A/N sorry I'm a day late! Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Love hearing reviews so thanks to all those who wrote one about last chapter. I hope you all favorite and follow as well!

Emma hardly slept that night, all she wanted to know was whether or not Killian had received her letter. She knew that the palace was far more strict now when it came to who was allowed where and she could only hope he was able to pass the guards safely. Of course it didn't help that she had absolutely no view of the western garden so she had no way of checking to see if he was there without looking suspicious.

After awhile Emma began distracting herself with books and jewelry and whatever else she had in her room that could keep away the boredom. She was in the middle of spring through her collection of rings when she finally looked up and realized that the sky was brighter and the sun was just under the horizon. Surely Killian had time by now to get her letter and leave the palace.

Without even bothering with her robe or shoes Emma dropped the jewelry in her hand and started out the door. She had to be quiet as she snuck down the nearly empty halls, knowing that the help would be getting to work soon. Luckily she only passed a few maids on her way and neither of them noticed her, or if they did they pretended not to.

Finally she reached the doors leading out to the western gardens, which to her surprise were not guarded, let alone locked. Emma still thought it'd be best to make it quick as she went through those large doors out into the garden, the maids might not say anything if they saw her but the guards wouldn't be as hesitant.

She walked quickly through the grass to where the fountain was. Once she was there Emma took no time in checking and much to her relief her note was nowhere to be seen. Just then she saw a guard pass through towards the palace entrance, he didn't see her at first but then looked again. Emma quickly hid behind some tree branches, hoping he would think his eyes were just playing a trick on him.

"Swan?" Emma jumped at the sound of Killians groggy voice. He was just sitting up when she turned around and saw him on the bench.

"What are you still doing here?!" She demanded in a whisper, unsure if the guard was still there. Emma was extremely pleased to see him but she was still worried that they might be caught at any moment.

"I had to hide here when I came for your note last night and then I must've fallen asleep." He explained, not even bothering to hide the smile on his face. "It can't be too late in the day, you're still not dressed yet."

Emma quickly ceased her arms over her chest when he said this. She really should put on her robe before leaving her room. "It's still very early, I just came to make sure you got my note, and you clearly did."

The two stared at each other in mutual excitement for some time before Killian started to come closer. Emma worried that she looked too tired, having not slept at all that night, but Killian only thought of how beautiful she was. Of course there was another matter that shouldn't been on his mind but his deal with the magic man was actually the last thing he was thinking about in that moment.

"I should probably find a way out of here." Killian whispered, he stood so close to Emma now that she could feel his breath as he spoke.

"And I should be heading back to my room." Emma looked up at him as she spoke.

Once again they were silent and Emma wondered if they would finally close the little bit of space between their lips. For a moment it seemed as though their lips might meet but then Killians face changed, as though he were suddenly worried about something. Emma could see the change happen and took a step back before he had the chance.

"Saturday evening, can you make it to the eastern woods?" She asked, looking away this time.

"If you're there then so am I." He was sincere but distant when he spoke, "you really should go."

Emma gave a slight nod and turned to look through the branches, checking to see that the coast was clear. Before she could step through though Killian turned her around and kissed her softly on the lips. He didn't say a word after pulling away, only nodded as a signal for her to go ahead of him.

As she made her way back to her room Emma felt a sense of lightness, almost like she was floating. It was a simple kiss but a kiss none the less and it would surely be enough to keep her going until Saturday evening. She floated down the hallway with a smile on her face, not even caring if someone saw her, that is until she wrote literally ran into someone.

The force of hitting someone else was enough to shake the princess from her daze and look up. It was a man, clearly a nobleman, whom she had never seen before. He clearly recognized her though because he bowed his head despite the fact that he seemed less than pleased.

"You may rise and announce yourself," Emma said more out of habit than need.

"Sir Denis, his majesties royal advisor." The man said as he stood. Emma couldn't help but notice how firmly he held onto his staff even though he was presumably in his forties and didn't seem to have any trouble walking.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." She smiled.

"And you, your highness, though I wouldn't have thought our first encounter would be so early in the day that you're still in your nightdress. May I ask what you've been doing this morning." Once again Emma had forgotten about her appearance.

"I- sleep walk, sometimes. My basis must've forgotten to lock my door last night." He didn't seem convinced but it wouldn't been inappropriate to openly say so, even if they were the only ones in the hall.

"And were you sleep walking just now?" He came off just slightly condescending and Emma was beginning to decide that she didn't like him all that much.

"No."

"Then I suggest you pay more attention to where you're going." He repositioned how he held his staff as he spoke. Normal Emma would've been much more taken back by the very open display of boldness but instead she felt the intense need to agree with him.

"Of course, please, be on your way. I'll try not to run into anything else." Emma said with a smile that was very unlike herself. She Dennis only nodded and pushed past her down the hall, leaving Emma with a strange feeling inside and an urge to go back to her room as quickly and carefully as possible.

...

Saturday came quickly and perhaps it was the fact that she couldn't wait to see Killian again but most of the morning went by extremely slowly. When she woke Emma found a bouquet of flowers at the door of her bed. It was silly to even think for a moment that they were from the bandit but the idea still flashed through Emma's head before she read the letter attached.

They were, of course, from Edric. A small bouquet of pink and yellow flowers, Emma was glad that none of them were red. She was also pleased to see that the note was not written by Edric himself, rather it was written by a scribe and stamped with his seal. It was a simple now detailing what sort of clothes she should wear and the general outline of their day. Though it all sounded nice Emma couldn't help but wish she could just skip ahead to her horse ride to meet Killian.

Still, Emma had obligations and if anything she should be grateful for her date with Edric because it meant she didn't have to do any wedding planning with her mother. Emma rung for her maids as she put the letter down and has one of them fetch some water for the flowers as the other picked out her outfit for the day.

The letter instructed Emma to dress in layers as it was expected to get warmer midday. She ended up in a different short sleeved gown the same color as the pink flowers from her bouquet and over it she wore a light blue cape. Emma decide to braid her hair and forgo any jewelry, she didn't want to look like she cared too much about this day.

Breakfast with Edric was awkward and filled with unfortunate silences. In fact, most of tree day with Edric seemed to go this way until somewhere after lunch when they had a bit of time to kill before their next activity. As per usual they were accompanied to each endeavor by a chaperone, a high ranking guard, chosen by their parents. It was around the time they finished their lunch that the man dismissed himself to the restroom for just a moment, leaving the royals alone in the dining room.

"I thought he'd never leave," Edric said with a smile when the door closed.

"They don't trust us, they probably think we'll run away again." Emma said finishing her water and taking a look around the room. The fireplace on the wall nearest Edric caught her eye and she smiled, the prince followed her gaze curiously.

"What are you thinking?" He asked, knowing the mischievous look in her eye.

"Do you remember playing hide and seek in here when we were younger?" Emma asked, standing and making her way to the fireplace.

"You mean do I remember always losing?" Edric stood as well and followed her over.

Emma rolled her eyes, "that's because you didn't know that this fireplace moves."

She walked around for a moment, inspecting the outside of it until she found what she was looking for. On the to ledge there was a single knob hidden behind a candle stick and when she pressed on it the inside of the fireplace opened up. The space was just barely large enough for them to fit through but they managed to sneak inside and close the door behind them. Once inside they found themselves in a tunnel.

"I knew these tunnels were here but I'd never been in this one." Edric said as they walked along quietly, he grabbed a torch off the wall but it was useless and has probably been there for a hundred years. "How did you find this one?"

"Kingsley had a map when we were little and we teamed up against you." Emma admitted, feeling slightly guilty.

"Oh, of course," he laughed, turning down a corridor, "classic betrayal by the two people I should trust most, my brother and my fiance."

Emma tripped over a stone when he said that but he was quick to catch her.

"I'd been meaning to talk to you about everything today, because I think we've just been putting all the conversations off when we really shouldn't." Edric began, moving into a brighter part of the tunnel, still holding Emma's hand. " I'm going to be completely honest: I don't love you, at least not the way a man would ideally love the woman he's going to marry. And I know that you don't love me in that way either, but I think we could get there. That's why I asked for this date, so that we can get to know each other and then maybe this time next year we'll be happily married and it won't seem like such an obligation. "

Emma couldn't help but first think about Killian, but not in the logging way she had been thinking of him earlier that day. Now, she thought of whether or not she should meet him at all. Edric wanted to try and she should try too and how could she really do that if she was meeting with another in the middle of the night. But then that kiss came back into her mind and Emma thought that just maybe...

"I'm not sure when I'll be able to love you that way, but we can start as friends." Emma finally said and her response seemed to please Edric well enough.

They continued wandering around and talking for an hour or so. At one point they heard a maid on the other side of the wall talking about how they disappeared. It was then that they decided they should head back.

...

Emma had a bath drawn around dinner time, telling her mother she wasn't hungry and that she'd eat after her horse ride. It came as a shock to Emma that her parents were allowing her to ride by herself, but perhaps they thought giving her a little freedom might quench any urges to runaway again. After her bath she dressed her riding clothes, and set of towards the stable.

She chose one of the tamer horses, it has been awhile since she last rode on her own and she wasn't going to throw caution to the wind just yet. As soon as she got in the horse there was a strange sense of freedom and for a moment all she wanted was to ride forever to nowhere in particular. But, of course she did have somewhere to be and so to the eastern woods she went.