Author's Note: Happy New Year!
The reviews over the last few days have really given me the boost I needed to get some more writing done! Thank you guys so much for all the support! I love you!
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Emma was nervous. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been so jittery, even in Neverland. She stood in front of her mirror, fidgeting while Gwen tucked the last wisps of her hair into place. Emma smoothed the skirts of her gown with trembling hands. The dress was a deep, dark green embroidered with darker and lighter shades of the same color. The pattern was all leaves and vines, which made Emma feel a little like a walking beanstalk, but Gwen assured her that she looked beautiful.
The maid set her tiara in place and wound a few actual strands of cut ivy through the plaits and curls at the back of Emma's elaborate coiffure. Gwen kept grinning as she dressed and coiffed the princess, but she refused to tell Emma what had her so giddy.
"There," Gwen said, standing back.
Emma gave herself a once-over in the looking glass, taking a deep breath.
"Thank you, Gwen," she said quietly, turning to smile at the red-haired maid.
Gwen beamed at the princess.
There was a light rap on the door, followed by Neal's voice.
"Emma," he said, "are you ready to go down?"
Gwen went to the door and gave Emma an expectant look, and Emma nodded. Gwen opened the door.
Neal was dressed all in greens and browns, but the colors were not quite matched to her gown. The green of Neal's jacket was a grassier, bright shade. It suited him, but it almost clashed with the deep gem tones of Emma's dress. Emma was a little surprised at that. Usually the staff was almost devious in their ability to ensure couples were dressed to match one another.
Neal looked Emma over from head to foot and then offered her his arm.
Emma put her hand through Neal's arm and let him lead her down to the ballroom.
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Killian was nervous. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so jittery, even in Neverland. He stood in his rooms, letting Thomas fuss about the final details of his ensemble.
The new vest fit beautifully. While Killian had been off fetching Robin Hood, Thomas had ordered copies of his red vest made in nearly every shade of fabric the kingdom possessed. The one Thomas had insisted on dressing Killian in for the ball was a deep green with embroidered leaves and vines. Something about the garment clearly amused Thomas, but Killian couldn't get the man to say what it was.
Beneath the vest, Killian wore a silk shirt of purest white. It was slick and lighter than any garment Killian had ever worn. He thought he could get used to wearing silk.
Thomas had also ordered a few copies of Killian's coat in rich fabrics, but Killian was not willing to forgo his leather just yet.
"There we are, sir," Thomas said, making a final adjustment to Killian's lapels.
"How do I look, Thomas?" Killian asked, inspecting himself in the mirror.
"Devilishly handsome, sir, if you don't mind my saying so," Thomas said with a grin.
"Let's hope you're not the only one who thinks so," Killian replied with a grin of his own.
.
Killian found Tinkerbell in the hall outside the ballroom. She was dressed in a shimmering bright green gown with paler green panels that had sparkling threads woven through them. The whole outfit was ethereal, light and fluttery. Her hair was pulled up into a crown of curls.
"Lady Bell," Killian intoned, favoring her with a stately bow. "His majesty the king bid me escort you in for the grand procession."
"Yes, yes," Tinkerbell said, swishing her skirts. "This is all a little ridiculous, though, don't you think?"
"I far prefer it to dodging poisoned Lost Boy arrows, don't you?" Killian murmured as he took Tinkerbell's arm.
"I suppose," the former pixie said with a frown. "I'd rather stay with Regina."
"How goes the reformation?" Killian asked.
Tinkerbell scowled.
"Robin's come up to see her several times, now, but they don't seem to get along well at all," the fairy complained. "Maybe I was wrong about them being right for one another. Or maybe too much time has passed…"
"Or perhaps they've just met and need some time to get to know one another," Killian countered. "It's only been a week, lass. Give them some time."
Tinkerbell sighed.
They went through the doors and the herald announced them to the room. Killian's eyes went immediately to the royal dais, where Emma sat on her cushioned seat to the left of the king's throne. All four of the resident royals were already seated in a row, Emma, David, Snow, and Neal. Emma was looking at him, as were David and Neal. Killian couldn't fight his smile or chuckle when he saw the princess's deep green gown and Neal's clashing coat.
"What?" Tinkerbell asked.
"It seems the maids and valets have chosen sides," Killian murmured, mostly to himself as he looked between Emma, Neal, Tinkerbell, and himself.
"What?" Tinkerbell repeated.
"Do you know the steps for a quadrille?" Killian said, changing the subject.
"I think so," Tinkerbell said, frowning a little, "why?"
"So we can dance, of course," he said with a grin.
Tinkerbell narrowed her eyes at him.
"What are you plotting, Hook?" she asked.
He just smiled in reply.
.
Emma sat bored through the grand procession, her eyes constantly flitting to the black-clad pirate-knight-prince with a former fairy on his arm. When his turn came at the front of the queue, he locked eyes with her as he bowed deeply. Tinkerbell made a lovely curtsey next to him, her own eyes on Neal. Maybe she'd noticed how their outfits went together. If Emma didn't know better, she'd say the staff had dressed the pixie to match her fiancé, or visa versa.
Emma wasn't close enough to tell, but it also looked as though Killian's vest was made of the exact same material as her own gown. She knew that Thomas had been assigned as Killian's valet, and Thomas had a wry sense of humor—but where had he gotten the fabric? Maybe he'd bribed Gwen.
Emma mused about the topic as her parents took the opening dance, waltzing sweetly across the marble floor. When they finished, Neal offered her his hand for the next dance, and Emma took it. Neal wasn't nearly as smooth a dancer as either Killian or her father, but he knew the steps. He danced the waltz exactly the same way every time without any extemporaneous improvisation.
After the waltzes, the band struck up the music for a lined quadrille, and Emma eagerly joined the nearest row, pulling Neal along with her. The princess was pleased when Killian and Tinkerbell took the places across from them. Killian's eyes never seemed to leave hers during the dance. When she skipped forward with Neal at her side and Killian and Tinkerbell met them in the middle of the line of dancers, Emma's breath caught in her throat. The second time they met in the center, they were so close that Emma could feel Killian's breath on her cheek. When it came to the point in the dance to switch partners, Emma's pulse accelerated as Killian's fingers curled around hers. He pulled her to him almost greedily, his good hand gripping her tight.
"You've stolen me," she whispered teasingly to him as they marched to stand opposite Neal and Tinkerbell.
"Aye," he breathed into her ear, "and I don't intend to give you back."
Emma gave a tiny gasp.
"But that's part of the dance," she protested, feeling her cheeks go pink.
"Is it?" he mused.
She skipped into the center of the line with the other ladies, pressing her palm to Tinkerbell's as they danced around each other and back to their original partners. Killian's eyes were still on her, boring into her with stormy intensity. She swished her way around Neal and back to the center to spin again with Tinkerbell before rejoining Killian.
"May I have the next waltz?" he said in her ear as he promenaded with her, his good hand tracing idle patterns on her right shoulder as she held his wooden hand on her left hip.
"Yes," she breathed.
He led her back to the center of the line and reluctantly gave her back to Neal. Killian held her fingers as long as possible before letting her go.
Emma finished the dance with Neal, but she met Killian in the center several more times. His eyes were so intense, and he stepped so close to her.
When the music ended, Emma told Neal with all honesty that she needed some air. Neal seemed more than willing to escort Emma out onto the balcony, but a visiting lord from his father's kingdom hailed him and asked for a minute of his time. Neal seemed reluctant to leave Emma's side, but she gave him a reassuring smile and told him to go with the nobleman. Neal kissed Emma's hand before letting go of her and turning to give the visiting dignitary his attention.
Emma wove her way through the crowd as a lively reel began playing. When she stepped through the half-opened door out onto the balcony, she let out a sigh. The cool, salty air felt soothing against her flushed skin. She walked out to the railing and rested her hands on the chilled stone. She could hear the dull roar of the music and lively conversations and laughter in the ballroom. A slight breeze pulled at her hair and skirt. She stared out over the inky expanse of darkened ocean. Each wave was crested in starlight, the foam a stark contrast to the blackness of the sea.
"Alone at last," Killian murmured right into her ear, his breath tickling her neck.
Emma hadn't heard him approach, but she didn't jump. She turned around slowly, not fighting the smile that played over her lips.
"We've been alone before," she quipped, noticing how close he was and how they were both standing in the shadow of tower. They'd be practically invisible to anyone still inside the ballroom.
"Aye," he said easily, "but that was a while ago."
His eyes were nearly black under the moonless sky.
She made no reply, but licked her lips, watching him carefully.
"You look beautiful by starlight, Swan," he said quietly. "Emma."
He took another step closer, making her heart start racing again.
"Killian," she breathed, putting a trembling hand on his chest, feeling the embroidery of his vest. It was identical to her dress. They were perfectly matched.
He closed the gap between them, wrapping his left arm around her waist. His fingers grazed her cheek before sliding down her neck and under her hair. He cradled the back of her head, pulling her gently toward him. She moved with him, lifting herself onto her tiptoes to meet his lips as they descended toward hers.
She let her eyes flutter closed. The kiss didn't resemble either of the kind they had shared before. It was neither chaste nor frenzied. Killian kissed her with a sort of quiet intensity, his mouth moving against hers like a dance. She responded eagerly, feeling heat spread through her, warming her veins. When she opened her mouth to him, Killian's fingers tightened on the back of her neck. He sucked her lower lip into his mouth, nibbling on it before flicking his tongue across it to meet hers. She let out a little sound at that, not quite a sigh, and not quite a moan. Killian groaned in response, pulling back, softening the kiss before pressing his forehead to hers.
He seemed to enjoy that almost as much as kissing. They rubbed noses, breathing each other's breath for a minute.
"Emma," he murmured in a raw, aching voice. "Do you know how I adore you?"
Her heart leapt at the words, but she knew their dalliance was in vain.
"Killian, I'm promised to Neal," she whispered.
"Aye," he sighed, frowning. "But does he make you feel like this?"
He kissed her again, harder this time. She felt a little dizzy when he pulled back.
"We swore to King Midas…" Emma breathed, her voice trembling.
"Forget the king and marry me," he pleaded.
"Killian," she tried to admonish, but her voice was still thready.
"I've got no prospects or empire to offer you, Emma, but I know what a prince and lover ought to be."
Emma shivered at the word lover. She let her eyes close again as she tried to calm her stampeding heart.
"Killian," she said, opening her eyes and chewing on her lip. Her brow furrowed.
"Go ahead, love," he said with a small, almost brave smile. He was expecting another rejection.
Emma took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. She wasn't sure how to say what she needed to say. Honestly, she didn't know what to do.
But then there was a collective gasp from inside the ballroom and the band came to a discordant stop.
Emma met Killian's gaze, their expressions mirrors of wide-eyed alarm. They turned as one to dash back into the ballroom to see what was wrong.