Title: Love & Lies

Author: Steph aka CaptainSwanLuver

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Killian/Emma

Characters: Killian, Emma, , August, Belle, Robin, Gold, Regina

Category: Romance/Drama/Humor

Disclaimer: I do this out of a love for this couple. No infringement is intended.

Spoilers: Nope!

Summary: Emma Swan is the star of the failing soap "Love & Lies". Killian Jones is the star of their rival soap. In order to raise ratings, Killian is hired to star on Emma's soap. They immediately clash. Will sparks fly too?

Note: Thanks for the responses to the first part. Hope you enjoy this part! ~Steph

…Love & Lies: Part 2/11…

The following day, Emma entered her dressing room, rolling her eyes at the sight of Killian in his leather recliner.

"Do you ever leave?"

"Good morning to you too, love," he said with a grin.

She sat down at her make-up table. He stood up and walked over to her, sitting on the edge of the table beside her.

"It's a rather big day today. I make my debut."

Emma feigned a smile. "I am so excited I can barely contain it."

"I sensed that," he replied with a grin. "So would you like to run lines together?"

Emma shook her head. "No, I don't work like that."

Killian cocked an eyebrow. "May I ask why not?"

"I just prefer to learn my lines and work things out with my scene partner during rehearsal. I think it flows more naturally that way."

Killian nodded. "Well, I'll tell you how I work. I like to run lines so I am comfortable with my scene partner." He leaned toward her and Emma moved her eyes down. "And since our characters are going to be getting very close on the show, I think it could only benefit us to be as prepared as possible."

Emma swallowed hard and stood abruptly. "Ah, but that would require me to spend even more time with you and, unfortunately, I am already having difficulty stomaching you for even small amounts of time."

She made a move to walk away, when his hand gently encircled her wrist. He turned her back towards him, as he came to stand before her. His eyes scanned hers and she felt her heart begin to race. He licked at his lips.

"Listen, love, you're stuck with me whether you like it or not. If you don't start trusting me, then I can promise you it will translate to the screen. Is that what you want?"

Emma tore her wrist free from him and took a step back. "I want to do my job to the best of my ability. I am a professional and I work a certain way. I'm sorry if you lack the acting skills to properly prepare yourself for your scenes on your own, but I can't help you."

With that, Emma made her way to the door and left. Killian sighed in frustration, as he ran a hand through his hair.

…

Emma walked down the hall and nearly bumped into her best friend, Belle French. Belle played Lexi Rose, her character's assistant on the soap. They started on the show at the same time when they were 14 and they had been inseparable ever since.

"You're back from vacation!" Emma said, hugging her.

Belle nodded. "Yes, good to be back. Of course, I leave for two weeks and the show goes and hires soaps' sexiest man alive."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Don't get me started."

Belle chuckled. "I figured you wouldn't be pleased."

"That is the understatement of the year. They gave him a lot more money than me and made me share my dressing room with him."

Belle's eyes widened. "You're kidding."

"Do I look like I'm kidding? And it gets worse."

Belle tilted her head. "How?"

"The show is going to have Eva start an affair with his character Tyler."

Belle shrugged her shoulders. "That makes sense."

"Excuse me? Have you forgotten that my character is happily married and that Eva and Tad are a very popular couple."

Belle waved her hand. "You know the powers that be think happy is boring. It makes sense to take the two biggest stars on the show and put them together. It's good for ratings."

Emma groaned. "You sound like Killian."

Belle smiled. "You know, I could think of worse things than having to share my dressing room and kiss someone as drop dead gorgeous as Killian Jones."

Emma dropped her eyes. "He's not bad to look at, I'll give him that."

"Emma, come on," Belle said.

Emma waved her hand. "It doesn't matter what he looks like, because the moment he opens his mouth you realize his personality is completely off-putting."

Just then, they spotted Killian walking towards them.

"Speak of the devil," Belle muttered.

Killian stopped in front of them, extending his hand to Belle. "You must be Belle French."

Belle blushed, shocked that he knew who she was. She wasn't nearly as famous as her best friend. "Yes, nice to meet you, Killian. I'm kind of surprised you know who I am though."

Killian smiled. "I make it a point to know everyone I work with, from the cast to the writers to the producers to the crew. We couldn't do what we do without everyone doing their job to the best of their ability. I think it helps to build community, respect and…trust," he looked at Emma when he said the last word before finishing, "which helps make the best show possible."

Emma resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

Belle smiled. "I couldn't agree more."

Killian nodded at her. "Well, I look forward to getting to know you and working with you, Belle."

"Me too," Belle said.

With that, Killian continued down the hall.

Emma gestured at him. "See what I mean?"

Belle laughed. "Yeah, what a monster!"

Emma nodded. "I knew you'd agree with me."

Belle shook her head. "Uh, no, I was being sarcastic. He seems like a nice guy. Pretty charming actually."

"Are you kidding? It's all for show. He doesn't have a genuine bone in his body. You know his reputation. He changes women more often than he changes his underwear."

Belle shrugged. "Perhaps you should keep an open mind. You hate when people judge you on your reputation. Perhaps you should try to get to know him."

Emma shook her head. "That's the last thing I plan on doing."

…

The director, known simply as Gold, approached Emma and Killian.

"Okay, dearies, we're short on time today so we're rehearsing this scene once and then we're going straight to shooting. Eva, I want you at your desk. Killian, outside the door. Now, remember, the viewers need to feel sparks between you two right away. They need to believe that Eva can't resist Tyler, otherwise they won't be able to understand her cheating on her husband."

Emma shook her head, saying sharply, "Eva loves Tad. She would never cheat."

Gold rolled his eyes. "Emma, I realize you are protective of your character and her marriage, but this is what's happening, so I suggest you get on board."

Killian grinned at Emma. "Sometimes two people have something intangible, a chemistry between them that can't be denied."

Gold nodded, as he slapped Killian on the back. "You've got it, mate. Emma, you might want to follow Killian's lead on this one."

Emma's jaw clenched, as Killian's eyes sparkled at her.

"Places!" Gold yelled.

Emma sat behind her desk, as Killian walked out of the door and closed it behind him.

"Action!" Gold screamed.

Killian walked through the door and Emma stood up, then came around the desk.

"Ah, you must be our new model Tyler Harland," Emma said, as she held her hand out to him.

Killian nodded and shook her hand, making sure to hold it longer than necessary. "And you must be Eva Rollins. I must say, you're even more beautiful than I expected."

He moved closer to her, his eyes washing over her face. Emma stepped back, pulling her hand out of his grasp.

"Cut!" Gold said, as he came to stand in front of them.

"Emma, the directions on the page say that Eva steps closer to Tyler, not away, and she keeps her hand in his. You need to convey her immediate attraction to him."

"Fine," she said.

"Pick up from there," Gold said.

Emma placed her hand in Killian's and stepped closer to him. She felt her breath catch in her chest at his touch and she could smell his spicy scent.

"Thank you, Tyler. Now you know I am doing a male line for the first time. It is very important that the male models are able to work closely with me since this is all so new."

Killian smiled. "It will be my pleasure to work as closely with you as possible."

"Oh, I think the pleasure will be all mine," she said.

Emma shook her head and huffed, looking at Gold. "I'm sorry, but these lines are awful. I feel like this is the beginning of a porno."

Gold squeezed his eyes closed. "Emma, it's your job as an actor to convey the lines the best you can, not critique them."

"I'm not a miracle worker! I can't spin gold out of straw!" she said.

"You know what? We don't have time for this. We need to go straight to shooting," Gold said.

Emma let out a groan. "Whatever."

…

After shooting, Emma and Killian walked into their dressing room. He slammed the door shut.

"Bloody hell! That was a disaster!" he said, turning to her with eyes flashing with anger.

Emma planted her hands on her hips. "We finally agree on something."

"You don't think I know what you're doing? I'm actually quite perceptive."

"Oh and what is it you think I'm doing exactly?"

"You were purposely difficult today. You want the producer to change her mind about our characters having an affair and you thought the best way to do that would be to sabotage the scene. Then you'll get your way and you won't have to share the spotlight with me."

"I can't help it if we don't have any chemistry. Chemistry is a tricky thing. You either have it or your don't."

Killian stepped closer to her. Oh, we have chemistry, Emma. Combustible chemistry. Perhaps that's what you're really afraid of."

"Excuse me? What does that mean?"

"Perhaps you're afraid that if you get close to me on-screen then it will spill over off-screen."

Emma swallowed hard. "That's ridiculous. I am in a very healthy, happy relationship. And, even if I weren't, I would never allow something to happen between us."

"Like I said, chemistry can be undeniable. Sometimes two people are drawn to each other and there's no way to stop it."

Emma sucked in a breath. "Ah, now I understand why you change women like you change clothes. You have no willpower. But see that's where we're different. I have willpower in spades."

He grinned. "Ah, so let me get this straight. You want me, but you're going to use your abundant willpower to resist me."

Emma's mouth hung open. She hated how he twisted her words. "That's

not what I meant."

"That's how I interpreted it."

"Well...reinterpret it because you're wrong."

Killian sat down on his recliner and flipped the TV on. "I'm quite right."

Emma's nostrils flared and she let out a frustrated sigh before stomping out of the room.

...

She marched down the hallway until she found Belle's dressing room. Emma pounded on the door with her fist.

Belle opened the door. "Easy there. The door is only made of wood."

Emma brushed past her. "I can't do it. I can't work with that man. I tried. I really did. But I just can't do it."

Belle shut the door and watched her best friend pace back and forth.

"I was on set, Emma. I saw the whole thing."

Emma stopped moving. "So then you know what I am talking about. He's

impossible to work with."

"Actually, the one I saw being impossible was you."

"Excuse me?!"

"Emma, you complained about the storyline, you complained about the dialogue. At one point during shooting you even complained Killian was breathing too loudly."

"Well, he was! It made it very hard to concentrate."

"My point is he was very easygoing and accommodating on set today. You

were the one being difficult."

Emma sighed and flopped down onto Belle's couch. "Okay, so maybe I wasn't the easiest person to work with, but I didn't purposely sabotage the scene like Killian just accused me of."

Belle chewed on her lower lip. "Fine, if you say so."

"I didn't! Look, I don't want to work with him but I would never do that."

"Maybe not consciously, but subconsciously…"

Emma shook her head. "No, I am a professional. Yes, I speak my mind, but I don't try to sabotage scenes on purpose. We just don't mesh well. There's no chemistry between us."

Belle laughed at that.

"What?"

"Well, I mean that's completely untrue. You may have tried your hardest to hide it today, but you and Killian have chemistry and a lot of it."

"That's ridiculous. You're mistaking extreme dislike for chemistry."

Belle smiled. "I've never seen you like this. You're usually so unflappable, but this guy has you all off-kilter."

Emma dropped her eyes. "I just can't stand him, that's all."

Belle opened her mouth to reply, but Emma stood up and walked out

before she could.

...

The next afternoon, Killian spotted his old friend Robin eating lunch in the network cafeteria.

"Long time no see, mate," Killian said, as he sat down across from him.

Robin smiled up at him. "I was wondering when I was going to run into you. Returned from vacation yesterday to find my former cast mate is now on my show."

Killian and Robin had been costars on "The Fun and the Flirty" until Robin left a few years ago and joined "Love & Lies", playing a designer who works for Eva on the show. The two had kept in contact with each other.

"Well, I couldn't let you have all the fun, now could I?" Killian said.

Robin shrugged. "Of course, now I have competition for sexiest guy on the show, which is rather annoying."

Killian laughed. "Can't be helped."

Robin took a bite of his sandwich and then eyed Killian. "So I heard your first day on set could have gone better yesterday."

Killian shook his head sharply. "I heard Emma could be difficult to work with, but I never imagined she would be that difficult. She doesn't want to have anything to do with me and she's made no secret about it."

Robin took a sip of his drink and then leaned forward. "Look, Emma and I have become pretty good friends over the last few years. She's tough, for sure, but it's because she's been hurt a lot in her life. She's had to overcome a great deal, so that's made her wary of trusting others. She has a tendency to expect the worst of people until they prove her wrong. That hard exterior is her way of protecting herself."

Killian nodded. He knew there was more to Emma, but she had made it perfectly clear that she didn't want to get to know him on a personal level.

"I attempted to connect with her, but she refused to discuss her personal life."

"I'm not surprised. Emma lives in constant fear of losing everything she has in life. She sees you as a threat."

Killian nodded. "I certainly sensed that."

"Give her time. Show her you can be trusted and she'll come around," Robin said.

…

Killian entered their dressing room and found Emma sitting on her couch, reading that day's script.

"Would you like to run lines?" he asked.

She didn't even look up. "Do you have amnesia or are you just slow on the uptake? I told you, I don't work like that."

Killian stepped forward and pulled the script out of her hands. "What happened yesterday can't happen again. You may not like me, but I know you like your job and this show. I know you want to do the best job possible, so I suggest we learn to tolerate each other and work together."

Emma stared at him for a long moment. "Fine," she said, snatching the script from his hands. "We'll run lines together."

Killian smiled triumphantly and retrieved his script. He sat down opposite her on the couch.

Emma sighed. "Okay, so in the first scene, we have our first fitting. You need to stand up."

Killian stood and Emma came to stand in front of him. She looked at the script.

It said for her to run her hand down his bicep. Emma took a deep breath. She brought her hand up, running it down his upper arm, enjoying the feel of his toned muscles.

"Tyler, I must say you really fill this shirt out nicely," Emma said.

Killian looked down at her. "It's all in the design, Ms. Rollins."

"Please, call me Eva," she said, as her face neared his.

Killian brought his hand up to touch her face, even though it didn't call for it in the script. "Eva."

They stared at each other for a long moment, before Emma shook her head and stepped back from him. Killian's hand dropped to his side.

She took a deep breath. "That…That wasn't in the script."

Killian nodded. "I know, love. The best actors improvise. It felt right in the moment."

Emma shook her head. "I don't improvise. I do as the script says. I don't appreciate surprises."

Killian smiled and leaned toward her. "Surprises are one of the great joys of life, Emma," he said.

Emma swallowed hard, his lips tantalizingly close to hers. Just then, they heard a knock on the door.

"You're both needed on set," an intern announced.

Emma dropped her eyes and walked past him. "We need to go."

…

End of Part 2

Thanks for reading! ~Steph