Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time

AN: A big thank you to my incredible beta, GranddaughterOfCaskettAndTivia, for all of her help! You've been incredible. For those of you who read Lost Souls, I am so close to sending her the next chapter. I'm sorry for the wait. Enjoy! ~ XOXO MAF


Chapter Six

Another loud knock sounded around them as Emma and Killian panicked for another moment. It was well-known that Emma was sympathetic to the Colonist cause and that she was friends with the royals who lived here. It would not bode well for Killian's reputation or safety if she was found in his cabin.

"Come along, Killian, open the bloody hatch," Liam grunted.

"In there." Killian motioned with a fervent whisper to the cabinet up against the wall. He hoped Emma could squeeze in behind his uniforms.

Holding her breathe, Emma slid inside. She just barely fit as Killian shut the door before moving to the ladder. "What the bloody hell do you want, Liam?" He asked as he unlatched the trapdoor.

Emma could just hear Liam's boots on the wooden ladder. "I wanted to have a drink with my little brother. Is that a treasonous crime now?"

"Younger brother," Killian corrected on reflex. "And of course it's not a crime."

Dropping down next to Killian, Liam automatically moved towards the bar. "Then what has you all out of sorts?" He paused, his eyes landing on the table that was filled with the remnants of their dinner. His gaze moved to Killian's bunk and then to the floor next to the bunk where Emma's boots still sat. "Killian, do you have a lass aboard your ship?"

Killian flushed and scratched the back of his ear nervously. "Aye, she's in the galley. We wanted our privacy."

Liam puffed his chest out as he studied his younger brother. "I do hope that you're keeping things appropriate should she be a woman of good standing. And as a captain in His Majesty's Royal Navy, should you choose to marry, she needs to be a woman of good standing." He nodded towards the sheets that were slightly twisted on the bunk.

"I do not need a lecture from you on how to treat a lass or a lecture on who exactly I should court," Killian snapped sharply. "Now, if you'll excuse us-"

"So this woman does mean something to you," Liam surmised by Killian's defensive tone. "Who is she?"

Taking a calming breath, Killian answered. "She's no one of importance. She's just a woman I met."

"Who you're having dine in your cabin." Liam arched a brow of incredulity.

Scoffing, Killian reminded his brother, "I do believe in some good form. That does not mean the wench means anything to me."

With a sign, Liam finally relented. "So a wedding is not in your future then?"

"Not with this lass." Killian answered, ushering his brother back to the ladder. "But I'll be sure to speak to you when the time is right."

"Very well, little brother, just be sure to take the proper precautions and-"

"We are not discussing this any further," Killian interrupted. "I'll see you tomorrow, Liam."

"Goodnight, Killian."

Killian waited until Liam's boots could no longer be heard above deck before he opened the door to the cabinet. Emma all but fell out, straightening immediately and brushing the wrinkles out of her dress. She automatically moved towards her boots. "I should take my leave."

Killian frowned, his hand coming down to stop her from reaching for her shoes, but she continued to tug them on anyways. "Leave? Liam won't come back, love. The night is ours and-"

"And this wench doesn't need any pity from you. Good night, Captain Jones, I do hope you can find a woman of good standing to spend your evenings with from here on out." She was up and moving towards the ladder before he could stop her.

"Emma!" He protested, climbing up hastily after her. By the time he reached the top she was already sprinting down the gangplank, tugging her hood up over her head.

OUAT

Emma slowed her pace down to a walk once the docks were well out of sight. She blinked back tears as she wound her way through the quiet town towards her cottage. She felt like an imbecile, allowing herself to be played by the blue-eyed captain. She wondered if he really were working for the Colonies cause or if he wasn't actually working for the Loyalists. She bit her lip and shook her head, it was so confusing. The sting of Killian's words was too familiar. She'd vowed to never allow herself to be hurt like Baelfire hurt her again, and if anything Killian managed to do more damage.

She pushed the door open to her cottage, brushing away tears. She had hoped Ruby had already turned in for the evening, but she was out of luck. Her friend sat with Victor Whale, curled up on a threadbare rug in front of the fireplace. "Emma?" Ruby asked. "I didn't expect to see you until tomorrow," she admitted. Emma swallowed hard and tried to answer, but she couldn't get the words out. "Emma, what happened? Is Killian well? Does Victor need to go to the ship?" Ruby stood with Victor following her. "Emma, please say something."

When Emma opened her mouth a sob came out. She clamped her hand down hard, trying to silence the cries. "The things he said," she finally murmured. "I was just a convenience, nothing special. I'm not even convinced he isn't spying on our cause for the Crown now."

"Let me put on some water for tea." Victor stepped away, moving towards their small kitchen to fetch the pot to boil over the fire.

"Come sit with me, Emma. And start from the beginning." Ruby tugged Emma down to the rug, gently running her fingers through the blonde's tangled hair. "What did Killian say exactly?" Ruby prodded softly.

Choking back on a sob, Emma repeated his words. "He called me a wench. He said I was no one of importance and I didn't mean anything to him. He should marry a woman of good standing..."

Ruby's brows shot up in disbelief and Victor growled lowly from the kitchen. "He said those words to you?" She couldn't believe Killian would say those things about Emma. He was so passionate and sincere and quite taken with Emma. Ruby believed he was already in love with her.

Shaking her head, Emma answered. "To Liam. He came to the ship and Killian said them to him." Quickly Emma explained how she'd hid in the closet and Killian sent Liam away.

Ruby was silent as Victor continued to move around them. She could see the anger and frustration in every move the doctor made. It was clear he was ready to find Killian and give him a good lashing for sending Emma running and in tears. Finally Ruby asked, "Is there a chance that he only said those words so Liam would not suspect anything? If Killian told his brother how much you actually do mean to him, Liam would wish to meet you no doubt. Perhaps he was just trying to save you both from being caught by the Crown and hanged."

"Or," Emma interrupted, her face twisting into a scowl, "he's using me to gain information and he sees me as nothing more than a willing bar wench and is passing on anything we're idiotic enough to tell him to his superiors in Parliament."

"You honestly believe that?" Emma, Victor and Ruby all turned at Killian's voice.

Emma stood up quickly. "What are you doing here?"

"You left," he murmured ducking his head. "You left before I could explain. You had to know I never meant any of those things."

"Then why would you say them?" Emma snapped.

"Emma," Ruby rested her hand on Emma's shoulder, "take a breath and lower your voice. We don't want to wake Henry."

Taking a breath, Emma nodded. "Fine."

Taking Victor's hand, Ruby tugged him towards the back of the cottage. "Victor and I will leave you two. We're just in my room if you need us." She glared pointedly at Killian. "Don't do anything else to hurt her."

Holding up his hands, Killian nodded in agreement. "I wouldn't. I never intended to hurt her."

Ruby nodded warily, and then looked at Emma. "Give him a chance to explain himself. You may be surprised."

When Emma and Killian heard the door to Ruby's room shut with a quiet snick, Emma crossed her arms defensively. "Alright, Captain, explain."

Groaning, Killian glared at her. "Why don't you try something new, darling?" At her raised brow, he continued. "It's called trust. I would never hurt you, Emma. Liam wasn't going to leave unless I found a way to send him away. And if he knew how much I cared for you, he would find you and demand to meet you. You're a Colonist sympathizer and you're friends with Dave and Robin. I can't very well be seen with you if I'm not to be hanged myself. You and I both know I'm far more valuable as a Captain in the Navy spying on the Crown. And as for your baseless accusations of me betraying you and the Colonists cause, well frankly my dear, I'm wounded."

Snorting, Emma dropped her arms to her side. "I don't know what you expected me to think when you said those words so easily. I've heard them before."

Killian frowned. "Heard what before?"

"That I'm not good enough to marry," she clarified. "I know I don't have much to offer, but-"

Without thinking, Killian crossed the room and jerked her into his arms. "You have everything to offer," he told her honestly. "And this man who left, who hurt you so badly, he was a fool." She jerked her head away from him, but he gripped her chin and turned her head back to face him, "Emma, it's okay if your heart has been broken. That means it still works. We've both had heartaches. Life is not easy or fair, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take chances. Take one on me. I promise, I shan't hurt you and I shan't abandon you."

Swallowing hard, Emma shook her head. "Those words, though."

"They're just words, Emma."

Pulling away, she shook her head. "Words have the power to hurt, Killian. You should know that. I told you what Baelfire did to me and then moments later you turned around and said such similar things."

Dropping his head, Killian nodded. "If you want me to walk away, Emma, I will, but you have to know that I do care for you. Deeply. And I simply wanted to protect you from Liam. You're the only woman I've even noticed in years."

Biting her lip, Emma kept her distance as she listened to him plead with her. She could always tell when someone was lying to her and Killian was telling the truth. "I told you I wasn't good at this," she whispered. "I told you, I don't know how to trust."

Tentatively, Killian stepped towards her. "Trust me, love," he urged her.

He stilled until she nodded. "I want to."

He took her nod as assent to go to her. He had her in his arms the next moment, his mouth on hers. When he pulled back, he murmured, "I'm so sorry I hurt you, Emma. It was never my intention."

She sniffed back the tears. "I believe you, Killian." She'd decided weeks ago to trust him. Now it was time to live up to her word. Nudging her nose with his, she asked softly, "Will you stay?"

He tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. "I'll only leave when you order me away."

"And when you need to return to your ship so you don't get caught by another Red Coat."

"Aye, that may be best, but if you wished for me to stay, I would."

Reaching around her back, she laced her hand with his. "Come, Killian." She guided him to her small room in the cottage. "But fair warning, we're only sleeping tonight."

He nodded in agreement. "Aye, but it's something I'm quite looking forward to."

When the door to Emma's bedroom shut, Ruby peered outside. "It seems they worked it out."

Victor shrugged. "I'm going to keep an eye on him. I don't want the three of you hurt."

Batting her lashes, Ruby turned her big eyes up at him. "My hero," she swooned playfully.

With a low growl, Victor scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder. "Not yet, but I will be in a few minutes." Her responding laughter tugged at his heart and he couldn't help but grin as he shut her door with his foot and moved to the small bed in the corner of the room.

OUAT

XOXO

MAF