This chapter is based during the six weeks of peace in season 4.

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Lessons

"Your father might have my head if I agree," Killian said, staring at Emma, who sat across from him at his booth at Granny's. He'd been enjoying a quiet breakfast when she had blessed him with her presence, only to bring up something that caused uneasiness to seep through him.

Emma rolled her eyes. "It's fine, Killian. He was the one who brought it up, anyway."

He quirked an eyebrow. "Really? He asked you to have me give you sword lessons?"

"Well, not exactly." She leaned back in her seat. "He lightly suggested that I should get better with a sword. You know, since everything's been so peaceful, he thought it would be the best time."

"It sounds like your father wants to give you those lessons, Swan." He took a bite of the muffin Granny had insisted he eat.

"I know he does, but he's busy teaching himself how to cook." She suppressed the laugh that threatened to escape her as she remembered that morning's breakfast. "And then he's spending time with Neal and Henry. He's been teaching him how to ride a horse."

Killian nodded. "Did you tell him you prefer to have a dashing pirate teach you?"

She held back an eye roll. "No, I did not. If I told him that, he would drop everything. You think he wants his princess learning the noble art of sword fighting from a pirate?"

He chuckled. "You make a fair point."

"Plus, if he doesn't know, I can challenge him one day and beat him." She crossed her arms, a smug smile on her face. "Come on, it'll be fun."

"I've yet to duel with your father, but I think he's pretty skilled with his blade."

She leaned forward, putting her crossed arms on the table. "Are you worried your skills aren't a match for his?"

Killian moved forward, leaning over his muffin. "I have three centuries of sword fighting under my belt. Your father is no match for me."

"Then what's the problem?" Her smile was teasing now.

He shrugged. "I guess nothing. We can start whenever you want."

Emma broke a piece off of Killian's muffin and stuffed it in her mouth. "Let's go."

"Right now?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Neither of us are working today. Finish your breakfast first. I'm going to go back to the loft and grab an actual sword."

Killian took a sip of his water. "I'll meet you out front."

Emma got to her feet, grabbing her phone from the table. She gave him one last smile and headed out the door.

As Killian finished his meal, he couldn't keep the smile off his face. Despite the town being unsettlingly peaceful the past week, he and Emma still hadn't spent as much time together as he had hoped. They saw each other every morning before she went to the sheriff station and he to the library. At lunch, one of them would show up at the other's place of work. Dinner was held at the loft most of the time and Emma always insisted Killian come over. Snow was always enthusiastic, but David had been more reluctant. However, Killian knew he was slowly winning him over.

Today, though, him and Emma were going to be able to spend time together outside of their normal schedule. He couldn't help but wish he had his ship. Teaching Emma aboard the Jolly Roger would have been ideal, but they would be able to make do anywhere with enough space.

He paid his bill and then headed to his room.

"Hang on, Emma. Where are you going?"

Emma held back a sigh, pulling her hand away from the door knob. She slowly turned away from the door to see her mother standing in the kitchen, Neal in her arms.

"And why do you need a sword?"

"I, um, I'm meeting Killian."

A playful smile appeared on her lips. "What did he do?"

She rolled her eyes. "Nothing. He's teaching me how to sword fight. Don't tell Dad," she added quickly. "I want it to be a surprise." Immediately, she regretted telling her mother. She wasn't the best at keeping secrets.

"I won't." Snow adjusted Neal so he was on her hip. "Be careful."

"He's not going to hurt me, Mom." She grabbed the doorknob. "And I will be. Bye!" She was out the door before her mom could respond.

Much to Emma's delight, her father had already left for work when she'd arrived back at the loft. She didn't know what she would have told him if he had been there instead of her mother.

Killian was leaning against the fence in front of Granny's when Emma approached. He smiled at her and walked down the sidewalk to meet her, kissing her softly before asking, "Do you have a location in mind for our practice?"

Emma entwined their fingers. "Henry showed me this small area David took him to practice sword fighting while my mom and I were stuck in the Enchanted Forest."

Killian nodded, memories of being tied to a tree coming back to him. "Let's go, then."

"So, have you ever actually taught someone how to sword fight?" Emma asked as she pulled him in the direction of the field.

"Aye, I've taught many sailors and crew members, including young Baelfire."

Emma looked up at him. "Really?"

"Taught him everything he knew. He may have told you otherwise, but he would be wrong."

She snorted, looking forward. "Who taught you?"

"Well, the Navy, first. However, they believed in a more…traditional form of sword fighting. When I became a pirate, I quickly learned that one couldn't survive a seafaring life fighting the way the Navy taught men."

She smirked. "Cheater."

"It's not cheating, Swan. It's skill. It's the reason I could best your father."

"You keep saying you could, but I want to see some proof. One day, I'm going to have to get you two to challenge each other."

He chuckled. "I'd rather not make your father dislike me anymore, love."

"He doesn't dislike you. He only pretends to. That's what dads do, or at last he does."

Killian could hear the eye roll in her voice.

Emma directed them around a corner, leading Killian to a small, closed off patch of grass. "Will this work? It's not very big, but there aren't many places in Storybrooke that are big."

"It's perfect." He led them into the middle of the small field and released Emma's hand, unsheathing his sword. "Are you ready?"

Emma's eyes widened as she stared at the sword. "Shouldn't you show me some tricks or something first?"

"I want to see what you know first so I know where to start."

She pulled her sword out of its sheath and threw the leather to the side. "I don't know much. My parents have shown me very little." She lifted her sword, trying to match Killian's stance.

Killian narrowed his eyes.

"What?"

"Bad form, but we'll get to that soon. Let's begin." He stepped forward, slashing his sword against Emma's.

David had shown Emma a bit about using a sword when they'd been in Neverland and during the whole Wicked Witch fiasco. She knew enough to know that she preferred her gun, but when that had failed her in both the Enchanted Forest and fighting a dragon form of Maleficent, she'd realized that the fairytale world didn't seem to have room for modern weapons.

She took a few steps back, moving her sword to block Killian's swings. In a minute, he had her backed up against the fence that surrounded the area. He smirked. "How much did your father teach you?"

Emma pushed, forcing Killian to stumble back. "Enough to stand a chance against the Lost Boys."

Killian maneuvered his sword so Emma's went flying to the side. "It's a wonder you survived."

Emma gaped at her sword and then her hand. "You need to teach me how to do that."

Killian sheathed his sword and retrieved Emma's, handing it back to her. "Soon. First, we need to work on your form. Your stance is all wrong, leaving plenty of weak spots for someone to hurt you."

"We wouldn't want that," she teased.

"Of course not," he said, smiling. "Never. Now, hold your sword like this and position your legs like so." He demonstrated, watching as she copied him. "Marvelous. Now…" He continued to explain how to move both body and sword to always be protected. Emma watched as he moved his sword effortlessly, explaining as he did so. She tried her best to mirror him.

"Hold on, Swan," he said after a few minutes. He sheathed his sword and moved to stand behind her. He rested his hook on her waist and wrapped his hand around hers, pulling her arm with his. "You have to let the sword guide you." He sliced the sword through the air, showing Emma a quick manuevor.

"Killian, that doesn't make sense."

"Perhaps not, but once you become an expert, your subconscious takes over. I believe that's what your world calls muscle memory."

Emma turned slightly so she could see his face. "Did Henry tell you that?"

"Aye, was he correct?"

"Yeah, he was." She smiled at him for a moment before stepping out of his arms and pointing her sword at him. "Let's try again."

Throughout the day, Emma gradually got better. Once, she disarmed Killian, though she knew he was going easy on her. When lunch came around, they stopped at Granny's for a quick meal before starting up again. Emma insisted they keep practicing. A few times, she grabbed Killian's shoulder and forced him to duck as her father drove past on patrol.

"Is this really necessary?" he asked after the second time.

"Yes. We can't let him know."

"We're not plotting a mass burglary, Swan."

She rolled her eyes and stood up. "I want it to be a surprise, remember?"

Around 3:30, Henry stopped by, eager to watch his mother train. At one point, Killian convinced Emma to give up her sword for a moment so Killian could show Henry a few things.

"You're almost as good as your mother," Killian praised.

"Which isn't saying much!" Emma shouted from her place on the bench that sat a few yards away.

"Don't listen to her," he whispered to Henry. "She's better than she thinks."

"Of course she is." Henry smirked. "She beat you in a sword fight one time."

It was Killian's turn to roll his eyes. "That was one time, lad. I was being a gentleman."

Henry snorted. "Were you being a gentleman when she tied you to a tree? Or when she knocked you out with the compass? Or left you on top of the beanstalk?"

Killian disarmed Henry then, smiling at the boy. "You will one day learn, Henry, that you must always be a gentleman, even in a duel."

"Yeah, right," he muttered, grinning and handing the sword to Emma as she approached them.

Over the next two weeks, Emma and Killian snuck in lessons during empty pockets of the day when both their schedules allowed them to. Often, they would practice after dinner as the sun set before going to the docks to cool down and enjoy the sea. Emma, as Killian realized quickly, was a fast learner, too stubborn to let something as small as three hundred years of experience get in between her and winning.

"I think that's enough for today," Killian declared after Emma disarmed him for the third time in a row.

Emma smirked. "Had enough of losing, huh?"

Killian chuckled and sheathed his sword. "It's more that we've been practicing since dawn."

Emma grabbed his hand. "I would not get up that early. Anyway, I know you're still going easy on me."

"What makes you say that, Swan?" he asked as he led them in the direction of the docks.

She rolled her eyes. "I don't think Captain Hook gets beaten repeatedly."

"Perhaps you're just getting better."

"I am getting better, but I'm not that good yet."

"I don't know, Swan. I think you could give your father a challenge."

"A challenge is not the same as a victory."

He nodded. "You are quite right."

They walked in comfortable silence as their feet led them to the docks. When they reached their destination and sat on what had become their bench, Emma said, "Thank you."

"What ever for, love?"

She let out a content sigh and rested her head on his shoulder. "For helping me."

He dropped a kiss to her head. "Anytime, Swan. I'm here for you."

She waited for a shred of doubt to fill her, an inkling of disbelief, but neither ever came.

I hope you enjoyed that chapter!