Title: Accidentally in Love
Author: Steph aka CaptainSwanLuver
Rating: PG
Pairing: Killian/Emma
Characters: Killian, Emma, Belle, David, Mary Margaret, Robin.
Category: Romance/Humor/Drama
Disclaimer: I do this out of a love for this couple. No infringement is intended.
Spoilers: Nope!
Summary: Emma Swan needs to be married by 30 in order to receive the money from her trust fund and save her failing business. Killian Jones is the thief who just tried to rob her store. The two strike a deal: Killian will pretend to marry Emma and she won't send him to jail.
Note: Thanks for your responses to the last part and for reading! Hope you enjoy this part! -Steph
…Accidentally in Love: Part 9/12...
~It's you.~
One week later, Emma sighed contentedly, as she settled between Killian's legs on the sailboat and laid her head against his chest. He smiled, as he wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her temple.
"This is perfect," he whispered in her ear.
Emma smiled and nodded, linking her fingers with his. "Even more perfect than the first time we came out here together."
"You mean because this time I actually asked permission before using the sailboat?"
Emma shook her head, as she looked up at him. "No, because we can finally do this, as much and as often as we want. "
She lifted her head and met his lips, snaking her free hand up to cup his head.
He licked at his lips, as they parted. "Aye, I couldn't agree more, love." He paused, his voice softening. "I came out here often when we were apart."
Emma arched her brow. "You did?"
"Aye. I thought it would help me feel closer to you, but it just made me miss you that much more."
She nodded. "I used to go sit in the park with a pineapple and broccoli pizza for the same reason."
He grinned. "But you loathe broccoli."
"I do, but it reminded me of you. I didn't eat that half, of course. But then I'd look at the pizza that was left and think how you should be sharing it with me and I'd miss you even more."
Killian nodded and then let out a breath. "That's all in the past now. A great many perfect days just like this one are ahead of us, love."
"I can't wait," she said, as he pressed a kiss to her neck.
"Although, for future perfect days, I would like to make one minor adjustment to that original perfect day," he said.
"What's that?" she asked
"No more seagulls defecating on my head from now on," he replied.
Emma laughed and nodded. "See, even seagulls can't resist you!"
Killian chuckled and wrapped his arms more tightly around her, as they watched the sun begin to set.
Not long after, they made their way back to the dock and Killian tied the boat to the pier. They walked hand-in-hand back to her apartment building.
"Stay for dinner?" she asked.
He smiled, closing the distance between them and placing a kiss below her ear, as he whispered, "I'm not hungry, love. At least not for dinner."
Emma felt her heart speed up. She didn't say a word, as she took his hand and led him up the stairs. They had been waiting so long that they barely made it up to her apartment before they gave into their passion.
Emma managed to open the door and Killian quickly pinned her against it once they were inside, his lips moving down her chest.
Their clothes disappeared as they made their way into her bedroom. Killian picked Emma up and laid her down on the bed.
"You're so beautiful, Emma," he whispered, as he hovered above her. "I love you so much."
Emma cupped his face and pulled his lips down to hers. "I love you too."
The first time they made love, it was hurried and passionate. They couldn't get enough of each other. The second time came later that night, but they took it slow, savoring each other and learning each other's bodies.
Hours later, Emma finally collapsed on top of Killian, her head resting on his chest.
"That was…" she breathed.
"Words fail me too," he said, his fingertips trailing down her back.
She propped her chin up on his chest and then leaned forward, placing a kiss on his lips.
"So do you think we can add this to all future perfect days from now on?" she asked, with a smile.
Killian's eyes sparkled with desire for her. "Aye, I propose adding this to every …single…day," he said, punctuating each word with a kiss to her throat until he reached her lips.
Emma laughed into his mouth, as he kissed her.
~No one gets to decide who I am.~
Emma and Killian spent the next few weeks deliriously happy. They spent every free moment together. Tonight, they were meeting her parents at a restaurant for dinner. Killian had arrived a few minutes early at Emma's apartment and was now distracting her from finishing her task of getting ready.
She giggled, as he trailed his lips down her neck while she tried to apply her lipstick.
"We're going to be late if you don't stop distracting me," she said.
"Don't care," he muttered, as he swept her hair aside and kissed the nape of her neck.
Emma closed her eyes and let out a low moan. She brought her hand up to the back of his head and gripped his hair.
"I am going to look like a clown if you keep doing that while I'm trying to apply my lipstick."
Killian removed his lips and wrapped his arms around her waist. Emma opened her eyes and looked at them in the mirror. She had never been happier in her life and she knew he felt the same. She smiled, wishing she could pause this perfect moment and live in it forever.
He brought his hand up and gently brushed it across her cheek. "You, love, could never look anything short of ravishing."
Emma turned around in his arms and snaked them around his neck. "Do you have any idea how happy you make me?"
He offered her a lopsided grin. "I could ask the same of you."
Killian leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. When he pulled back, he saw that her expression had grown serious.
"What's wrong, Emma?" he asked.
"I just wish we could be like this forever."
"We can be."
She shook her head. "No, in a couple of months, we're going to have to deal with the consequences of our actions. My parents will be furious with us."
He nodded, as he joined their hands. "And we'll deal with it together. We make quite the team, remember? No matter what, nothing is going to get in the way of our happiness."
Emma smiled at him. "I hope so." She paused and placed her hands on his chest, gently pushing him away. "Now leave me alone so I can finish getting ready."
He chuckled. "As you wish, milady."
Fifteen minutes later, they left Emma's apartment and drove the short distance to the restaurant. They entered the restaurant and quickly found her parents seated at a table.
"Well, look who it is. The fashionably late newlyweds," her father said.
Emma gave her father a kiss on the cheek and hugged her mother. "Sorry, we're late." She looked at Killian. "I got a little distracted while getting ready."
Mary Margaret grinned, as she placed her hand over David's. "Oh, don't you remember our newlywed days, David? We were late for everything that first year."
Emma blushed, as Killian glanced over at her. "Well, can you blame me? Look at my gorgeous wife. How could I ever resist her?"
Emma smiled at his use of the word 'wife', as Killian reached over and linked their fingers.
They set about reading their menus and giving their orders to the waiter. They then moved to small talk. Distracted by their conversation, none of them noticed as a figure walked behind Mary Margaret's chair, slipped his hand into her purse, and lifted her wallet out. He was just about to make his getaway when a voice stopped him.
"Robin?" came David's voice.
Robin's head shot up, as did those of the rest of the people at the table. His face reddened. He hadn't even realized that he had stolen from Emma's mother. His MO was to discreetly pass behind chairs and lift wallets from the purses of distracted women who had hung them on the back of their chairs. He made it a point not to make eye contact with anyone so they could never identify him. He hadn't even seen Emma, Killian, or her parents.
He had the wallet in his hand, as Mary Margaret's eyes widened at him.
"Is that my wallet?" she asked.
He glanced down at it. "Oh, this? Yes, I just found it on the floor. I picked it up to return it to you."
Killian felt his jaw tighten as he looked from Emma to Robin.
David shook his head. "No, I saw you. You never bent down. You were stealing my wife's wallet."
"That's bloody ridiculous," he said with a nervous laugh.
Mary Margaret snatched her wallet from his grip, understanding dawning on her. "You're not an astronaut, are you? You're a thief!"
He shrugged in defeat. "I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid. I even went to space camp, if that counts for anything."
Emma took a deep breath but remained silent. David's face reddened with anger. "I knew that story you told about going to space sounded like the plot from Apollo 13!"
Robin nodded. "My favorite movie. Tom Hanks is fantastic, isn't he? A real American treasure."
Mary Margaret whipped her head in Emma and Killian's direction and then back to Robin. "Does Killian know you're a thief?"
Killian opened his mouth to speak, but Robin beat him to it with a chuckle. "Does he know? How do you think we met?"
Killian swallowed hard and Emma felt herself begin to sweat.
Robin realized his mistake right away and tried to cover it up. "What I meant is…I met Killian when I stole from him. I didn't mean he's a thief. That would be bloody ridiculous."
David's jaw tightened as he looked at Killian. "You knew, didn't you? Because you're a thief too. Aren't you?"
Killian looked at Emma and she shook her head. "That's ludicrous, Dad."
"Is it?" Mary Margaret asked. "Because now that I think about it, he didn't seem to know much about being a stockbroker. Emma, you played it off like he was joking, but he wasn't, was he?"
David went on. "And his parents certainly didn't behave like people who work for the Queen."
Killian sighed and met Emma's eyes. "It's time for the truth, love."
"Killian."
"Yes," he said with a nod. "I am a thief."
David and Mary Margaret gasped at his admission.
"You fell in love with and married a thief, Emma?" Mary Margaret asked in horror.
Emma realized she could still salvage her plan. Her parents still seemed to believe the marriage was real. She could still get the balance of her trust fund.
Emma nodded and tightened her grip on Killian's hand. "Yes, I did. I fell in love with a thief and I don't regret it for a moment."
Robin used the distraction to slip away unnoticed.
"Emma!" David scolded. "How could you lie to us like that?"
"How?" Emma asked, her guilt giving way to anger. "You made it very clear after Neal that I could never be with anyone who wasn't from a wealthy family with good breeding."
"We were trying to protect you," Mary Margaret said. "We didn't want you to be taken advantage again, used for your money."
David gestured at Killian. "Why do you think he married you, Emma? He knew you were about to become a very rich woman."
Killian gritted his teeth together. "I don't care about her bloody money. I fell in love with Emma because she's an amazing woman and she loves me for who I truly am."
"And who is that exactly?" David asked bitingly.
Emma sighed heavily. "Killian was born into a poor family. His father abandoned him, his brother, and mother when he was a child. His mother raised him alone until she died. Killian and his brother were sent to foster care, where they were regularly abused. They ran away and began to steal to survive. One day, Killian's brother was beaten to death and the money they were saving to come to the U.S. was stolen. Killian eventually came here with his girlfriend."
Mary Margaret's face softened. "Well, it seems like you have had a very difficult life and I am sorry for that, but you don't seem to have tried to better yourself."
Emma's eyes flashed with anger. "He gave up being a thief, Mother. He wanted to be a better man for me. He has a job bartending now and he's going to school."
David nodded. "I applaud your effort, Killian, but that does not excuse you both lying to us. And it certainly doesn't assure me that you aren't after my daughter for her money."
Killian looked at Emma as he spoke. "I'd want to be with your daughter if she didn't have a penny to her name."
Emma squeezed his hand. "That's the real Killian. He is smart and caring and supportive and funny. And he loves me. He showed you the real him every time you saw him. That's the man I fell in love with."
Killian smiled gently at her, as she went on. Emma shook her head. "You know, I lied to you because I was afraid of this. And Killian was so afraid you wouldn't accept him that it almost stopped us from being together. But you should both know better than this. Dad, you came from a similar background as Killian. Mom, your parents tried to stop you from being together, but you wouldn't let them."
Mary Margaret shook her head. "This is different, Emma. I never lied to my parents. How can we ever trust you again?"
Emma shook her head and stood up abruptly. "You don't have to worry about that. If you can't accept the man I love, then you can't accept me. Let's go, Killian."
"Emma," Killian said. "Don't do this. Please, let's discuss this."
Emma blinked back tears. "There's nothing left to say."
Killian slowly stood and Emma took his hand in hers, as she marched to the exit.
"Emma, wait!" David called after her.
"Come back, please," her mother pleaded, as they disappeared from view.
Once outside, Emma leaned against the building and dissolved into tears. Killian pulled her into his arms and rubbed her back comfortingly.
"Shh, love, it's going to be okay."
She pulled back and shook her head. "No, it's not. It was even worse than I expected. And when my parents find out our marriage is fake too, they'll disown me. I'm going to lose my family, Killian."
This is what he had feared for her. He was scared of losing her, but he also feared that she would lose the only family she had. He hated seeing her in pain and knowing he was the cause of it.
…
~I too know what it means to lose hope.~
Two weeks later, Emma and Killian sat curled up on her sofa. Her head was on his shoulder and his arm was draped around her. She had never seen his favorite movie, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off'. Thinking this was a travesty, Killian had insisted they watch it together.
It was nearly done and she hadn't so much as chuckled. His eyes kept scanning her face for some sign of enjoyment, but he found none. She was staring blankly at the television.
This is how it had been since that night two weeks earlier. She'd plaster on a smile for him and try to pretend things were alright, but he knew better. Her eyes had lost that twinkle he loved so much. There was a sadness in them now that she tried to hide, but he could see it.
He had encouraged her to call her parents and talk to them, but she refused. She didn't think it would be any use talking to them. She already felt like she had lost them.
The movie finished and she began to stand, but he gently took her hand in his, stopping her.
"You need to call your parents, Emma."
She shook her head. "They obviously don't want to talk to me or they would have called, Killian. I don't see the point anyway. Unless they've changed their mind about you, then I don't care to hear what they have to say."
"They're still your parents and they love you. I know you love and miss them too."
She nodded and blinked back tears. "I do."
He brought his hand up and caressed her cheek. "You're not happy, love."
She covered his hand with hers and kissed his palm. "Yes, I am, Killian. You make me happy."
He shook his head. "It feels like you're not even with me half the time, Emma. I'll find you staring off into space. Or looking right through me."
"I'm sorry," she said in a whisper.
"I don't want you to be sorry, love. I want you to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted for you, Emma. And whether or not you can admit it, you're not happy with the way things are right now."
Emma stood up abruptly. "I don't want to talk about this anymore."
"Emma, please."
She shook her head and held out her hand to him. "Just come to bed and hold me, please."
Killian slowly slipped his hand into hers and silently followed her to her bedroom. She slipped into bed and he slid in behind her. She turned around and placed her head in the crook of his neck, as she draped her arm across his chest. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
He squeezed his eyes closed, as he felt her tears hit his neck.
…
~Don't do this.~
A few nights later, Killian and Emma had just finished having dinner and were talking a walk in the park. Emma had been distracted the entire night. It felt like she hadn't heard a word he said.
They stopped in the same spot where they'd had their pizza picnic, but this time they sat on the bench instead of the grass.
They sat in silence for a few long moments, just watching the stars.
Emma finally broke it. "I never felt like I belonged," she said softly.
"What?" he asked.
She met his eyes. "In my family. They only cared about appearances and money and things. My parents wanted me to work for the family oil business. Did I ever tell you that?"
He shook his head. "No."
"They did. They were grooming me from the time I was a little kid. I wanted nothing to do with it and I resented them for trying to force me into it. And I think they resented me for not wanting to be like them." She paused for a moment. "Have you ever wondered why I have a different last name than them?"
Killian nodded. He had wondered after he met her parents. "Aye."
"Because I changed it when I turned 18 and left home. I didn't want people liking me because of who my parents are and how much money they have. I wanted them to like me for me. And I didn't want to get ahead because the Nolan name carries so much weight around here. I wanted to be my own person. Have my own successes." She stopped for a moment, swallowing hard. "They were really hurt when I changed it though. They felt like I was rejecting them."
"Where did Swan come from?" he asked.
Emma smiled sadly. "'The Ugly Duckling' was one of my favorite books as a kid. I just loved that story of transformation and acceptance. I felt like that ugly ducking, like I just didn't fit in. I believed if I could get out from under my parents then I could become who I was always meant to be, like the swan in the story. So I took it as a last name."
"It suits you," Killian said.
Emma took a deep breath, tears forming in her eyes. "As a kid, I used to read my books and imagine that I was really from another family that accepted me for who I am. I used to dream that one day they would just come to claim me and take me away."
Killian reached up to her cheek and wiped away a stray tear with his thumb.
"Emma," he breathed.
"Now, I just feel so guilty because even though they are far from perfect, they are still my parents and I'm going to lose them."
Killian swallowed roughly. "I can't stand seeing you like this, love. I wish I could fix things for you."
Emma smiled at him through her tears. "You are so sweet and you have no idea how much it means to me that you want to do that, but there's nothing you can do, Killian."
He paused for a long moment. "Perhaps there is," he said softly.
Emma's eyebrows arched in confusion. "Killian, once they find out our marriage was a sham, they'll never forgive me and they won't accept you."
"They never have to find out our marriage was a ruse, Emma," he said.
"What do you mean? Of course, they do. If we're going to be together, then I need to tell them the truth eventually. I can't go on like this forever."
He took a deep breath. "Emma," he began, his throat burning with emotion.
"What?"
"You need to let me go," Killian whispered.
The words felt like a knife slicing through his heart, but he knew he needed to say them.
Her brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Killian inhaled deeply before going on. "If we go back to the original plan and I disappear from your life once you get the rest of the money, then your parents never have to know our marriage was a sham. You can tell them they were right about me. That I only wanted you for your money. They won't question that."
Emma's mouth dropped open. "I could never do that, Killian! I don't want them to believe that about you!"
He licked nervously at his lips. "Please, just listen to me. You can tell them whatever you like. In time, they'll forgive you for lying about me. I can't be responsible for tearing you away from your family, Emma. This is what I feared and it came true."
Emma felt her heart begin to race wildly in her chest. She shook her head furiously. "Don't do this again, Killian. You said nothing would tear us apart again. You said we could get through this together."
"I was wrong," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. He took her hands in his. "This will never work. I love you more than words can say, but this will always be between us. Every time you look at me, you'll see the man that destroyed your family."
"That's not true," she whispered.
"It is. I know you've been trying to hide it from me, Emma, but I can tell how sad you are and it's killing me to know I'm the cause. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy. If you stay with me and your parents learn of the ruse, then they will never forgive you and they'll never accept me. But if you give me up, then they eventually will."
Emma felt her breathing become shallow. "Please, don't do this, Killian. These last couple of weeks have been hard enough. Please don't make things even worse."
Killian cupped her face and brought his mouth to hers in a soft kiss. The salt from her tears fell upon his lips as he blinked back his own. This was the hardest thing he had ever done, but he knew he had to do it for her.
He had taken a chance on love. He thought that their love would be enough and could get them through anything, but he had been wrong. With every passing day, Emma grew more unhappy and the spark that made her who she is seemed to be dying. He knew things would only get worse once the truth was revealed about their marriage.
Emma loved him so much and wanted so badly to make things work between them that she couldn't see that they never would. Killian knew if she could, then she would be the one ending things between them, not him. But since he knew she couldn't do that, then he had to do it for her.
"I love you, Killian," she whispered. "Nothing else matters."
He swallowed hard. "In a perfect world that would be true. But we have to deal with the reality of this world, Emma."
"Don't I get a say in this?" she asked, her voice sharp with pain.
He brought his hand up to caress her cheek, his heart breaking at the hurt swimming in her eyes. "I could never ask you to choose me over your parents, love, and that's what you would be doing."
"It's my choice, Killian," she said softly.
He nodded. "And it's one you thought you could live with, but what you've been doing since that night is not living, Emma."
Emma's lowered her gaze. She couldn't believe this was happening, but, deep down, she knew he was right.
She leaned her forehead against his and squeezed her eyes closed. "I don't want to lose you again."
Killian felt a tear slip down his cheek, as he held her face in his hands and placed a lingering kiss to her lips.
They parted and he placed his hand over her heart. "You could never really lose me, love. I'll always be right here with you."
"It's not enough," she whispered through her tears.
"I know," he replied softly. He then pulled back and met her eyes. "I love you, Emma. Please never forget that."
Emma sucked in a breath, as she felt her heart shattering again. This didn't feel real. It felt like a nightmare she should be waking up from.
She sat still on the bench, allowing the tears to fall freely from her eyes for what seemed like hours.
He sat next to her, his eyes focused on the stars because he couldn't bear to look at her.
Killian finally stood up. "Let me walk you back to your apartment."
She shook her head, staring straight through him at the sky. "No."
"Emma, it's late and it's dark. I want to make sure you get home safely."
"Despite what you believe, Killian, I don't need you to protect me," she said sharply.
He nodded. "I know, but I want to anyway. Please. I won't be able to sleep tonight until I know you're home safe."
Killian already knew he wouldn't be getting any sleep that night and neither would she.
She finally met his eyes and then stood without a word. They walked to her apartment in silence. They stopped in front of the landing and Killian's eyes scanned her face, while she stared straight ahead, tears still staining her cheeks.
"Goodbye, Emma," he said softly.
She went up the stairs without a word and never looked back, although she knew his eyes were on her until she made it inside. Once in, she turned around and leaned her forehead against the door, squeezing her eyes closed as the tears burned her lids.
Killian sat down on the steps and dropped his head into his hands, finally allowing his own tears to fall.
His greatest fear had come true. He'd lost her. He'd faced his fears and taken a chance on love again and look what it had gotten him. He was left alone with a broken heart once more. Even worse, he'd broken the heart of the woman he loved more than life itself.
…
End of Part 9
Thanks for reading and please let me know what you thought! ~Steph