"And my lovely patroness, Lady Cora de Bourgh, would avidly profess her admiration of my sermons. She once said they were the finest she had ever heard, even had once being a visitor to Court."

Emma ground her teeth together for the umpteenth time as she quickened her pace down the road. Next to her Snow tried to keep up, sending her a chastising look as she did. But Emma didn't care if she was being rude. She didn't care if she was practically sprinting through the streets of town. Her lovely cousin, August Collins, simply did not understand the concept of silence. Ever since he had graced their family with his presence there had not been one moment of him not babbling on about one thing or another, especially when it concerned his patroness, Lady Cora de Bourgh, who Emma hoped she'd never meet in her life.

"Snow, my darling cousin, what do you think of Sonnet 15?"

"Oh," Snow frowned, probably having been ignoring him just like Emma and now found herself in the middle of some unknown conversation. "It's, ah, splendid of course. I haven't read it in quite a while though."

August nodded his head and went off into a whole speech about the damned thing, pointing out every single detail he found worthy of conversation.

Emma rolled her eyes and plowed on, intent on the ribbon store Ruby and Aurora had begged she and Snow to meet them at. Once August heard of the plans he promptly invited himself to tag along, happy to spend any moment he could with his "darling cousins".

It was more than obvious what his real goal was, Emma had caught on almost an hour into first meeting him. August planned to marry one of them. Emma supposed it wasn't the worst idea considering that would then keep her family off the streets and to remain in the home they had all grown up in. But when you considered exactly the type of man August was, well, the idea became all the less appealing. Not that he was a mean or cruel, quite the opposite actually. Emma was sure he didn't have a mean bone in his body. No, his sin was he was utterly droll. Nothing he talked off held any real importance nor did he offer up any bit of entertainment or some type of amusement since his stay here. Every joke, how few they were, he tried to deliver ended flat and with everyone forcing weak laughs to try and appease him. Emma could barely stomach a stroll into town let alone a whole life time listening to him. He was terribly self absorbed as well, most of his conversations revolving around himself if not his patroness. Emma would admit, though, he had a shockingly handsome face considering the personality didn't go along with it. His smile was large and warm and his hair a soft rustic brown that was always neatly combed. Emma had once seen a hint of scruff that she thought was quite handsome but August had promptly shaved it the day it began to grow past the line of decency. And while his eyes were a crystal like blue that men frequently didn't have, Emma couldn't help but think they failed in comparison to another set of blue eyes she knew…

"Emma," Snow hissed close to her ear.

"Hm? What?"

"August just asked you if you needed money to buy your ribbons today." Her sister looked pointedly to their cousin who was patiently waiting for an answer.

"Oh, um, t-thank you but no. I wasn't even planning on buying one actually." Actually, she had been entertaining the idea of a new ribbon just for the occasion of David's upcoming ball but it could be ignored just for the sake of not encouraging August in his pursuits.

Emma couldn't help but notice, with extreme nervousness, that his aim to get a wife had been targeted to her as of late. On his first few days of arrival he had been avidly pursing Snow, understandably since she was the oldest and fairest of the sisters, but after a few calculated mentions of David from her mother August then went to the next best option. Emma.

Now she was doing everything in her power to deter him but the man was infuriatingly relentless.

"Why you must!" August protested, "We wouldn't want you to be anything but beautiful for Mr. Bingley's ball."

Emma fought hard against the blush rising on her cheeks. Once in a while, very very rarely, August would sputter out some romantic endearment that caught her off guard. Not enough to tempt her of course.

Emma simply shrugged and kept her focus ahead of her. "Perhaps if something catches my eye…." She seriously doubted it would though.

They made it to the ribbon store in next few minutes to find Ruby and Aurora dashing around in a fit of madness, piles of different colored ribbons already in their arms as they continued to reach for more. The next half hour was spent in a flurry trying to get the two younger sisters to just pick one, then Snow wanted to do her own shopping as well, and poor Emma was left to look uninterested as possible as August chewed her ear off. She actually spotted a piece of silk dark blue material that she itched to have but with August hovering so near she kept herself in check. She supposed she could always come back by later to get it.

"I don't know…" Snow mused aloud as she held up a yellow and red ribbon.

"I like the yellow!" Aurora called from across the shop.

"Red!" Ruby declared.

Snow then turned to Emma with a questioning look.

"Red," Emma said after a moment. "Makes you stand out more."

"Like she even has to. Mr. Bingley is already besotted." Ruby teased.

Snow sighed and ignored the comment. "I don't know. I do like the red but I yellow is so much more pleasant…"

Oh no. Emma really couldn't handle another heated debate about ribbons. She glanced quickly over to August and saw he was lecturing the shop owner about something. "You know I think I'm going to go outside for some air. Maybe even buy a piece of cheese, I skipped breakfast this morning."

Snow nodded absently and Emma hastily made her escape, almost cheering with joy at having managed to grab some alone time. And she discovered she actually was hungry when her stomach growled at the sight of a food cart.

Emma made her way over and began to examine the different treats, her eyes getting instantly attracted to a particularly delicious box of sweets that would certainly be a luxury to buy. She was just about to buy them when a shadow suddenly washed over her body.

"I see you have a sweet tooth."

Of course it would be him.

Emma squared her shoulders and continued to look at the cart, pointedly ignoring him.

"Nothing to be ashamed of." Mr. Darcy continued, unfazed by her indifference towards him. "I myself enjoy a sweet from time to time."

Emma simply said "Oh" and offered nothing else.

Killian sighed beside her. "As engaging as ever."

"I believe I'll have this please." Emma said to the cart owner, pointing to a slice of bread littered with raisins. She didn't really need to waste her money on the sweets and the bread would suffice enough. Besides, she really liked raisings to boot.

"Of course Miss." The owner grabbed it and wrapped it up in a napkin as Emma went into her purse to get her money.

"Please, allow me." Before her fingers even brushed her coins Killian was extending his hand, the price for the bread grasped within it.

"You don't need to do that." Emma said immediately and grabbed at his sleeve to pull his arm away.

Killian rolled his eyes and shrugged her away. "I know I don't have to but I would like to."

Emma would not so easily be swayed. "Really, that's kind of you but I'm perfectly capable of paying for it myself."

"I never insinuated otherwise Miss Bennet." Killian said a little icily.

The quick change of moods was something Emma was beginning to get used to so she met his narrowed gaze with her own. "Still, Mr. Darcy, I insist I pay for it myself."

"Emma!"

Oh fantastic. As if this situation couldn't get any worse.

"There you are! I hadn't realized you left the shop." August came jogging over with that large smile on his face. "Hungry I see. I had told you it was unwise to not have breakfast." He then noticed the cart owner with the bread in his hand, obviously waiting to be paid. "Here, let me take care of this."

And just like that August was thrusting the money in the cart owner's hand and taking her bread. It happened so quick Emma hadn't even had the time to bat an eyelash. She had been so preoccupied at stopping Killian who, in hindsight, she might have preferred paying for the damned bread after all.

"Oh, um, thank you." Emma said dumbly, taking the bread with a defeated shrug of her shoulders. Great. Just great.

Her brooding was cut short when Killian took a step forward, agitation clearly written all over his body. "On a first name basis and you allow him to pay for you. Who is the lucky man?"

Emma held back a snappy retort at his obvious show of sarcasm. August had clearly missed it and gave a slight bow. "Reverend August Collins at your service."

"My cousin." Emma added quickly, not that it really meant much though. "August this is Mr. Darcy."

The name made August's eyes widen and his mouth slack slightly open. "Mr. Darcy? The Mr. Darcy? Lady Cora de Bourgh's nephew?"

Wait, August knew who Killian was? How was that even possible? And Killian was Lady Cora's nephew?

"The one and only." Killian said with an obnoxious flurry of his hands. As if he was presenting himself as the King of England.

"It is such an honor to meet you!" August gushed, reaching forward and clasping hands with the man even though Killian hadn't offered them. "Your aunt speaks very highly of you! I don't know if you've heard of me but I am run her Church-"

"Oh, yes, that Mr. Collins." Killian said drolly. "She may have mentioned you once."

Emma might have awed at such a display of rudeness but considering it was Killian, she was sadly use to it by now. Still, it didn't mean she had to stand and watch it happen, no matter how little she liked her cousin. "August is staying with us for the foreseeable future."

"Hopefully not too long though, I do have my duties to return to."

"Then what does bring you here then?" Killian inquired. "From what my Aunt tells me you're quite married to your job. Surely this is more than just a family visit."

August bowed his head shyly for a moment. "Perhaps more than that, I must confess." He then glanced quickly, but not so subtly, at Emma who desperately tried to act as if she did not see it. "I'm afraid, though, my business here is quite of the personal matter."

Oh dear God. If Emma had any doubt what August's intentions were before, there was no way to deny it now. How on Earth was she going to get out of this situation?

"Ah," Killian says simply and Emma could feel his eyes boring into her. But she can't look at him. She just can't. She can't deal with what he may think of the matter (because he's obviously put the pieces together) when she hasn't even sorted out her own feelings. "Well then, I'll leave you to it." And he doesn't offer a polite good bye or some empty wish of having a good day. He just walks away, abrupt and rude, like the rest of his being.

Emma, for some reason, began to feel even more miserable.


It's the next day when August is off for some self mediating walk that Emma decides to go back into town.

The house has become to suffocating to be in, her mother constantly on her back about Mr. Collins if it isn't the man himself pestering her. Her father is no help either and has been locked away in his study more then usual to avoid all the nonsense.

And maybe she actually really wanted that ribbon more then she had let on.

So the first chance she got Emma was grabbing her coat and dashing out the door, half way down the road when someone called after her.

Thankfully, though, it was just Ruby.

"And where do you think you're going?" She asked, jogging up next to her.

"Town." Emma answered simply, continuing to walk on and hoping Ruby would just go back.

"By yourself?"

"Yes."

"Avoiding someone I see hm?"

"Ruby-"

"Hey, fine by me." The brunette raised her hands in surrender. "Do what you want. But, for my silence, a new ribbon would suffice nicely."

Emma scoffed. Of course there would be a catch. "You just got one yesterday. And who says that's even where I'm going."

Ruby shrugged. "I saw you eyeing that one. I do notice things contrary to popular belief. And one can never have too many ribbons! Besides, it's either I get a new ribbon or August finds out his darling cousin is going out without his fascinating company."

Damn her.


"Emma! Look, it's Mr. Wickham! Oh Mr. Wickham!"

Emma starred wide eyed at her sister as she openly yelled for the attention of some soldier, right in the middle of town for all to see. Sometimes she wondered if she and Ruby were raised in the same house.

The solider, though, turned around with a warm smile on his face and Emma faltered for a moment. He was…handsome. Surprisingly handsome. Usually Emma barely noticed the militia when they came to town, that was more Ruby and Aurora's forte. But now that she was looking, well, she was having a hard time looking away.

He walked over, continuing to smile very genuinely, but his gaze had shifted from Ruby to Emma. She tried hard not to blush. But he was handsome. His eyes were a deep brown that reminded her of chocolate, especially the ones she had almost bough yesterday, and his hair a matching color. A thinning mustache was above his lip and his skin a rare tan that practically no one had on their skin. He was a unique handsome, not the kind you saw every day.

"Good morning Miss Benent." He said warmly to Ruby.

"Good morning to you too." Ruby grinned with a flirtatious flutter of her eyelashes. "This is my sister, Emma."

His warm smile turned on her. "Miss Bennet, pleasure to meet you." And he took her hand, which Emma surprisingly gave, a placed a chaste kiss to her knuckles. Her skin burned where they had pressed. "Officer Neal Wickham at your service."

"Pleasure." Emma answered in a shaky breathe. God, she was an absolute mess right now. What was wrong with her?

"We're going to the ribbon shop if you'd like to accompany us." Ruby offered, already beginning to walk that way as if she expected him to follow.

And he actually did.

"I'm sure Mr. Wickham has better things to do then shop for ribbons." Emma protested lightly. Secretly, she found she actually wanted him to come.

"Shockingly, no." Neal sighed dramatically. "We're quite stationary here in town and I find myself looking for any amusement to pass the time. And it might shock you to know I have excellent taste in ribbons."

"Oh really?" Emma smirked. "Not something most men would admit to."

"I'm not most men." He said with a wink. "But, for the sake of my reputation, let's not spread it amongst my ranks."

Emma chuckled. "Wouldn't want you to become the laughing stock of the militia."

"Not that they wouldn't laugh at me regularly. I'm just a poor footmen, someone of no importance." He informed as they walked into the shop. Ruby was already looking around for her soon to be new ribbon.

"Modest as well." Emma remarked and began to shop around, even though she knew exactly where the ribbon she wanted was. It wouldn't hurt to mingle, especially with such new company.

"A man of many talents." Neal laughed. "So, what's catching your eye Miss Bennet?"

"Oh I don't know." Emma said with little care, sliding her hand along the rows of material. "Something for a ball I'm soon to attend."

"Well then it must be something worthy to match your beauty." Neal reached forward and pulled at a dark green strand. "How about this? It matches your eyes quite nicely."

Emma ducked her head to hide the grin that split on her face. So, Mr. Wickham had noticed what colors her eyes where? How…nice. "It's a nice color."

"Just nice? Well, say no more, we'll find something else."

Maybe it was time to stop playing around. Without anymore preamble Emma walked over to the blue material and grabbed it. "I think this would do quite nicely."

"Blue," Neal commented with a raise of the eyebrows. "Not my first choice but I believe you could make any color look grand."

Again, Emma had to duck her head.

Mr. Wickham had decided to accompany them on the walk home, much to both Ruby and Emma's delight. He was extremely pleasant to talk to and was always telling jokes to lighten the mood. Funny, handsome, charming, Emma found herself adding to the list of Neal's attractive traits the longer she knew him.

It was odd. She had never felt this way about a man before. Ever.

"Oh look who it is!"

Emma broke away from her conversation with Neal to see, not far off in the distance, two men on horseback trotting leisurely down the road. As they came closer it became clear who they were, David and Killian.

"Hello Mr. Bingely!" Ruby cooed. "Look, I bought a new ribbon for your ball!" She flourished the pale pink object in the air with a laugh.

"It's lovely!" David smiled. "We were just on the way to your house actually. Your mother invited us for afternoon tea."

Now when on Earth had that woman managed to do that? And without telling anyone either?

"Really?" Ruby asked. "Well I hadn't known that. Thank goodness Emma and I were just on our way back. Oh!" Ruby then noticed she had introduced their new friend. "How rude of me. This is Mr. Wickham, an officer in the militia. You must invite him to your ball Mr. Bingley!"

"Ruby," Emma hissed. "You can't invite people to other people's balls."

David waved his hand away to signify it was fine. "Of course you must come Mr. Wickham."

Emma smiled gratefully (trust David to always lighten any situation) and then finally allowed herself to look at Mr. Darcy, not forgetting his cold departure the day before. She was surprised, though, to find an extremely-and outwardly-malicious look on his face. She had seen him rude before, even indifferent, but never so obviously angry. It was actually quite…scary. Those handsome features she grudgingly admitted he had were snarled up into something tense and threatening, and his eyes a dark shade of blue she didn't think possible to have. She would think he was quite capable of murder at the moment. And the worst of it all, it was aimed directly at Mr. Wickham.

Why on Earth would that be?

"Come on David, we don't want to be late." Killian said gruffly. Before he could suffer another moment in their presence Killian spurred his horse into action and galloped away at a hasty speed. David looked after him oddly and gave a quick and apologetic goodbye before chasing away to catch up to his friend.

Everyone was baffled at the scene.

And suddenly, Emma wasn't in such a rush to get home. Ruby, on the other hand, actually quickened her pace and didn't even care when there was a decent amount of distance between she and her sister. Mr. Wickham was content to stay with Emma, thankfully.

"Am I assume to correct you and Mr. Darcy know each other?" Emma asked after she was sure Ruby was out of earshot.

"I'm afraid he wasn't too subtle about it was he?" Neal laughed mirthlessly. "Yes, we know each other."

"May I also assume then, it's not the best of relationships?"

Neal sighed. "Sadly, no. I fear we share a bit of complicated past, not one I would want to bore you with."

"Well I'm not really at the present to be home, considering the new company."

Neal looked at her with surprise. "So you aren't fond of him either?'

"Well…" Emma nibbled at her lip. She didn't want to attack the man but she wanted to be truthful as well. "We're not the closest of acquaintances. I much more friendly with Mr. Bingley."

"I haven't had the pleasure to meet him. But from I did see he seemed very amicable."

"So…" Emma glanced sideways at Mr. Wickham. "You and Mr. Darcy?"

Neal scratched at the back of his head, a nervous habit Emma noticed and found quite adorable. "Well, we grew up together. My father was the pastor on his land but he had died at quite a young age. My mother had died in childbirth so I was all alone at that point. The senior Mr. Dracy took me in and raised me as one his own."

"So you and Mr. Darcy were something like brothers?"

"Yes, we were. However, things changed when senior Mr. Darcy died. Killian grew…dark. It was as if he was a new man. Suddenly, he had all this resentment towards me. All this jealousy. He couldn't stand the fact his father favored me so. He felt cheated. I, naturally, felt extremely betrayed to have lost someone so close to me and then to have Killian turn on me."

Emma swallowed thickly. "That's terrible."

"Indeed. Well, in his will the old man left me quite a sum of money and the Church as well. Killian, though, well…he wanted me out off his life as soon as possible now that his father was out of the way. He cheated me out of my inheritance and I had no choice but to join the militia. It was my only option unless I wanted to be on the streets."

Emma was awestruck. She knew Killian wasn't the most pleasant of men but to do such a thing? It was awful. Inhuman. Indecent. It made her never want to be in his company again. And to think he was at her house right now having tea. It made her skin crawl. And Neal was such a nice man, one who had lost his whole family and had no hopes for the future. How could Killian be so cruel?

"I'm…so sorry." Emma truly didn't know what else to say. What else could she possibly say?

"It's not your fault." Neal smiled despite it all. "But thank you anyway."

"How could you stand to go to a ball he'll be at?" She asked.

"I won't let him worsen my character. I will not run. If anything, he should run. He was the one to have acted so beastly."

Emma silently nodded her head. She was angry, yes, maybe even livid. But inside, her stomach was churning. For even though she wanted to hate him for such a sin, a treacherous part of her couldn't help but defend him. It was a part of her that remembered the long glances, the promises of loving a challenge, of the few times they touched.

But Emma ignored it. She desperately tried to ignore it. Killian was no one to her, despite whatever they've exchanged. She had to keep thinking that way or she was sure she'd go crazy.


"Emma…that sounds awful."

"I know!" Emma exclaimed, flopping down on the bed. "How could anyone treat another human being like that?"

Snow bit at her lip. "It is truly hard to believe."

"Wait a second," Emma looked over at her sister. "You sound like you actually don't believe it."

Snow looked down at her lap. "It's just…well, you said it yourself. How could someone do that?"

"So you think Mr. Wickham is lying?" Emma asked incredulously.

"Maybe not so much lying as, oh I don't know, stretching the truth? It's just we know Mr. Darcy. Sure, he's a bit standoffish but I would never think him as completely malicious."

Emma laughed. "Just a bit standoffish?"

"I know what he said about you at the Lucas' was completely rude but I think you're holding onto it a bit too tightly Emma."

"What do you mean?"

Snow shrugged. "From what I've seen, he's been trying to make it up to you ever since. You're the only one he has eyes for and I've never seen him be engaged so much in a conversation then he is with you. It's a little endearing."

"Endearing?" Emma cried. "It's…it's frustrating. Maddening. But not endearing. I'm just a conquest to him Snow. Nothing more."

"I'm not so sure." Snow reached forward and gently grabbed her sister's hand. "Maybe…Emma, well, you've never really be open to love. And now that's there a chance for you to have it, you're afraid. So you're hiding behind Mr. Wickham's story because it gives you a reason to pull away."

…what?

"Snow, you can't be anymore wrong. I…I don't…." Emma trailed off. How to answer that? How to…was Snow right? Was she…afraid? Was she….

Emma shook her head. No. No she can't think like that. Snow wasn't right. She couldn't be.

"Maybe we should go to bed." Emma said, rolling on her side and turning her back to her sister. Behind her she heard Snow give a soft sigh but nonetheless lay down.

"Good night." Snow said softly.

Emma squeezed her eyes shut and did her best banish the thoughts swirling around in her head.


Authors Note: Next chapter we will have the ball! What romantic shenanigans will Emma find herself in there hm? Well, we shall see.

As always, thank you to all reviewers, please keep 'em coming!