A/n: Sorry this took so long lovelies! I actually had most of this written when I posted the 2nd part but I just couldn't finish the ending and then it just kept getting longer and longer. So this part is actually the 3rd part I'd been working on cut in half. So I'm sorry it's a little shorter than usual but the next chapter will be longer. Thank you for hanging in there this long!

Disclaimer: I own nothing~!


Part 3

Never had he dressed himself faster than in the moments after he watched Swan – Emma – being dragged out of his cabin and off his ship in the arms of the men he recognized from the Looking Glass Inn.

Killian didn't have time to stop and think about what he doing or what was happening. All he knew was that Emma was being taken and he was dashing after her, carefully hiding himself under the cloak in question, following these man through a stone courtyard, behind some questionable buildings and finally down a narrow passageway.

They were arguing about something as the smaller man, Rakesh, fidgeted in his pockets while the other carried a surprisingly calm Emma over his shoulder. As they turned to finally enter the back door to what Killian presumed to be the shop he saw that the men had blindfolded her, maybe even knocked her unconscious. Killian rushed the door, catching it just in time before it locked behind them and snuck in.

The small room was crowded, piled high with clutter, everything from traveling trunks and books to paintings and urns. Snaking through the disorder, Killian found himself hidden behind a curtain of cloaks slung up and a very tall stand alone looking glass. This certainly didn't look like any shop he'd ever been to.

Emma was slumped over in a wooden chair amongst the mess; her arms now tied behind her and her long blond hair curtained around her face. The two men loomed over her muttering under their breath, their swords forgotten behind them. Killian strained to hear them when they finally spoke up.

Rakesh squatted in front of her, snapping his fingers then slowly removed the blindfold. "Hello there, sweetheart." He smirked at her when she came to, lightly wriggling her arms behind her realizing they were bound. "Now, darling, where is that beautiful cloak you stole from me?" He spoke calmly, almost trying to be charming, but Killian could spot a snake anywhere. Emma didn't even look at him, she was perfectly still. The overly large bear of a man took a step forward but Rakash raised his hand, waving him off.

"Darling, we're not going to hurt you if you just tell us where the cloak is."

Emma finally raised her head, her locks falling to reveal her face. Her lips were perked up slightly at the edges. Killian didn't know what she was going to do. In that moment his heart nearly stopped. Every instinct was telling him to charge forward, thwart these scoundrels, take Emma and run. But something stopped him. Emma was too calm. She was planning something. Killian waited.

Her eyes darted around the room, landing on every surface except the men standing before her. She was surveying the room, mapping an escape route. After a moment she turned to Rakesh and painted a look of innocent across her features.

"I paid you for it. Why isn't that enough?" She finally answered.

"Because, my dear, it is not gold I am interested in." His eyes swept across the room admiring his treasures before turning back to Emma, expectantly.

"Who are you? How did you find me?" Emma was speaking almost conversationally, calmly and seemingly cooperative, except that she wasn't answering the question at all. She was buying time.

"Oh, with a simple locator spell," Rakesh boasted, he was proud to show off what he'd done to find her. "Once we found the gold and the lovely note you left – thanks for that – it was easy enough to find you." His fingers flicked a strand of her hair and Killians hand gripped his sword under the cloak.

Emma's eyes flashed some kind of understanding but she quickly schooled her features back to an innocent. "Where did you even find such an object?" she cooed, trying to coax the vain shopkeeper (who Killian was beginning to realize was not a shopkeeper at all) into bragging more. He was only happy to tell.

"My dear, I am a collector of all kinds of special artifacts and relics." He stood up and leaned over her, both hands on the armrest around her, so close he could kiss Emma. "Now, where is the cloak?"

"Why didn't you just let the Royal Knights find me? Take me to the King and Queen for punishment?"

"Oh you foolish girl, there were never any Royal Knights after you. Do you think the King and Queen give a damn about a common thief like you?" He'd stood back, smiling. "I just had to motivate you to come out of hiding and that you did."

"Well when they hear about the illegal business you're running here they're going to give damn." All pretense of innocence fled as her tone grew bold.

"What did you just say?" Rakesh was no longer smiling, his face drained of color. His gaze flickered around the room nervously. Killian wasn't sure if Emma had been bluffing but something was definitely going on here, his reaction proved it.

"You heard me. I know exactly what you're doing here and the King and Queen will hear about it."

"Who's going to listen to a street rat like you?"

"They'll listen to their daughter." Emma was smirking now, a glint in her eyes.

Rakesh was silent for a long pause, putting the pieces together and finally stuttering out, "P-princess Emma?" The realization hit him about the same time it hit Killian.

Somehow his hand gripped his sword tighter; feeling the overwhelming sensation to protect her Killian took this opportunity to creep out of his hiding place.

He didn't have time to comprehend the new information as the larger man who'd been standing idly behind as the situation unfolded came forward reeling to strike Emma. Without thinking Killian surged forward, still invisible, he used the hilt of his sword to knock the man out. He slumped to the floor before anyone knew what was happening.

Rakesh turned away from Emma looking for the source as Killian's foot landed in his gut. He slumped to the floor while Killian went to break Emma free from her restraints but she had taken the opportunity during the commotion to free herself. She must have been working on the knots the whole tie. She stood looking around franticly.

"Let's go, Swan." She startled at his light touch on her back, urging her forward but she did not flinch as she turned to Rakesh, huddled on the floor.

She reached for a framed looking glass sitting beside him. Raising it above his head she whispered, "They'll come for you," and smashed it over him, successfully knocking him out.

In a matter of seconds she appeared in the alleyway outside the shop. Her eyes fell on Killian (who was no longer invisible) and in one fell swoop she backed him into a wall, her body pressed against his. Her petite frame wasn't enough to hold him but he let her while her eyes roamed his face, searching him. "You heard all that?" She asked, maddened. She wasn't angry yet her eyes shone bright and crazed.

"Aye." He relaxed against her, a wave of heat washing over him at their close proximity. Of course he heard everything; she was really asking if he'd heard the bit about her being a bloody princess. He'd yet to process, yet to figure out if he cared about this new piece of information.

Her gaze shifted into worry as she understood.

"Emma." He whispered against her lips, only a breath apart. "We need to get out of here before they wake up."

She sucked in a long breath, finally exhaling and said, "I need to go home, to the castle, and alert the knights. You can come along if you like but I will understand if you don't," she whispered before pausing, searching his eyes again and he watched the realization wash over her, what it would mean to her if he didn't come. "Or if you never want to see me again." She was still against him, he could feel her curves molded into his and he couldn't bear to see the hurt in her eyes.

He closed the distance between their mouths; gently brushing his lips against hers. Their mouths clung together, light at first then growing hungrier. Parting her lips with his tongue he deepened the kiss. Feeling her hands reluctantly curl around his neck, Killian firmly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close as possible. He never wanted to feel her reluctance again.

They were a burning flame, the fire between them blazing with each searing touch. His hand surged through her hair as they moved in sync. It took everything inside him not to reach up under her skirts and take her right there in the alleyway. Finally breathless and panting he pulled away.

"I would follow you anywhere." The words surprised him but as they spilled out he realized he meant every word. A breath of relief escaped her, hot on his neck.

!~

After that they walked for a while, escaping the port city. Emma walked with a purpose, she was all too determined to get home as soon as possible and Killian noticed.

"What exactly are you planning, Swan?" He asked as he fell in step with her.

"I plan to expose that shop keeper's illegal trading business to my parents." She huffed as if she'd been bursting to relieve herself of this information. "You saw the look on his face, he was definitely guilty."

"And how exactly do you suppose you'll do that without incriminating yourself at the same time?"

"Send an anonymous message to the knights inciting a raid on the shop. They'll never have to know we were involved."

"If they believe it - what if they question the shopkeeper?"

"I have a feeling he'll be gone by the time they get there." Her smirk reeked of pride and Killian couldn't help but chuckle at the adorable sight.

"That's why you warned him. So he'd get the hell out of town."

"Exactly."

"Swan, you may be a princess but you'd make a hell of a pirate." Killian said, grinning at her.

~!

After walking an hour or so they could finally see the castle in the distance, just beyond a bluff. Killian's legs carried him absentmindedly, easily in tune with Emma as they walked silently. His mind was reeling, trying to comprehend Emma's true identity.

At first nothing mattered except getting her to safety and then soothing her distraught. Now a calming sense of determination had settled between them as they neared the castle, her castle, and something just kept nagging at him, preventing him from fully understanding the situation.

He wasn't angry, though he probably should have been. She'd lied to him.

Although, what could he possibly say about that? He was a bloody pirate after all and a sodding good one at that. He stole and cheated and lied for a living. If anything he's more intrigued. He just had to know.

"Swan – Emma? Why didn't you tell me who you really are?"

The question caught her off guard, surprising her in the silence. She paused mid-stride and sighed to herself almost like she was wondering when he was going to ask. Killian stopped to face her.

"My given name is Emma. Princess is just a title. But that's not who I really am." She paused again, glancing over her shoulder at the looming castle before continuing. "My parents have tried for years to keep me locked up in their castle, away from the world and supposedly harm's way. When I started sneaking out I became someone else outside their walls. I became Swan. It was a name my father used to call me actually." She smiled to herself at the memory. "But when I'm with you, it's different. I want you to know me. All of me. I want to know you."

"You still failed to mention the bit about the tiara," Killian teased.

A flash of guilt crossed her bright emerald gaze. "Honestly, had you known I was a princess, would you have wanted anything to do with me?" Her tone was toxic as she spat out the words.

"Emma," he breathed her name like oxygen on a flame and stepped into her personal space, cupping her cheek with his hand. "Why do you seek the company of a pirate?" Deflecting the question, his voice was small and curious. Yet the crushing self deprecation could not be completely masked; it was the tone of man who'd spent years blaming himself for hideous deeds and loss of humanity.

Stripped of all the bravado, Killian knew he was damn good pirate, but at what cost? How many people had gotten in his way on his quest for revenge? How many people had died in his arms? What did he have to offer a princess?

"Killian," The use of his real name ignited a small flame in his deep blue eyes. "I didn't know what I was looking for until I met you. All my life I've felt like a piece of myself was missing. But then I met you and somehow I didn't feel so incomplete. Pirate or not, it doesn't change how I feel about you." Emma confessed.

"Then you have your answer, love. Princess or not, it does not change how I feel about you either." Once again the words flowed from his mouth on their own accord yet they were the truth the instant they left his lips. Her eyes softened, relief washing over her not for first time that night and Killian felt it too, somewhere deep in his bones.

The gap between them closed and Killian was reaching for her waist, pulling her into his arms. He nuzzled into her long golden locks, breathing in the scent of lavender and something else settled between them. Comfort. After so many years emotionally severed from the human race he'd found comfort in another human being, the thought was utterly gut-wrenching and yet he held on tighter.

After a long moment they broke apart, Killian tucking a loose strand of hair behind Emma's ear and pressing a feather-light kiss to her lips. They continued walking wordlessly into the early morning hours.