A/N: Another update! Emma PoV (mostly) this time :) hope you'll like it :D

Disclaimer: I do NOT own OUaT or any of the characters. Ha.

"What?"

The choked whisper that escaped Emma's lips was surprisingly well heard in the large hall.

"Oh, my poor child." The gray-haired queen cupped her face with both hands, tears still shining in her bright eyes. "They never told you, did they?"

"No." Emma managed to blurt. The lump in her throat made it difficult for her to speak. She wasn't a princess. Her parents would have never kept such a secret from her, she was sure of it. She could feel the look of the prince's blue eyes on her back as if they were drilling into it.

"I shall have my second bed chamber allocated to you. You are welcome to stay for as long as you like, and I'll have your clothes washed and some new ones sent to your room." The queen looked at her warmly for a moment. "We owe your father so much, dear. We'll gladly assist you with whatever you need." The king nodded from behind her.

"I thank you for your kindness, your Majesties." She earnestly said.

"I'll have my maid escort you to the room, Emma, and heat water for a bath."

Killian watched as she left the throne room. He could see in her eyes that she didn't believe- didn't want to believe- what his mother was saying. He tried to imagine how would he feel like if something like this would have happened to him- if he would have found out that Liam was keeping such a massive secret from him- and immediately banished the thought, for it made him feel sickness creeping it's way into his stomach. His heart ached for her.

When she showed up for dinner, she was being as charming as she could so that she could remain silent without it being too noticeable. she retired to the room she was now living in as soon as she could.

She didn't get much rest that night.

In her dream, she was 20 years old again, staring at the wooden, simple coffin Graham's body was sent home in. She lifted the heavy case with shaking hands and gasped as she found there not one but four corpses. She was gazing at the cold, dead bodies of her parents, best friend and lover, all pressed together in the narrow wooden box. A wave of paralizing, burning hope shot through her as she saw their eyelids flutter. Horror took it's place as their eyelids lifted, showing her the lack of orbs underneath, and she screamed her soul out as their limbs twitched and spiders were slowly begining to crawl out of their half opened mouths-

She threw herself to a sitting position, rubbing her tear drenched face with her palm, trying to clam herself and steady her rapid, heavy breath. It was a dream, she reminded herself. It wasn't real.

As if she actually thought it would make things better.

She gasped at the quick series of firm knocks on the door.

"Swan?"

Oh, shit. Was she screaming?

"Emma, are you alright?" asked the prince from the other side of the door.

"I'm fine, your Majesty." She muttered huskily.

She had to move closer to the door to hear the following sentence properly."It sounded like one hell of a nightmare, if I may say so." He said quietly. He didn't want everyone to hear it, she realized.

He could hear her rest her head against the door in a silent thud. "Was I that loud?" Her voice was coming out muffled.

There was a pause before he answered. "Yes. But you shouldn't be embarrassed about it." He cleared his throat. "Our fears make us human."

Her heart melted at his words, and logic lost the battle against emotion within her as she opened the door to find him standing in front of her.

"Hello there, Swan," He grinned, and she was so greatful and relieved he chose to ignore the clear evidence of the tears she had shed that she felt the urge to hug him. "I was hoping you'd open up eventually."

The double meaning of the last sentence struck her with wonder. He must have done this on purpose. Over the last two days, she have been telling herself that the oath to win her heart was nothing more than him giving up to his tiredness. Maybe she was wrong, suggested a hopeful, treacherous voice deep in her heart.

"May I come in?"

She considered refusing, but she couldn't deny her need for company. For the last four years, and for a long period of time before Graham came into her life, she would fight her demons alone. She would wake up screaming with no one to comfort her too many times. She had lost count at some point.

But now there was this man- a bloody prince, no less- to help her with her late night bloody battle against her fear and sorrow. The appeal of the idea was too strong to ignore.

She nodded and moved to let him inside.

"Now, Swan, would you like to talk about it or would you like me to keep quiet?"

She fought the urge to raise an eyebrow at him. He spoke as if he was a doctor offering her a way to cure her sickness.

"Keeping quiet seems like the better option right now, your Highness."

He pressed his lips together in an emotion she didn't quite recognize. "Though they appear to be harder, Swan, I find talking way more helpful than swallowing everything."

Understanding dawned in her eyes. "So why won't you talk to me about the reason you were roaming aroud in the middle of the night, your Majesty?" She inquired.

He looked at her silently for half a moment and suddenly she was overwhelmed with fear, that she might has stepped over the line.

"You really don't have to call me that now, Emma." He sighed.

"I am not a princess, Your Majesty, and you are ignoring my question."

"What makes you so sure, Emma Swan?" He kept at it, and leaned forward so that she could observe the dark circles under his eyes. He was having nightmares. She was absolutely sure of it.

"My parents wouldn't have lied to me about it." She finally said.

"As it appears to me, Swan, they weren't lying, they just kept things to themselves." He noted, knowing exactly what response would it get him.

"It's the same. Maybe even worse." She declared without hesitation.

"Have you considered the possibility they might have done it to keep you safe?" He asked gently, trying not to push her.

"From what?" She snorted. He scratched behind his ear, nervous all the sudden.

"Swan- I'm honestly not sure if I'm the best person to tell you this. I don't know all the details, but I could tell you what I've been told by my parents about yours, if you want me to."

Her eyes widened. She gulped and nodded briefly.

His eyes searched her for a long moment. "Alright." He gestured at the bed. "May I sit down?"

She nodded again, her eyes never leaving his, desprate to find comfort in the words he was going to say- and only then he realized the importance of the next sentences that were going to leave his mouth.

He sat down next to her on the bed. She could feel heat radiating from him. "Well, your father had been a shepard, until he was, um- addopted by King George, I guess, I don't really know how did this work. And your mother was the step-daughter of the Evil Queen. And… they didn't get along, to say the least. King George and Queen Regina tried to kill them, uh, your parents, I mean. Multiple times." He felt like a complete fool, mumbling and stumbling upon his own words under the fervor of her green gaze. No woman had ever made him feel this way. He wondered if she understood the huge influence she had on him, not even a week after they first met. He wondered if he did himself.

"And- they defeated them, your parents. The people were loyal to them and they took back the kingdoms, united them and got married." He eyed her nervously."And probably conceived you. But then the Evil Queen came back and threatened them and their people. And you, specifically." He watched her holding back tears, but knew he owed her the rest of the stroy. He decided to leave it up to her. "Would you like me to stop now, love? Have I gone too far?"

She shook her head. "No." He could hear a plea hidden in her voice as she said that.

"She threatened to enact a terrible curse. The darkest curse there is, one that would rip everyone apart from their happy endings, unless they hand over the throne. Your parents, being good leaders, surrendered to protect their people. And you." His voice became softer. "The kingdoms split. They had to disappear. The people were loyal to them, and if they would have been present, the people would have rebelled. They probably hid this from you because they knew the queen would come after you if you'd try anything."

She sniffled. "Thank you for telling me this."

He didn't miss the lack of his title in the sentence. It warmed his heart. "You are most certainly welcome, Emma." He noticed her blinking had become heavier, longer. "Would you like me to go so that you can try to sleep again?" He asked her.

I want you to stay with me, thought the emotional part of her mind, but for the first time in this strange, nightly encounter of theirs the logic part took over. "Yes, thank you."

He nodded, and got up. She was still sitting on the edge of the bed, making no move to lie down. A small smirk was now stretching her lips. "Good job on dodging my question, by the way."

He looked baffled. "What question?" He asked.

"The one about the reason you were wandering around in the middle of the night."

A grin was now beginning to play on his lips as well. "Maybe another time, milady." He chuckled, and then took her hand gently in his, bringing it to his lips and kissing it lightly. "Goodnight, Emma Swan." He wished her.

"What should I call you if not by the title?" She asked, when he was about to leave the room.

He turned around, and his eyes glowed in the darkness of the room. "The name is Killian Jones, lass."

"Goodnight, then, Killian Jones."

The last thing she was aware of before she fell into a dreamless slumber was guilt for so easily forgetting her pain around Killian Jones.

-xxx-

When she woke up the next morning, she didn't realize where was she at first.

And then she remembered.

She was a princess.

She was in a palace.

And she was bloody well hungry.

She dressed up in a blue gown and went down the spiral staircase. When she opened the door to the dining hall she found there the queen, the prince (who gave her a dazzling smile as he saw her walk in) and a man she didn't know, whose laughter was way too loud and forced to her liking.

"Had a good night sleep, princess?" Asked her the prince in a flirtatious tone. She uncontrollably smiled back widely, because surprisingly, she actually did. She was rather greatful for the conversation they had. She was still confused, there was no denying that. But knowing all the facts made her feel better.

"Princess?" Asked the man, slowly creeping (in a lack of a better term to describe how he walked) his way towards her. "Did the prince secretly get married? I would have expected an invitation."

"No, no, it's nothing like that. She is a guest in our home." Explained Queen Abigail.

"Well, how do you do, beautiful?" Emma could see Killian's fist clenching as the man left an open mouthed kiss on her knuckles. She shamelessly wiped her hand on her dress, and Killian couldn't help but chuckle, a short sound that rumbled deep in his chest.

"Fine, how are you?"

Bloody hell, she was turning out to be more and more perfect by the sodding second, he mused.

"I'm fine now, milady. But- I'd be damned if I don't recognize you from somewhere- have we met?"

"I don't believe I've had the pleasure." She said through gritted teeth, getting more and more repulsed by the man with every word he spoke.

"Edgar, I think it's time for you to leave." Said the queen, her tone suddenly urgent.

"I could have sworn you look just like…" His hand came to cup her chin, tilting her head from side to side. Killian couldn't help the low growl that escaped his lips. Emma pulled away.

"Killian, dear, why won't you take our guest to see if there's something for her to eat in the kitchen."

The prince nodded and got to Emma, offering her his arm and locking his eyes with hers.

"She looks like Snow White."

They all froze at his words. He was practically shaking with excitment.

"This is Snow White's daughter." Edgar croaked in his disgustingly husky voice. It wasn't a question. Three pairs of eyes filled with a slight begining of panic.

"The Evil Queen will pay a fortune for her. So will King George," He mumbled as he packed his bags in a hurry.

"Please, wait," Begged the queen, but in vain. He was already running out, slamming the door shut behind him.

"What was that?" Asked Emma, afraid to know the answer.

"He is a slimy bastard, willing to do what ever it takes to get as much money as he possibly can." Said Killian, eyes sparking with worry and rage.

"She can't stay here." Whispered the queen. "They will come looking for her here. We have to hide her. They can't find her."

"Weren't their problems with my parents?" Emma asked, confused.

"Emma, you are the only thing left of your parents. You can claim their thrones lawfully. People will follow you." Said the queen, tears once again in her eyes. "You are a threat to them, Emma, and they do not react well to threats. If they'll find you…" She gulped. "They'll kill you, Emma."

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