Author's Note: In case you're wondering, the character appearing here as Charlie, is named after the actor who portrays BlackBeard in Once Upon a Time. 1561 words this chapter

Chapter Six

Emma let him guide her around the floor. Killian knew most of the vendors. They all seemed to like him.

He introduced her to Ashley, the bubbly head of a glass artisan shop. She was dressed in an elegant blue princess gown. Her husband Sean was dressed as a nobleman, complete with sash. He sat in a glass-enclosed area of the booth. He was demonstrating expertly how to form molten glass into shapes, this one a tiny, delicate shoe, Around the rest of the booth were all manner of creations: mice, birds, flowers, pumpkins, fairies, castles, even dragons.

The next booth was that of a lady simply called Granny. She wore a faded yellow peddler's dress with a full length crimson apron. She had an unusual business. She wrote fantasy cook books. She had samples on display, things like Peter Pumpkin Eater Pumpkin Spice Cookies, Thumbelina's Mini Jam Tarts and Seven Dwarves Seven Layer Dip.

Killian raised an eyebrow and said, "I don't think Leroy will approve of the last one."

Granny scoffed. "Please. He's grazed half my supply.."

"Grazed?"

Granny growled slightly as she answered Emma's question. "It's when the 'customer," she said, making air quotes, "parks himself in front of the samples and devours them all."

Killian and Emma laughed. "Shame on Leroy," said Killian.

"Who is he?"

Granny scoffed again. "He's three booths away. Don't give him my regards."

Killian nodded, grabbing a Thumbelina Mango-Pear tart. "Ooh, you've outdone yourself, Granny."

"Yes, I have, if I do say so myself. I think it's the best jam I've made in years."

Emma stopped mid-bite. "You make the jam?" she asked incredulously.

Granny beamed. "I make everything you see, from scratch."

Emma's mouth dropped open. "I, uh, will be back, when I'm not so full."

Killian laughed. "I swear seventy-five percent of this woman's sales are other vendors."

"No comment," Granny said with a smirk.

Killian and Emma moved on. They stopped in front of a large booth, built like a large wood hut. The booth was covered from floor to waist level with wooden panels. The space from waist to above the head was open but lined with long counters. The hut was covered in a wooden roof. A large sign on the top of the roof read "Seven Dwarves Fine Jewelers."

Behind each counter were men watching the merchandise carefully. Sparkling gems in all colors twinkled brilliantly. The silver and gold craftsmanship of the necklaces, bracelets, earrings, cufflinks, watches, and rings glowed in the hall's lights.

"Uh-oh," mumbled Emma. "I'm not that much of a jewelry girl but I think I'm in trouble."

Killian laughed. "Many women have fallen into their trap," he said.

She scoffed, eyeing him as he looked at a single earring with a black stone. "Just men?" He smirked at her.

"Don't block the merchandise!" barked a short, balding man. "Move along, Pirate!" He lowered his voice and said a little more politely, "Unless of course, you're buying something."

"Hello to you too, Leroy," said Killian, "or should I say Grumpy?" He winked at Emma.

Leroy rolled his eyes. "I told the others that the Seven Dwarves theme would get on my nerves. Would they listen? No!"

Emma looked around. She counted the men. Yep, there were seven. They wore generic miner shirts with goggles on their heads, over their eyes, or hanging off their necks. They did not wear color-coordinated hats.

Then she really paid attention to them. One yawned a lot. One sneezed. One was incredibly shy. One wore a smile all the time, though it was sometimes a little creepy. One wore a lab coat and another seemed a little dopey. "You guys sure keep to your characters."

Killian laughed. "What characters? They're like this off the convention floor too."

"That's funny."

"I'm not kidding, Love."

"So you're just naturally grumpy?" Emma asked the salesman.

The dwarf narrowed his eyes. "Are you buying something or not?"

"We're just browsing," answered Killian.

"Typical. Browse somewhere else!"

Killian laughed and gently tugged on Emma's arm. "We should move on anyway. It's not wise to linger. Trust me. You have to watch yourself, Love, or before you know it, you'll spend more money than you earn."

She nodded. "I guess so."

"Hey, there's Charlie!" Killian dragged her to a tall, handsome man. He was one of Killian's more normal looking friends. Besides costumed vendors she'd met several actors and cosplayers. She'd shaken hands with stormtroopers, a couple of slave girls, a Joan of Arc, lots of superheroes, and a few more pirates.

Charlie was dressed in khakis, a blue polo, and loafers. "You're an actor?" she asked. "I thought you were going to be another pirate."

Killian laughed. "She's right. That's not much of a costume, Mate."

Charlie smiled. "I'm playing Joe Schmo at the moment," he answered with a chuckle. "Don't worry. GrayBeard's not far away. The costume's a bit heavy, so I wait until it's show time."

"It's past show time, but that's ok, we're running late," Killian said. "We got a bit...enthusiastic with our acting. Allow me to introduce our new leading lady, Emma," he said, grinning at her. "She's something special." Emma blushed. "We've been dueling all morning!"

"You two?" Charlie asked. He glanced Emma over. "I'm impressed." Emma shrugged. "Dueling ladies though, that's different for Rumple. I haven't read his new book yet, or any of the past like...five. Or ten."

Killian laughed. "It's not in the book."

Emma grimaced. "I was just messing around. I got tired of sitting there, looking pretty."

"She hates being scenery, don't you, Emma?"

"I, um...yes, yes I do. Women can fight damn it. We can protect our loved ones too," she said. Then she faltered. "I mean um, our characters can." She turned red as Killian smirked at her.

"She's a real ball of sass, huh?"

"She is," Killian said proudly.

"I have to admit I'm not looking forward to the next scene," she said. "I really hate the idea of being fought over, cowering in the background, whining, 'Oh, Killian, be careful."

Killian blushed this time. "I think you mean...Frederick."

Emma turned dark red. "Yeah, of course. Frederick."

Charlie chuckled, looking from one to the other. "You guys are getting close, huh?"

They both stared quickly to the floor.

"Well, what can we do?" asked Charlie, "It's our lot to act out the author's scenes."

"We've been kind of...adlibbing," admitted Killian.

Charlie smiled widely. "Oh, that sounds like fun. Do tell."

The pirate elbowed him. "Emma is an experienced fencer."

"If lessons as a kid count."

"Of course they do! Don't listen to her," Killian insisted. "She's being humble."

Emma laughed. She looked at him with a big smirk. "I have beat you three times."

He tilted his head and stuck his tongue out the side of his mouth. "The last time was a draw," he said with a grin.

"Keep telling yourself that if it helps," she said with a smirk. She looked at Charlie. "You don't look so tough. I can beat you too, easily."

Charlie glanced at Killian then smiled. "I think this is going to be the most fun I've had in a long time."

Killian laughed. "Meet us in twenty minutes so we can go over the scene."

"Why not now?" asked Emma.

Killian scoffed. "One, we need to let the food settle or the booth is going to get gross. Two, I want you to meet a couple more people."

"That's good, I want to meet up with my Wizard pals."

"Wizard?" asked Emma.

"It's the makeup company and I was telling you about earlier," Killian said, smirking at Charlie.

"Oy! Don't insult the boys! I've told you before, Mate, it's not 'makeup," he said with disdain. "They are special effects specialists!"

"Right, sorry. See you soon," KIllian said, with a chuckle.

Emma looked at Charlie. "I hope you die well."

Charlie laughed. "I do indeed, and it will be my honor to die at your hands instead of this clod's for once." He walked off, laughing heartily.

Emm looked at Killian. "You're really alright with me winning, aren't you?"

He smiled and took her hand. "I like a strong woman." She blushed. "Speaking of which, I see The Costume Fairy booth. You've got to meet Tink."

"Tink, as in Tinkerbell?"

He chuckled as they walked. "No, she can't use that name unfortunately, just like the dwarves. They can call themselves the Seven Dwarves, but if they start using the names Dopey and Bashful...it's lawyer time."

"Are you still insisting their characteristics are really them?"

"Watch them over the weekend, Love. One guy can't stop sneezing, the other falls asleep in his taco salad, and you met Leroy. I tell you, it's a little unsettling."

She laughed. "So is this Tink like the Peter Pan character: jealous and vain but with a perfect hourglass figure?"

He looked at her. "Having fairy envy, Emma?"

She chuckled and shook her head.

"This Tink is great. You'll love her. She's funny and free spirited. I guess she's pretty," he said, making Emma laugh. "She uses a kind of knockoff costume, it's turquoise instead of green and her hair always has streaks of colors." He laughed. "She goes by the name Tinkerlee."

"And that works?"

He shrugged. "She hasn't been sued yet."

End of Chapter Six