Killian is anxious, he doesn't like waiting as Starkey washes out the dye from Emma's hair in her room. He paces around his cabin and stops dead as Starkey comes in unexpectedly, clearing his throat.

"Did it work?" he asks.

Starkey steps aside, opening the door and Emma walks in, her blond curls replaced by brown and looking absolutely amazing. Killian walks over to her and she looks at him.

"There's a little red, but not much," she says. "So, what is this plan?"

"I have some business to attend too," Killian reasons.

Emma shrugs. "So, if you have business, why bother to bring me along? Why can't I stay on board?" she asks.

"Because someone could recognize you and I don't fancy having to chase down a twice-kidnapped princess," he reasons, "The facade is almost complete; we need to work on your swagger,"

"My what?"

"Your walk, m'lady," Starkey interprets, "No pirate woman walks around like she's scared of her environment; you have to evoke fear and a slight edge of sexiness,"

Emma shakes her head. "Aren't the clothes enough?" she asks, looking at Killian.

Killian looks at Starkey and nods that he bring her upside. Emma and Starkey follow him up on deck where's there's more room to walk around. "Not for a pirate," he says, "There's a certain mentality all pirates possess,"

"I don't need to be taught how to walk," Emma retorts.

Killian gestures that she show him how she walks to prove her point. Emma flips her hair to one side and walks, back straight as demurely as possible. "Whatever the bloody hell that was, that will not work," Killian retorts, "You're too straight-laced lass,"

"The corset seriously doesn't help," she muses.

"Emma..."

"Fine," she breathes and loosens her shoulders, leaning slightly and walks forward.

Killian glances at Starkey, who's studying her curiously. "A little bit slower," he suggests, "You're a woman, use what you have love, let your feminine charms work their magic,"

Emma looks over her outfit one more time and then back at Killian. "Feminine charm? Is that pirate code for swing that - ?"

"Well, you already speak like a pirate," he says bluntly.

Killian goes over to her and braces her waist, walking with her slowly across the deck. Emma relaxes more in his arms. "Is this whole thing really necessary?" she asks him. "I thought that you trusted me?"

"I do but I don't want to come back to my ship and find you gone," he reasons, kissing her cheek, "You are the only one I cannot easily let go of,"

She turns her head and looks at him, squeezing out of his grasp. "That's enough for now. I think I got it, the walk, the look. I'm ready," she assures him, going back to her room to change.

Killian wants to make sure she is comfortable with her part of the plan for tomorrow. When he comes into her

room, she's sitting at the dresser, brushing her now brown locks. He watches her expression change thoughtfully and he walks over behind her, taking the brush from her and starts brushing.

"I'm still not used to seeing myself as a brunette," she admits.

"You know you're beautiful no matter what you look like," he says, carefully brushing.

Emma sighs and stares at her reflection, but more specifically at him. "You were right, you know," she muses suddenly, "about me wanting to leave,"

His fingers settle through her hair, forgetting the brush for a moment, waiting for her to continue. "And for the record, I hate it when you're right," she adds, "but I was running. It's funny, the night I was kidnapped on the eve of my birthday I wished that I would be swept away. I didn't think that meant I would find myself among four other girls at a slave auction and then purchased by a pirate captain,"

"This pirate captain, was he at least good-looking?" he teases.

Emma laughs and the sound is cathartic to his ears; he brushes aside her hair and she turns to him. Killian leans into her and wraps his hands around her waist, pulling her closer towards him. "As I recall, you were a handful that first night," he remembers, "I never would have thought a beauty like you could be so much trouble for me,"

"You're no good for me either, Killian," she reasons, "You've stopped me from leaving twice and convinced me to change my hair color,"

He reaches up and gently strokes her hair, smiling fondly. "I told you, you look beautiful no matter your hair color," he says.

"You didn't come in here to tell me that,"

Killian backs away. "I wanted to make sure you know your part for tomorrow," he reasons.

"I got it Killian," she promises.

"That's another thing," he adds, "for this to work, you have to refer me the same way everyone else does: Captain. This cannot be personal,"

"Okay,"

He turns back to her and a mischievous smirk marks his face. "When I saw you earlier in that outfit...I understand that you hate corsets but you looked amazingly sexy," he purrs.

A flush rushes to Emma's cheeks and she looks away from, finding the hairbrush. "You know this is only a one time deal, Killian and I'm not going to make it a habit of wearing that outfit on a daily basis,"

He walks over to her again and kneels down so he's breaths away from her neck. "Princess Emma, is that a blush?" he teases, "if I didn't know you any better, I'd say that you liked the attention. And why not? You're a beautiful woman and I would be envious of any man who caught your attention, if only to make love to you nightly,"

Emma looses herself and turns her head to face him. "You should really go," she muses, "our arrangement – it's

not working, Killian," she reasons.

"And why isn't it working again?" he wonders, "You're still running, Emma and the irony of the situation is that this was your idea. But you're so scared of feeling that you would rather run from it,"

"I'm still here," she says, shrugging. "I haven't run,"

Killian leans in closer, placing a hand over her heart. "You have – here," he whispers, "but you don't need to run, Emma. You don't have to be scared of your feelings,"

"You think you know what's in my heart, Killian but you don't know me," she cries, "I'm excited and curious about sexuality but I'm scared too, especially when there's emotions involved. Hearts can be broken,"

"I wouldn't break yours," he reasons, "If anything, I would want to possess it and keep it safe from ever being broken,"

Emma stares at him oddly. "If taken literally, that's actually very disgusting," she says and smiles. "But it's still sweet,"

"I was speaking metaphorically," he confirms, "but in case you didn't know, Emma: you are the only one I want to keep safe," He kisses her forehead and quickly backs away. "I expect that we will arrive at our destination very early tomorrow, so be ready to leave the ship when I'm ready to go,"

"Yes, Captain," she promises.

"Good night Emma," he says, turns and leaves. As soon as he closes the door behind him, he leans against it and sighs heavily. Maybe it would be better if she didn't wear that outfit on a daily basis because he's sure if she did, he would not be able to run his ship properly.

tbc