Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time.

Chapter II: Ball

Preparing for the ball was torture for Emma. She felt it was enough that she was expected to wear a dress every day, but all the fuss her maids were going through was just awful.

While one was putting loads of makeup on her face, the other was cleaning and polishing Emma's nails.

Emma knew better than to fuss, but she was extremely relieved when they had all left. Emma looked at her reflection in the mirror. She didn't recognize herself, plastered with makeup, making her look didn't understand why King Leopold was going through so much trouble for two guests. Yes, they were a naval captain and lieutenant, but more important people had come to visit many a time before this. Why all the fuss this time?

She walked to the water basin and washed her face clean of all of the makeup.

She then applied some simple red color to her pale lips.

She was wearing a gold gown tonight. One that she actually liked. It was simple, yet elegant. The sleeves hung loosely over her shoulders, and the dress flowed down almost straight, with a slight wave. She undid the ridiculous updo that her maids had created, and put her hair in a simple bun, with a few strands of hair falling down, behind her ears, on either side of her face. She dreaded the thought of King Leopold insisting on her attending the ball with Captain Liam, who was, in fact, single. She hated being pushing towards men and marriage. Emma knew that she was pretty old to still be unmarried, but she was waiting for just the right person. She was only grateful that King Leopold was kind enough not to force her into an arranged marriage. Yet.

Emma herself thought that she need not marry, if not for love, since she would never rule and be queen. She was a princess, but she had no right to rule in this kingdom; no blood relation to King Leopold.

King Leopold was likely to marry Princess Ava. Emma saw the way he admired her, and the way Ava loved him.

Emma exited her room, and found Captain Liam standing at the top of the steps f the grand staircase, waiting for her. Lieutenant Killian stood beside him. Emma knew crowds of people awaited them at the bottom of those steps. Many a suitor awaited her as well.

She wanted to run back to her room and read a book, and escape the many awkward dances with strange men, none of whom she even liked, but she was brave, and took the arm that was offered her by the Captain.

"You look beautiful, Princess." Captain Liam stated.

Emma was polite and said: "Thank you, Captain."

"Please, call me Liam." he insisted, as he lead her down the enormous stairs leading to the parlour, where the ball was to be held. Emma could hear the music and people talking before she could even see them. Lieutenant Killian was right at their heels while they descended the stairs. The music ceased as they reached the bottom.

"Announcing the newly Captain, Liam Jones, accompanied by Princess Emma Swan, and his brother, Lieutenant Killian Jones." the steward announced to the nobles below.

A loud applause erupted from the crowd.

After they passed the last step, trumpets announced the coming of the King.

King Leopold was announced, accompanied by Princess Ava.

Then the music began once again.

Liam asked Emma for the first dance of the night.

Emma accepted, knowing that she must be polite.

He held out his hand to her, and she accepted it. Lieutenant Killian stood quietly with his arms behind his back, while his older brother led the beautiful Emma out ten feet to dance.

Emma curtsied, and Liam bowed. Then they started to waltz. Emma felt uncomfortable at the way Liam was staring at her. He seemed to be a nice man, but definitely not the right man for her.

"Princess, if I may say so, you look especially beautiful tonight." the captain told her.

"Thank you." Emma said awkwardly. She could not wait for the song to end, and their dance to be over.

Liam seemed to sense her shyness towards him but said nothing the rest of the dance. When the song finished, Captain Liam kissed her hand, thanked her for the dance, then left her in the middle of the many couples dancing.

She wasn't alone for long, however. She was asked to dance almost immediately by prince after prince.

An older man with graying hair and slightly wrinkled skin approached her, which would be Emma's partner number 12. This guy was far older than the rest, which seriously concerned Emma. She had nothing against old people, but she did when the old man was trying to flirt with her, when he was old enough to be her father. He was also very short, and would try to dip her, but almost drop her every time. She was about to tell the man off when Lieutenant Killian came out of nowhere and asked the old Sir John if he would mind if he took a turn dancing with "the fine young lady", putting an emphasis on young. It seemed Emma was not the only one who thought the old man's flirt towards her creepy and strange.

"Thank you, Lieutenant. I don't think I could have withstood that much longer. I am in your debt." Emma said, smiling, as he took her hands in his and placed one on his shoulder and one he held with his own.

"It was nothing, Mi'lady. It was my pleasure. I couldn't let every other man, including one thirty years older than you, have the pleasure of your company, and not myself." he said with a grin.

Emma smiled back at him for the compliment.

"By the way, you may call me Killian, if you'd like.'' Killian added.

"Oh, I may?" Emma teased. "You may call me Emma; few people ever do anymore."

"Alright, Emma it is. I will miss calling you 'Princess' though, since it fits you so well." Killian joked.

"Don't push it, Killian." Emma laughed.

Killian smiled gently, as he held Emma's hand in his own, and spun her around him.

"What?" she asked, noticing his changed smile. It was now gentle and genuine, and his whole face glowed. Emma looked into his blue eyes, that seemed to show the very depths of his soul.

"I like the sound of my name. That is all." he said silently, more seriously.

"I'm glad." Emma replied, staring into his eyes, and he stared into hers. They had stopped dancing long ago and were now just standing there, in the middle of the many couples dancing, staring back at one another.

Emotions flew about them, as the wind.

It was almost like a fairytale, unreal. Yet somehow it was real.

"This could be it." Emma thought.

"He could be it."

I hope you enjoyed the re-write of chapter 1, and the slight changes I made in this chapter.

Please, let me know your thoughts.

~readinglover120