A Day for "Just Emma" (pt. 3 of 5)

CS Genre: Lieutenant Duckling

"He sold you into slavery?" Emma gasped, looking with rounded eyes at Killian, seated across from her at the tavern. "What kind of father does a thing like that?!"

After she'd agreed to take the noon meal with Killian, he'd given her a courtly bow, offered his arm, and escorted her to a nearby tavern. She'd looked over the establishment with interest as soon as her eyes acclimated to the dark interior. As princess, she'd naturally never been in such a place, and she found the new surroundings exciting.

But not nearly as exciting as spending time with Lieutenant Killian Jones. He was brave, handsome and chivalrous. That much she'd been able to ascertain simply from her time with him on the docks, but as the afternoon wore on, she discovered he was so much more. He was funny, regaling her with story after story of his adventures with his brother, Liam, who he seemed to almost worship. He was perceptive, picking up on her most minute body language, knowing what she wished almost before she did herself. ("You're something of an open book, love.")

And best of all, he was interested in her, genuinely interested in her. He found her beautiful, that much was clear, but he also listened with interest as she spoke of her hopes and dreams. It was refreshing. How many times had men acted interested in her only later to reveal that what they were really interested in was her crown?

It was one reason Emma was careful, oh so very careful, not to reveal her true identity to Killian. When people knew…they changed, and Emma was afraid she'd crumble to pieces if Killian changed toward her.

It was ridiculous, really. At the end of this magical afternoon, she'd be forced to return to the castle and resume her life as the crown princess. She'd be forced to attend the ball, choose a suitable husband, marry, produce heirs and be the dutiful queen. After this afternoon, she'd never see Killian again, so what did it matter what he thought of her?

Emma felt her heart break a little just thinking of what was to come. True, she and Killian had only known each other for a matter of hours, but she felt connected to him in a way she'd never felt connected to anyone. It was easy with him. It was like talking to a best friend, someone she'd known all her life, someone she trusted.

Someone she could very easily come to love.

Perhaps this afternoon was a mistake. Now that she knew what it felt like to fall for someone, settling down with a prince would be that much more difficult.

"Aye, Swan," Killian answered after a pause, and a long swig of ale. "That he did. My father was a fugitive from the law, a right bastard, and he chose to sell his sons for a rowboat in order to evade capture."

Emma placed her hand comfortingly on his. "I'm so sorry, Killian. I can't even imagine…"

He shrugged, a sad smile on his lips. "It would be a lie to say it wasn't difficult, but I had Liam, which is a far sight more than some lads had."

"And if you were a slave to this Captain Silver, how did you come to be in the Royal Navy?"

Killian's brow furrowed. "Silver sent us into a storm, after a jewel of great price. It was utter madness, suicide. The ship went down and all souls on board were lost. All souls, that is, but Liam and myself."

"How did you survive when everyone else perished?" Emma asked, leaning forward, fascinated with the story.

"That is the question," Killian answered contemplatively. "I've asked Liam many times how we were the sole survivors, but when I ask….when I ask, he gets troubled, brushes it off and mumbles something about how he'll always protect me. At any rate, we washed up on shore, providentially on the same shore a contingent of Camelot's naval officers had docked."

"And they saved you? Took you into the navy?"

"Aye…" Killian said, drawing out the word, "but not initially. They took us on board only after Liam revealed that in the midst of the chaos of the maelstrom, he'd recovered the jewel of great price that no sailor had ever yet obtained. In essence, Liam bought our way into the navy."

"And you worked your way up the chain of command until you became Lieutenant and Captain?" Emma asked.

Killian glanced aside, and Emma noticed the evasion in his posture. Somehow, her question made him uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, Killian," Emma said hesitantly. "You needn't answer that if you don't wish…."

He turned back to her, smiling gently, before reaching over to catch her hand in his, bringing it to his lips for a soft, almost reverent kiss. "I do wish to tell you, Swan."

Emma felt the familiar swoop in her stomach she'd been experiencing all afternoon. The way he'd kissed her hand…it was so romantic, so intimate. He must have seen something in her eyes; his darkened in response, and for one bright, rose-colored moment she thought he would lean across the narrow table between them and kiss her properly.

But then the barmaid returned to their table to clear away their empty dishes, and the moment was lost.

"To answer your question," Killian said, after a small shake of his head and a little, nervous chuckle, "no, we did not work our way up. Fortune, it would seem was not finished smiling upon us."

"Oh? What happened?"

"A…" he hesitated, looking uncomfortable once more. "A man of…great influence…took notice of us when we returned to Camelot, and he became somewhat of a benefactor, making Liam and myself not only officers on the Jewel, but his own heirs."

"A second father."

"Aye."

The conversation continued to flow, on and on, until Emma suddenly noticed the tavern, which had been nearly empty when they'd first arrived, was now full of noisy, boisterous people.

"It seems the dinner crowd has arrived, love," Killian said, looking around in surprise.

Emma's eyes grew wide. The dinner crowd? Had they really passed the better part of an afternoon together already? It felt as though they'd only just arrived at the tavern.

Emma felt a new swoop in her stomach, this one decidedly unpleasant. If it was time for the dinner crowd to arrive she must return to the castle. With all haste.

She got quickly to her feet, feeling more reluctance to part from the handsome lieutenant than she'd have believed possible. "Thank you, Killian," she said, her voice not quite steady. "This afternoon was…it was perfect. I'll never forget it, but I'm afraid I must return to my home."

Killian got to his feet as she did, and the look in his eyes made it clear that he was as reluctant to say goodbye as she was. "Allow me to walk you home, love," he requested.

She shook her head slowly. "I…I can't, Killian. I'm so sorry. If I had my choice….but I don't. I'm afraid this must be goodbye."

He wanted to argue, she could see it in the stormy set of his eyes, but he didn't. He took a small step back, nodding to her. "I'll treasure this afternoon for all my days, Swan."

Emma didn't know what came over her. Perhaps it was the longing in his eyes. Perhaps it was her reluctance to return home, return to the ball that would change her fate. Perhaps it was the terrible realization that after they parted, she'd never see Lieutenant Killian Jones again. Whatever the reason, Emma found herself stepping forward, invading his space.

She looped her arms around his neck, stood on her tiptoes, and brought her lips to his.

Killian gasped at the unexpected embrace, but quickly regained his composure. His strong arms came around her waist, drawing her to him, his soft lips moved above hers, kissing her back as enthusiastically as she kissed him. On and on it went, waves and waves of desire, of want, maybe even of love crashing over her as tears stung the back of her eyes.

How could she ever walk away from this man?

Emma had no idea how long the kiss would have continued, how passionate it would have become, if they'd even be able to stop now that they'd started, but a loud wolf-whistle from one of the tavern's other patrons suddenly brought her back to herself, and she reluctantly pulled her lips free from Killian's breathing hard, letting her forehead rest against his for a moment as she regained her composure.

Finally she took a step away, seeing that Killian looked as utterly wrecked as she felt. "I…I must go," she whispered, her voice threatening to crack on the final word.

"Farewell, love," he said, and she saw him gently, reverently touch his lips, just before she turned, walking quickly away from him, barely making it out of the tavern before the tears began to flow.

She must return to the castle, to her fate, but it suddenly felt as though she were leaving her heart behind in that tavern.

Notes:

-I'm sorry...sort of, hehe! I promise this is not the end. (Although a tiny, evil part of me kind wants to leave it there, the ultimate angsty ending.) This is Fluffy Fridays, after all. Happy endings are pretty much guaranteed.

-Up next: There are, I believe 2 more chapters to this story (which probably means Fluffy Fridays will be extended to 130 chapters total, rather than the 125 I announced a couple months ago). Emma dutifully goes back to the castle and prepares for the ball. She's determined to be the crown princess her kingdom needs. But as it turns out, things are not always exactly as they seem, and Emma might be in store for a bit of a surprise…