A/N: Long weekend = longer chapter! The plot's finally starting to pick up some speed, which means that there's plenty more excitement to come. Unfortunately, that also means more planning, and add on to that an extremely busy week (prom, yay!) and I'm not sure if I'll be able to post a chapter next week. I'll do my best to get a new chapter published as soon as I can. So, until next time, cheers!

CHAPTER 4

"DID YOU HEAR that?" Killian broke the silence hanging over the table like a blanket, sitting upright in his chair. Grumpy, across from him, shrugged and mumbled something around a mouthful of purloined roast mutton. With a sigh, Killian stood up to investigate.

His long stride carried him though the castle faster than Grumpy, who decided to join him after all, and he entered the ballroom a few steps ahead of the dwarf. A dark figure crouched in the middle of the room, and he called out without thinking.

"Hey! What are you doing in here?" His voice carried through the hall, more used to bellowing over stormy winds than through empty space. The figure paused only for a second before bolting for the door at the other end of the room. "Bloody hell…" Killian cursed under his breath, before running after the intruder. They were fast, he'd give them that.

"Stop!" he tried, knowing full well it would do no good, but he wasn't really in the mood for a chase. The stairs slowed down the figure, and he caught up easily. From this distance he could see a ragged coat and long, golden hair, and he felt momentarily bad for startling the lass. She must have been looking for shelter. "Wait, hold on a minute, love!"

Surprisingly, she did slow, but didn't turn around. Sensing that she was close to running again, he halted on the steps, coming no closer. He heard Grumpy halfway across the hall, panting as he raced to join them.

"Now, how did you get in here…" He trailed off as the lass turned around. She was stunning, even dressed in rags, her golden hair tumbling in messy waves down slightly slumped shoulders, and her blue eyes at once soft and suspicious as they looked him over. Her mouth was pressed into a firm line, holding back irritation, and those startling eyes narrowed. She shrugged, and the motion drew Killian's gaze to the portrait behind her.

The girl in the painting was younger, more carefree, her smile open and warm as opposed to guarded and cynical, but there was a definite resemblance. This had to be fate, that a woman who looked exactly like the lost princess should stumble across their dwelling.

Grumpy's arrival behind him broke Killian out of his thoughts, and a good thing too, as he was sure he'd been staring. Poor form. The small creature bundled in the woman's arms seemed to agree, jumping down and coming closer to growl at him. Ignoring the pup, Killian turned to Grumpy.

"Do you see what I see?" He asked quietly, not wanting the lass to overhear.

"Holy…" Was his only reply, and Killian took it as a good sign.

The dog growled again, and Killian picked him up to pass over to Grumpy. "Hello, mutt. Cute."

"Are you Killian?" The lass, still standing a few feet away, spoke up. She eyed the mutt as he snuggled closer to Grumpy, who was quickly getting over his discomfort at the small creature. Putting on his best smirk, Killian took a step closer.

"Perhaps. That all depends on who is looking." His stride was interrupted by soft chuckling behind him, and he turned to see the mutt licking Grumpy's face fondly. He rolled his eyes.

"My name is Emma, and I'm looking for Killian Jones. You know him?" Her voice was a challenge, and her arms crossed firmly across her chest.

"Aye, love, you're speaking to him. What can I do for you?" He resisted the urge to tease the lass some, thinking it wise to play nice for a time.

"Well, from what I've been told, it's more what I can do for you. I hear you're looking for someone, but I can't say who told me." She paused, as if she were deciding how much to confide in him. "I'm looking for someone too, well, a few someone's, and apparently you can help." Her tone made it clear that she couldn't see how.

"I'm not sure how I can do that." He agreed, coming closer. He circled her, keeping his distance, taking in her appearance.

"Hey!" Emma protested this treatment. "What, were you a vulture in another life?"

"Sorry, love." He chuckled. "It's just that you look an awful lot like…" He stopped mid-gesture. It would probably be best to prep the lass before revealing his plan. He didn't think she'd be the type to go for the con, too soft-hearted to hurt a stranger despite her tough appearance. Thinking hard, Killian decided on another tactic.

"Never mind. Now, you said something about finding someone, Miss…" He trailed off, hoping she'd tell him her full name.

"Swan. Yes. I'm trying to find my family." She blurted the words out, as if afraid he'd ridicule her. Not bloody likely.

"And do you have any clues? Any heirlooms or letters?" His curiosity was piqued now. Emma clutched at something beneath her shirt as she answered.

"No, not really. I was found, a stowaway on a ship, when I was about six. I don't remember anything before that." Emma spoke to the ground, not looking at him, so she missed the look he threw at Grumpy. Perfect. "The only clue I have is my last name, Swan. I was wearing a dress with swans embroidered on it when they found me. The captain of the ship sold the dress, as compensation for taking me to an orphanage, he said."

Killian's blood fair boiled when he heard that, though Emma shrugged as if she thought it fair. That was so far against proper ship code that he had half a mind to find the damn captain and have the bastard's ship taken. Even as he fought to control his temper, his mind was working to form a proper plan. The swan thing was a fortunate coincidence; it would make his story far easier to believe.

"So, anyway, can you help?" Emma broke Killian out of his reverie just in time, a solid course now formed in his mind.

"It would be my honour, lass. In fact, I believe that you may be in luck, for I already have an idea as to where we might find your family." He grinned for effect, sweeping his arms out in a grand gesture towards the royal portrait on the wall.

"Who… you… but… what?!" Emma stuttered, her glare bouncing between Killian and the painting. "Have you lost your mind? That's impossible!"

"On the contrary, love. Nothing's impossible. Just think; the timeline fits, the princess was lost when she was six years old, and nobody has seen her since."

"You have the same hair, same name." Grumpy added, catching on to Killian's ruse.

"And the same eyes. Hell, even the swans on your dress match; they were her favourite animal, and the symbol of the royal family."

"Are you trying to tell me that you think I'm some lost princess?" Emma's tone matched her raised eyebrow, and Killian could see that they were losing her.

"Aye, love. We've been searching for her for weeks now, Grumpy here for even longer, and of all the women we've seen, none of them can hold a torch to you. Just, look at the portrait."

"You're crazy. Both of you, completely mad!" She made to walk away, and Killian rushed to stop her.

"Why? You don't know what happened to you."

"No one knows what happened to her." Grumpy continued.

"You were found just after the curse, when the princess was lost."

"And your only clue is a link to the palace."

"You have to admit, love, it all fits quite nicely." Killian smiled to himself, unable to stop the pride at his genius from showing. Emma's head whipped between the two of them, completely overwhelmed as she tried to process what they were saying. A twinge of pity cut through Killian's chest, and he softened his voice. "Have you ever thought about the possibility?"

"What, that I'm the princess?" Her eyes dimmed as she lost herself in memories, and she scoffed. "Well, I don't know. It's hard to think of yourself as royalty when you're… But sure. I guess every lost girl would hope she's a princess."

Nearly have her. Time for one last push.

"Even if the King and Queen aren't your parents, the entire palace staff remained with them when they fled. They all inhabit a castle in a kingdom called Arendelle, and given the facts of your beginnings if your family is anywhere, that's where they'll be. And, coincidentally, where we are headed."

Emma thought about it for a second, before asking a startling question. "What's in it for you?"

He thought about lying, he really did, but something warned him that Emma would know, and then he'd lose her for sure. He settled on a half-truth.

"I'd be helping a friend. Grumpy was tasked with finding the lost princess and bringing her home. If we're wrong about you, then it's no real loss, and we get to spend a few days in a castle among friends. But if we're right, we'll have reunited a family, spited the Evil Queen, and earned a king's gratitude. And you'll be home, among people who love you, and if the tales are to be believed the King and Queen loved their daughter more than life itself. You could belong."

Killian knew the picture he had painted would call out to the orphan inside Emma, would draw her in so she agreed. After all, it's what he'd been looking for, before he'd had his heart broken. Every lost child wants to find a home.

He wondered if he'd said too much, given himself away in his eagerness, when she merely stared at him for an endless moment. Grumpy, still holding the pup, broke the silence.

"Either way, it gets you closer to people who have the answers. Not a bad deal, sister."

Emma blinked, then held out her hand for Killian to shake. "Okay. Deal."

He grinned, and instead of shaking her hand he lifted it to his lips, brushing a soft kiss over her knuckles. "Excellent, love."

Emma snatched her hand away. "And no more of this 'love' crap."

"As you wish." Killian's smile was genuine, already picturing the weeks of banter that were sure to ensue. Apparently, Emma didn't like what she saw in his eyes, because she turned to take the mutt from Grumpy.

"Henry, we're going on a little trip!"

"Ah, no." Killian's face dropped, and he scowled at the furry beast. "The mutt is not coming with us."

"The dog is coming." Emma had a militant look in her eyes. She turned to Grumpy, and Killian knew he was doomed.

"Grumpy?" She asked sweetly, and the damn dwarf snuck a look at Killian before replying.

"Sure, sister. Whatever floats your boat."

A/N: A quick question for you lovely readers, because I'm a bit torn; should I continue switching between perspectives, or should I stick to Emma's point of view, now that the gang is all together? Leave me a message (PM or review) and let me know what you think! Cheers!