Title: Accidentally in Love

Author: Steph aka CaptainSwanLuver

Rating: PG

Pairing: Killian/Emma

Characters: Killian, Emma, Belle, David, Mary Margaret, Robin.

Category: Romance/Humor/Drama

Disclaimer: I do this out of a love for this couple. No infringement is intended.

Spoilers: Nope!

Summary: Emma Swan needs to be married by 30 in order to receive the money from her trust fund and save her failing business. Killian Jones is the thief who just tried to rob her store. The two strike a deal: Killian will pretend to marry Emma and she won't send him to jail.

Note: Thanks for your responses to the last part and for reading! So, this story was done when I began posting it, but I've tinkered here and there since, adding things that I felt were missing and I'm glad I did since it improved the story. I just added some to this chapter so it got too long and flowed better splitting it into two chapters. So I hope you guys don't mind having an extra part to read because this story is going to be 13 parts now, not 12. Hope you enjoy this part! -Steph

…Accidentally in Love: Part 10/13...

~If it can be broken, then that means it still works.~

A month and a half passed. Emma and Killian were miserable without each other, but both tried to carry on the best they could. Emma worked non-stop and hadn't spoken to her parents since that night at the restaurant. Killian immersed himself in work and school to try to keep his mind off Emma.

In two weeks, Emma would be able to claim the rest of her trust fund and this whole thing would be over. Then maybe she could find a way to reconcile with her parents. She needed to make things right between them or losing Killian would be for nothing.

One night, Emma decided to visit the park. She hadn't been back since that night Killian had ended things between them. She wanted to feel closer to him, even though it hurt to think of him and recall the times they'd spent there together.

She spotted him sitting on the bench when she was a few yards away and stopped dead in her tracks. Her heart began to race at the sight of him. She stood frozen to her spot for a few long moments, her mind at war with her heart. Her mind told her to turn around and go home, that no good could come from seeing him. But her heart wanted nothing more than to see him again, to feel his body close to hers. Her heart won.

Slowly, she approached the bench. Somehow, he knew it was her just from the sound of her footsteps. She appeared before him and managed a smile.

"Hi, Killian," she said softly.

Killian smiled at her, his eyes sweeping across her face. He'd missed her beautiful face. He'd missed every last thing about her.

"Hello, love," he whispered.

They stared at each other awkwardly for a few long moments. Killian licked at his lips nervously. "Will you sit with me a little while?"

Emma took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay," she said.

She sat down beside him and felt her cheeks redden, as he turned his head to gaze at her.

"How are you?" he asked hesitantly.

Emma shrugged. "Keeping busy with work. Just trying to carry on without you."

"As am I. I've been busying myself with school and work." He paused and averted his gaze to the ground. "Have you spoken to your parents?"

Emma shook her head. "I don't expect to."

"You could call them, Emma. Take the first step," he said as he slowly reached over and covered her hand with his.

Emma sucked in a breath at his touch. She stared at his hand, her eyes focused on his wedding ring.

She ignored his comment. "I didn't think you'd still be wearing your wedding ring," she said.

Killian nodded, his eyes moving to the band. "Well, your parents still believe we're married, so I felt it best to leave it on in case I encountered them." He paused and added, swallowing hard, "Truthfully, I don't want to remove it, Emma. It's all I have left of you."

Emma's eyes roamed across his face. "Do you regret it? Do you regret facing your fears to be with me considering how things ended between us?"

Killian shook his head firmly. He brought his free hand up to caress her cheek. Emma's eyes fluttered closed, as she let out a sigh at his touch.

"I could never regret being with you, love. The happiest I have ever been was with you."

Emma smiled at him. "I'm glad to hear that."

"I do regret hurting you. I regret that we couldn't make it work." Killian took a deep breath. "Do you regret facing your fears and trusting me with your heart?"

Emma shook her head. "No, not for a second." She offered him a small smile. "You made me so happy, Killian. You showed me how amazing love can be with the right man."

"And you showed me how amazing love can be with the right woman."

Until now, Emma had been able to keep the tears at bay, but now they filled her eyes. "It's not fair. If we're so right for each other, then how could things have gone so wrong?"

Killian sucked in a breath. He had been asking himself that question for the last six weeks. "I don't know, Emma. Perhaps if we could have lived in a bubble just the two of us, then things could have worked out. But relationships don't exist in a bubble. Love doesn't exist in a bubble. We have to contend with the outside forces in our life."

Emma swallowed hard. "After all of this, Killian, I may still lose my parents. And then this would all be for nothing."

Killian shook his head. "I don't believe that, Emma. I think your parents will forgive you for lying about me, but you have to speak to them in order for that to happen."

Emma met his eyes. "And what if they still somehow end up learning our marriage was a sham? Do you believe they can forgive me then?"

Killian sighed. "I don't know, love. I want to believe they would be able to."

"You warned me, Killian. You tried to get me to put an end to this whole thing and just ask them for the money, but I was too stubborn. I was wrong to think I could live with the consequences. You were right."

Killian offered her a grin and cocked his head.

"What?" she asked, her brow furrowing at him.

"Remember this date."

"Why?"

"Because today was the day Emma Swan admitted I was right about something. Today is a banner day, indeed."

Emma chuckled, followed by Killian. They both enjoyed the light moment they were able to share. They had missed just being able to talk and laugh with each other.

Their laughter subsided and they fell into an uncomfortable silence once again.

Killian turned his eyes to the stars, as Emma's went to his face. "I bought a book about constellations," he said.

Emma smiled. "You did?"

He nodded. "Aye. I know it's something you enjoy, so I wanted to learn more about them."

Emma moved her gaze to the sky, pointing up at the stars. "Have you ever heard the story of the stars Vega and Altair?" she asked.

Killian shook his head. "No."

"Vega was a princess who weaved. She weaved beautiful clothes. She fell in love with a cow herder named Altair. Her father approved of the union and they married. But they were so in love that Vega became distracted and stopped weaving the clothes. This angered her father."

Killian's eyes were on her again. "What did he do?"

Emma met his eyes. "He separated them by a river of stars we know as the Milky Way."

"That's awful," Killian said.

Emma went on, her throat beginning to constrict. "They were both heartbroken without the other. Vega finally went to her father and begged him to let them be together. He loved his daughter, so he made a deal with her. If she continued to weave well, then she could see her husband on the seventh day of the seventh month every year."

"Only once a year?" Killian asked softly.

Emma nodded, as she felt the tears begin to burn. "Vega knew it was better than never seeing him again, so she agreed. On the seventh day of the seventh month, she went to the river and could see Altair across the way, but there was no bridge to cross to reach him. She began to cry so much that a flock of magpies heard her and made a bridge so she could cross to reach him."

Killian swallowed hard. "That's a beautiful story."

Emma's eyes held his. "It's a sad story. They loved each other so much, but could only spend one day a year with each other." She added, "They say if it ever rains on the seventh day of the seventh month, then that means the magpies were unable to come that year and Vega's cries of longing fill the universe."

She felt the tears fill her eyes.

"Emma," he said softly.

"I'm fine," she replied, smiling through her tears. "I suppose they're lucky. At least they get one day together. That's more than some."

Killian moved his eyes to the ground. He felt his chest tighten with emotion.

She went on. "There's a Chinese version of the story too. They celebrate the legend of Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival. One of the customs is to write wishes on pieces of paper and hang them on bamboo. After the festival, they are often set afloat in paper ships on the river."

"Do you think any of the wishes ever come true?" he asked quietly.

Emma nodded, as she swiped at a tear in the corner of her eyes with her thumb.

"I hope so," she whispered.

With that, she slowly stood up and looked down at him. "Goodnight, Killian."

She refused to say goodbye, hoping this wouldn't be the last time she ever saw him.

"Goodnight, Emma," he replied, then watched her go, a dull ache taking up residence in his chest.

…

~There is a difference between literal truth and honesty of the heart.~

Killian rolled his eyes and considered ducking below the counter when he saw Robin stroll into the bar. He had taken to badgering him on a daily basis about his gloomy disposition.

"Hello, mate," Robin said, as he took a stool across from Killian.

"Scotch on the rocks?" Killian asked, as he reached for the bottle and the glass.

Robin waved a hand in dismissal. "No, this is a purely social call."

Killian sighed heavily. "I'm working, Robin."

"You've been depressing me and every customer who comes into this bar for the last six weeks. Now, I suppose that's good for business. You're driving them to drink more than they normally would. But it's driving me mad."

"Apologies for being a burden," Killian replied resentfully.

"Look, we've become mates. At least, I'd like to think we have. Believe it or not, I want to see you happy." He paused. "So I was thinking it's about time you got back on the horse."

Killian looked at him in confusion. "What?"

"You know, started dating again."

Killian shook his head sharply. "No interest. Thank you."

"Come on, what could it hurt? A few drinks, a meal."

Killian cocked his head at him. "What would be the point?"

"To get your mind off Emma. To start moving on."

Killian's voice softened. "There's not another woman on this planet who could get my mind off Emma."

Robin resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Has anyone ever told you you're awfully dramatic? One date won't kill you."

Killian groaned in frustration. "Look, before I met Emma I swore off relationships. I'd never go out with the same girl twice. But I took a chance on love and relationships and look where it got me?"

"So you regret allowing yourself to love Emma then?" Robin asked.

Killian shook his head firmly. "I don't regret opening myself up to loving Emma. Not for one second, but I won't make that mistake again. If I couldn't make it work with Emma, then there's no chance for me."

Robin sighed heavily. "I'm just saying go on one date. No one's saying you have to marry the lass. No relationship. You don't even have to call her again. Just get back out there."

Killian shrugged his shoulders. "You don't understand. I don't want to get back out there. I don't want any woman except Emma. I love her and nothing is ever going to change that."

Robin smacked his hand against the bar. "So that's it then? You're going to spend the rest of your life celibate? Never go out with another woman again? You know that's bloody ridiculous, right?"

Killian looked him in the eye. "Have you ever been in love?"

Robin dropped his gaze. "Well…no, but-…"

Killian cut him off sharply. "Then you have no idea what you're talking about. When you love someone, truly love them, you can't just forget them. You don't just move on and try to find someone else. Emma is the first thing on my mind when I wake up and the last before I fall asleep. And I can't imagine a time when that won't be so."

Robin scratched at the back of his head nervously and muttered, "I was hoping you would make this easier."

Killian's eyes narrowed at him. "What are you talking about?"

Robin held up his hands defensively. "I was only trying to help, mate, I swear."

"What did you do?" he asked, his jaw clenching.

"Well, I may have met this lovely lass and accepted a blind date on your behalf."

"Why in bloody hell would you do that?" Killian asked, his nostrils flaring.

"I thought it would do you some good. I wasn't prepared for you to be quite so unwilling."

"Call her and cancel it. Right now."

Robin dropped his eyes. "That's the thing. I can't. I don't even know her last name. I failed to get her number. I don't have her address either. I told her to meet you at this restaurant 30 minutes outside Storybrooke so no one who knows Emma would see you with a woman besides your faux wife."

Killian wanted to punch Robin in the face. "I can't believe you did this."

"There's more."

"More?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"The date is in an hour. I knew your shift was almost over and I figured you couldn't back out if I gave you such little notice."

"Watch me," he said with a bitter smile. "I'm not going."

"You're going to stand up this perfectly nice, innocent woman?"

"Call the restaurant and they can tell her something came up. Family emergency or something."

"Oh, like she won't see right through that."

"I'm not going, Robin." Killian's voice softened. "It wouldn't be fair to this woman anyway. Going on a date with her while I'm in love with another woman. I would be thinking about Emma the whole time."

Robin sighed. "Look, I'm sorry for overstepping, but I see no reason to hurt this woman tonight. Go to the restaurant, have a meal, and be done with it. If you do, I promise I will leave you alone from now on."

"Can I get that in writing?" Killian asked. He paused with a heavy sigh. "Fine. I'll go."

Robin smiled, "Thanks, mate."

An hour and a half later, Killian found himself sitting across from a perfectly nice woman and thinking of nothing but Emma. His date had been talking for some time, but he hadn't heard a word she said. He wasn't even sure he remembered her name. Karen or Caroline or Carolyn. It didn't matter anyway. He'd sit politely and nod every few minutes and then he'd never have to see her again after tonight.

David and Mary Margaret had almost called Emma a dozen times, but could never quite bring themselves to do it. They felt they all needed some time to cool off and think. Tonight, they decided it was finally time to pay her a visit. They felt this conversation needed to be done in person.

They had just finished dinner at their favorite restaurant and were headed to their car to go to Emma's when something caught Mary Margaret's attention in the window of the restaurant they were passing by.

Mary Margaret stopped dead in her tracks and pointed. "Is that Killian?"

David squinted and then nodded. "Yes. What the hell? He's with another woman."

Mary Margaret shook her head sharply. "I knew he couldn't be trusted. He's cheating on our daughter."

Mary Margaret marched to the door and entered the restaurant. She was followed by her husband. She appeared by Killian's table just as he was taking a drink. When he looked up and saw Mary Margaret's angry face glaring down at him, he nearly spit it out.

"Mrs. Nolan? Mr. Nolan? What are you doing here?"

Mary Margaret gestured at him and the woman, who was staring at them in confusion. "The question is: What are you doing here with this woman instead of your wife?"

"Wife?" the woman said. "You're married?"

Killian had discreetly hidden his ring finger from her all night. He knew he should have taken the ring off before going on the date, but he just couldn't bring himself to.

Killian ignored her and looked up at Mary Margaret and David. "This is not what it looks like."

David clenched his jaw. "Oh really? Because it looks like our son-in-law is on a date. It looks like you're cheating on our daughter."

The woman stood up, picked up a glass of water, and threw it in his face. "Pig!"

Killian's eyes widened in shock, as he wiped at his face with his napkin. His date stomped out of the restaurant without another word.

Mary Margaret crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"You need to speak to your daughter," he said calmly.

"Oh, trust me, we will. She's going to find out exactly who you are. You don't deserve her. You're nothing but a liar, just as we thought."

David sighed heavily. "You're married to our daughter. What the hell were you thinking?"

Killian couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't tell one more lie.

"We're not married," he spat out.

David and Mary Margaret's eyes widened in shock.

"What are you talking about?" she said.

"You got divorced?" David asked. "The six months aren't up for another two weeks. Emma won't get her money."

Killian stood. "Like I said, you need to talk to Emma."

"We're talking to you," Mary Margaret said.

"It's not my place to say," he replied.

Killian couldn't pretend anymore. It was taking all of his energy trying to live without Emma and he just couldn't muster any more to tell another lie. Her parents already thought he was a thief and a liar. He wouldn't let them believe he was a cheater too.

"Speak to your daughter," he repeated and made a move to leave.

David's hand on his chest stopped him. "Oh, we will. But you're coming with us. Right now."

Killian shook his head. "This is really between you and Emma."

Mary Margaret shook her head and grabbed his arm. "The hell it is. Let's go."

30 minutes later, they were standing at Emma's door. David pounded on it. A moment later, the door flew open and a shocked Emma found herself staring at all three of them.

"Dad? Mom? Killian?"

Her mother and father brushed past her inside.

"What's going on, Killian?" she whispered.

"I'm sorry, love," he said.

"Sorry for what?' she asked.

"Maybe for cheating on you," David interjected.

Emma spun around to face her parents, as Killian entered the apartment.

"What?" she asked, her brow wrinkling in confusion.

Mary Margaret gestured to Killian. "We just found your husband out on a date."

"You were on a date?" she asked, looking at him and unable to keep the hurt out of her voice.

He didn't reply, as David continued on. "But, then again, I guess it's not cheating if you're not married."

Emma sucked in a breath, as she looked at Killian. "What did you tell them?"

"I'm sorry, Emma. I told them we weren't married."

Mary Margaret shook her head. "You got divorced, Emma? Before the six months were up?"

Emma slowly let out a breath and then squeezed her eyes closed. She couldn't do this anymore. She couldn't pretend one more minute. She couldn't tell one more lie. She didn't care if she lost the money. She had already lost the one thing that mattered to her anyway: Killian.

"We didn't get divorced," she said.

"I don't understand," David replied.

"Killian and I," she began, meeting his eyes. "We were never married to begin with."

Emma couldn't believe the look of utter disbelief that washed over their faces.

"What are you talking about? We were there. We paid for and planned the whole wedding," Mary Margaret said.

"I gave you away," David added.

Emma looked at Killian pleadingly. He licked at his lips nervously. "It was all a lie from the beginning. Emma and I were never engaged. She caught me stealing from her store and made a deal with me. I would pretend to marry her in exchange for her not sending me to jail. She needed to be married to get the money from her trust fund and save her business, so I agreed."

"It was all a lie," Mary Margaret said, stunned.

"You did this for the money?" David asked.

Emma nodded. "Yes, I needed to save my business. So I hired an actor to be the Justice of the Peace and a friend at city hall faked a marriage license."

"I can't believe this," Mary Margaret said, her hand covering her mouth.

"You were pretending this whole time," David stated, shaking his head in astonishment.

"Not the whole time," Killian corrected.

Emma turned to look at him.

"What do you mean?" Mary Margaret asked.

"I fell in love with your daughter. We fell in love," he said softly, his eyes washing over Emma's face.

Emma smiled sadly.

"Is this true?" David asked Emma.

She nodded. "It is."

"Then you are together," Mary Margaret said. "Which means he was cheating on you."

Killian shook his head and replied, his voice cracking. "We're not together anymore."

"Why not?" David asked.

Emma looked at them, her voice dripping with bitterness. "Because of you two."

"Us?" Mary Margaret asked.

"Yes," Emma said. "Killian gave me up because he didn't want to be the cause of ruining my relationship with you. He knew you could never accept him."

David shook his head and took his wife's hand in his own. "I can't listen to anymore of this. I think it's time we go."

"That's it?" Emma said. "I just told you I'm not with the man I love because of you two and that's all you can say?"

Mary Margaret spoke sharply. "Excuse us if we need a little time to process, Emma. We just found out our daughter lied to us about her marriage and created this elaborate ruse just so she could get money. We feel like fools."

"I don't care about the money," Emma said. "I only wanted to save my business and I've done that. The rest of the money can go to the dog."

"It will," David said. "You didn't meet the terms of the trust fund."

Emma laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "That's all you really care about. Money. You don't care that my heart is broken right now."

Mary Margaret looked her daughter in the eye. "You're not the only one who's been hurt, Emma." She paused and looked at her husband. "Let's go, David."

With that, her parents stormed out.

Emma and Killian stood there in silence until he broke it.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Don't be," she said. "I'm relieved. I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders."

"But, Emma, your parents may never forgive you."

Emma felt the tears appear in her eyes and said softly, "I know."

Killian hesitantly moved forward and pulled her into his arms. She placed her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, allowing his warmth to comfort her.

After a few long moments, they parted.

Killian bit at his lower lip nervously. "The date, Emma…I want you to know-…"

She shook her head, cutting him off. "You don't owe me an explanation, Killian. We're not together anymore."

"I want to explain," he said sharply. "Robin forced me to go on it. It was a blind date that he accepted on my behalf without my permission. He made the reservations at a restaurant 30 minutes outside of town. I didn't even know about it until an hour before. I never expected to see your parents there."

"It's okay," she said, sucking in a breath at the thought of him being with another woman. "You're free to do whatever you please. The truth is out now, Killian. We no longer have to pretend to be married. You can be with any woman you want."

Killian swallowed around the lump in his throat. "I have no desire to be with another woman."

Emma shrugged sadly. "You deserve to be happy, Killian. Some lucky woman out there deserves to be with a man like you."

"I don't want anyone but you," he said softly, bringing his hand up to her cheek and stroking it with his thumb.

She blinked back tears. "Neither do I."

Killian desperately wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her, but he resisted. Nothing had changed. If anything, it was made painfully clear to him tonight that he had been right. They could never work.

They stared longingly at one another, standing close enough to touch, but a river of stars might as well have been separating them.

…

End of Part 10

Thanks for reading and please let me know what you thought! ~Steph