing him might be a huge mistake but she decided that this time she will do the right thing, she decided to have hope again.

Killian went with Emma to her ship instead of going straight back to the jolly, he needed to make sure Emma was alright and he needed to talk to her. He didn't even realise when they were in that tavern that not a single member of his crew was there he was to absorbed into the siren's call that was Emma's eyes, to busy gazing at her beauty, at her golden hair to even care. She's a bloody siren for sure and she has most certainly enchanted him.

"Captain Jones, welcome aboard the Sirens Reach" she's smiling widely and is extremely happy considering what had happened in the tavern. The sadness he saw in her eyes earlier seems to have disappeared. The fact that he's been calling Emma a siren and her ship is named the 'Sirens Reach' amuses him and almost makes him believe it.

As he jumps down from the gangplank Killian surveys her ship, intricate carvings that almost look like stories run along the railing and the deck is clean, but it's covered in artistic paintings trapped underneath varnish. Apart from that her ship looks just like the Jolly. Who did those paintings?

"Smith!" Emma shouts as she stares at Killian with interest, he's definitely got her attention

"Aye Captain?" a slim man with bright red hair pops up from below decks at her shout.

"Has there been any trouble while I was gone?"

"No Cap'n, were we expecting some?" he says giving a wary look at Killian.

"No, there was just a confrontation at the tavern, no matter." She waves the incident off as nothing as she steps toward Killian "if you will Captain, may we have a chat in my quarters?" she says as she winks and points at the hatch by the helm.

Killian suddenly feels very tight in his leather pants, being alone with her is so different compared to being in the company of others and she knows it, brushing her hand across his arm as she walks past. She grabs a bottle and questioningly waves it in front of her with a couple glasses in her other hand and a smile on her face. Yep she's torturing him. He mutely nods, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Why's that?

"Best not to think too hard about it mate"

"You're the one who wanted to chat, I could see it your face" she says handing him a glass "so chat"

"You trusted that I'd help and not run of and let you die, why?" it's been bugging him since they left the tavern

"I could see it on your face and the fact that when shit started to hit the celling, you opted for a fighting stance instead of planning an escape" she's staring at him over the rim of her glass.

As they drink from their glasses he asks all the questions that have been on his mind since he saw her, some she's more willing to answer than others. Minutes turn into hours and he finally has no more questions, he takes his leave saying goodbye and kissing the back of her hand, he swaggers back to his ship and slumps down in his quarters.

He's so screwed….