The place was packed, and it was all Emma could do to elbow her way to the front of the crowd. She was unsurprised to see the front rows were nearly all women, staring in rapt attention at the stage, whistling and shouting whenever there was a lull between songs.
She was surprised however, to see Killian with two hands - and playing a guitar.
How the hell was he playing guitar?
And he was good. He was really, really good.
Emma crossed her arms, not really sure what to make of this. Whose dream were they in? It couldn't be Killian's - he'd have no frame of reference for this. Would he? She'd just have to wait here at the front of the crowd until he noticed her.
It didn't take long. He strummed the last of the song he was on, reached down for the bottle of rum next to his chair, and his eyes scanned the crowd, locking on Emma. He raised his brows as a slow smile spread across his face, and she raised her glass in a silent toast. Killian set the bottle back down and put his hands on the guitar. He plucked out a slow and melancholy melody, his voice softly carrying over a room so still, you could have heard a pin drop.
The sea's wide bounds fret as if coerced
In so small space, its mighty heart would burst
And shall one human breast find room for love
Love that lights all the firmament
Love as life for as our lives emerge
From the vague sea to sing their own brief dirge
So out of each of these, and vain as they
Love after love arises like a surge
And sighs, and passes in the sigh away...
He finished the song, and the audience paused for an endless moment, letting the last strain sink in before erupting in thunderous applause. Killian gave a sheepish nod, setting his guitar down against the chair and rising to make his way to the stairs at the edge of the stage. Emma started forward to meet him, only to find herself shut out by the crowd of shrieking, stampeding women.
She gave a jerk of her head off to the back of the room, and Killian caught her signal, giving a brief nod before disappearing behind the curtains, much to the disappointment of the crowd. Emma waited for most of them to disperse before casually making her way around the back, only to find the doorway blocked by a girl who obviously had the same idea. Emma had the strong, petty compulsion to reach out and grab the girl by the ponytail and yank.
The door to the wings opened slightly, and Killian's face appeared just as the girl turned and walked away. Emma didn't even give her a passing glance, stepping forward with a smile.
"You never told me you played guitar," she said demurely. "Or sang."
He flushed a bit, giving her a lopsided grin. "It was supposed to be a surprise."
"You've been taking guitar lessons?"
"It's a long story," he hedged, looking around. "Are they all gone?"
"I think you're safe. We should probably exit out the back to be sure." She stepped back as he came cautiously out the door. "So we're not in your dream or mine? Who's got you singing and playing guitar?"
"I have no idea," he said. "I'm just glad that we're together." He slid an arm around her, and she gave him a sideways glance.
"So. What's the guitar story?" she probed.
He rubbed his ear uncomfortably, then glanced down at his hand. "I still can't get used to having ten fingers," he said.
"You're stalling."
Killian let out a sigh, pulling her in closer. "Oh, very well. I don't play guitar, I play the lute."
Emma's brows went up in surprise. "A lute playing pirate? How'd that happen?"
"It was my brother's idea," he answered. "Liam thought that a gentleman, particularly an officer, should be well-rounded. My education included a full course of the arts, and the command of at least one musical instrument. Since it's quite impossible to bring a pianoforte along on a sea voyage, I chose the lute."
"And you managed to pick up guitar from that?"
"They're remarkably similar, and I learned to play by ear, for the most part. I found an old guitar in the closet of my room at Granny's, and I've been practicing whenever I'm not with you. I was hoping to surprise you eventually."
"Consider me surprised. And in a very nice way."
She reached for the door that led to the back parking lot, pulling it open and stepping through. Killian pulled her in as the door shut behind them. He tilted his head down, so that his lips were just above hers.
"I don't know whose bloody dream this is, but I hope it goes on for a long, long time."
Emma leaned in to accept his kiss. "Me, too," she agreed.
"Of course."
The voice cut into their little bubble, and they both turned to see who was breaking in on their moment. Emma's eyes widened.
"Lily?"
"Of course he's with you," she said snidely. "You get everything, don't you? All the good, all the luck...doesn't it just figure you get him, too."
Emma's eyes moved to Lily's ponytail. "You! You were waiting at the other door."
"Yeah," Lily said, with more than a bit of self-loathing. "Who am I, anyway? Just the president of his damn fan club. I'm just the one who sends him all those letters, who sleeps with his picture under my pillow at night. I'm only the one who follows him from city to city, and spends my days on the streets telling everyone I meet to come and see his show. For what? For what?"
"Lily...listen..." Emma held up a hand. "I can see how that would be frustrating. But Killian and I -"
"Oh, so you're on a first-name basis?" Lily looked at Killian and her eyes were brimming with tears of betrayal. "Is that right, Killian?"
"Lily, calm down," Killian said, stepping forward carefully. "Perhaps we could all go somewhere and talk about this."
"Just the three of us, right?" Lily taunted. "Won't that be cozy?" Her eyes began to glow with an unholy light, and Emma moved closer.
"We can talk this through," Emma pleaded. "Let's just -"
"Do you think I want to go anywhere with you?" Lily spat. "To be reminded - yet again - of what you've taken from me? What could have been mine?"
"Back off. He was never yours," Emma said firmly, her tone making it clear that a line had been crossed.
Killian stepped forward, putting a hand on Emma's arm.
"Swan -"
"He doesn't even know your first name!" Lily shrieked, waving her arms, and suddenly, they transformed into wings as Lily burst into dragon form, letting loose a stream of fire right at Emma. Killian pulled her out of the way, twisting to shield her with his body.
"We have to get out of here!" Emma screamed. "I don't want to hurt her!"
"That way!" he shouted back, pointing toward a large warehouse building nearby. They started running as the sound of beating wings and the smell of brimstone filled the air around them. Lily's roar echoed as she circled once more, preparing for a strafing run straight down the street behind them. Nearby, a telephone pole exploded into fire and a shower of sparks, falling toward them. Emma moved sideways to get out of its way, only to have the heel of her boot catch on the edge of a storm grate set in the street, and she went down.
"Emma!"
She saw Killian turn, heard his voice call her name, and she pulled her hands in, preparing to push herself back up to her feet.
Then her hand touched the sparking electrical wire snaking across the ground, and she was gone.
Killian's voice cut the air and he ran for her, heedless of the wires slapping the ground around him, not caring that a dragon had him in her sights and was preparing to strike. He pulled her lifeless body into his arms, and raised his head, the pain carving deep into his features as he took a breath, and faced the dragon down.
**[Killian's song credit to the love sonnets of Evelyn Douglas, 1889]**
