Years Earlier...

"Emma!"

The clear voice that she would recognize anywhere called out to her from across the town square. With a smile, Emma turned and found August coming towards her. "August, what are you doing here?"

"I have a message for you from your father. He asks that you come back to the palace."

"What? Has he forgotten that today was supposed to be my day off? That I was—"

August interrupted her, "He did not forget, however he needs you back at the palace. Look, he has guests coming and I think he wants you to be there to greet them."

"What guests? Father hadn't told me about any guests. Who are they?"

"I don't know, just that you need to come. Please, Emma, let's go. I'm already missing part of the council meeting."

Emma sighed in exasperation and ran a hand through her hair. "Oh, all right, fine. I'll come." With that, she motioned to the guard who had been following her about and the three continued on to the palace.

Neither of them took notice of the naval crew that disembarked from the large warship, although the lieutenant had certainly noticed Emma. Lieutenant Killian Jones felt he had never seen such a lady. Her hair fell down her back in waves, curly and golden and wild. He caught sight of her eyes as she turned to call her guard, and Killian saw that they were a piercing grey-green. The true marvel had been her smile. Oh, the beauty had not been bestowed on him, rather her friend, but Killian's heart had stopped all the same when he had seen it. He watched as she eventually slipped her arm through her companion's and the pair walked on, a palace guard trailing behind them. Killian was unprepared for the almost violent knife of jealousy that sliced through him at the sight. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and turned back to his brother, who was leading the crew through the crowded streets. "Brother, where exactly are we going?"

Liam turned and grinned, "You and I are to report to the palace," his voice rose to a shout to be heard by the crew, "and the rest of these upstanding gentlemen are to be given the day off!" The men cheered and split off into groups, spreading out over the town. Liam clapped Killian on the back and drew his younger brother forward. "Come, Killian, our fate awaits us."

. . .

Emma sat on the small throne in the corner and tried to keep her boredom from showing on her face. Her father indeed had called her back so that she could greet his guests, and not only that, but had made her change out of her comfortable shirt and pants. The lavender dress, one of her mother's favorites, gave her an almost uncontrollable itch on her underarms. She sighed quietly and stood, ready to leave so she could change into something more suitable when the doors opened and two men dressed in naval uniforms entered—a captain and a lieutenant. Emma looked at the lieutenant, and the sight took her breath away. He was tall, with hair as black as night to match the stubble on his unshaven jaw. His ice-blue eyes held hers for a moment before he turned to the King and bowed from behind his captain.

Emma's father stepped forward and welcomed them warmly. "Captain Jones and Lieutenant Jones, thank you for coming. What with the recent storms we had expected you to arrive much later. At the moment, my council and I were about to break for lunch. Will you not join us?"

Captain Jones bowed, "It would be my brother's and my honor, your Majesty, thank you." The lieutenant bowed as well, glancing quickly at Emma.

Catching the look, the King turned and motioned Emma to come forward. "Officers, allow me to introduce my daughter, Princess Emma." She smiled and held out her hand.

Captain Jones stepped nearer and grasped it, bending at the waist, "An honor to make your acquaintance, my lady. Your Majesty, your daughter is an absolute gem. I can see why your kingdom has the reputation for the most magnificent jewels." Subtly, he winked at her.

Emma smiled demurely and turned to the lieutenant, who was now in front of her. He reached for her hand and bowed over it, his mouth a hairsbreadth away. "Your Highness, a pleasure." She gasped quietly at the warmth that spread through her at the sensation of her hand in his. He stood slowly, his blue eyes fastened on her green ones. Neither noticed the shrewd eyes of the King, for it suddenly felt as though time stood still. Something unknown hung in the air between them, something pleasant and warm that made Emma's breath hitch and her heart pound in her chest. The King cleared his throat and the moment broke, the outside world intruding once more. Blinking, she smiled grandly at the lieutenant, inordinately pleased when he returned it. Emma turned to her father, her boredom suddenly gone. "Well, are we going to eat or not? I for one am positively starving."

The King laughed, "Yes, daughter dearest, we are going to eat." He turned to his guests and his men, "Come, let's not keep the Princess waiting, she turns into an absolute hellion when she's hungry."

"Father!" Emma's indignant voice rang out amid the booming laughter, although the twinkle of mischief in her grey-green eyes betrayed her amusement. Her father offered her his arm, and they led the way into the dining room.

. . .

Killian walked through the corridor, caught up in his thoughts of the day…and of Emma. He could not help but smile at the thought of her. She was wonderful, full of light and energy and laughter and goodness. He could have sat at the table all day and listened to her talk and laugh with joy spread all over her face. He grinned at the memory of the easy banter she had with her father and the rest of her father's men. Killian had never met anyone like her. He turned the corner and collided with someone. Instinctively he dropped his hands on the person's shoulders to steady them, and looked down. His breath caught. It was Emma, as though with his thoughts he had conjured her out of nowhere. He smiled down at her, enjoying the warmth that her touch brought to him. She pulled back, her face red with embarrassment.

"Lieutenant, I am so sorry—I did not mean—I was not looking…" she trailed off helplessly and he grinned again.

"Please, Princess, do not trouble yourself. It was entirely my own fault—I was lost in my thoughts and did not hear you approach. Are you all right?" He looked her over, concern filling his gaze.

"Allow me to reassure you sir, I am quite well, just embarrassed." She moved backwards to place more distance between them, but stopped short of a sudden.

Looking down, Killian might have laughed if Emma wasn't already red in the face. "It appears we are in somewhat of a bind, my lady. Here," he dropped his hands to untangle the lock of her blond hair that had snagged in his button, "allow me to help you."

Emma, somewhat over her embarrassment now, chuckled slightly and laid her smaller hands on his. "You are struggling Lieutenant-it appears your fingers are too big. Please, let me." She gently pushed his hands away and went to work on disentangling herself from him, using her nails to draw out the hair.

Killian watched as she pulled and plucked, and even a few times winced with her when she pulled rather excessively hard. Eventually, she laughed and dropped her hands. "It is no use, we shall have to cut it. Either that, or we traipse around the palace for the rest of the day attached to one another and see which of us might attract the most curious looks."

"Surely, any outcome for that would not be honest, for how would we distinguish whom the look is directed to?" He grinned down at her.

Emma cocked her head and appeared to ponder his question most seriously. "We shan't." She smiled fully, showing off straight white teeth that nearly blinded him. "As your princess, I shall covet all of the best looks for myself, and as my most dutiful lieutenant companion, you will allow me to have them."

Killian threw his head back and laughed heartily at her statement. "Very well then, my Princess, where do you suggest we go first?

"Hmm, let us go to the kitchens. Cook will have a right fair laugh and so will the other servants, and I could do with the entertainment as well. Not to mention, we shall have to pass numerous guards on our way, and I am sure to gather as many queer stares as I can from them." Her radiant smile stayed on her face as he offered her his arm and she took it, resting her fingers lightly on top. Laughing together, they walked down the corridor, each warming from head to toe by the other's touch.


**A/N: Sorry for the mix of Old and New English, I'm trying to find a nice balance so that it's not too awkward...review and let me know what you think**