A/N: Sorry for not posting yesterday. I'm in the process of moving into my very first solo apartment so that's been keeping me busy. I'm not sure how many chapters there are left but my guess is, that if everything goes as I expect it to, that there will be two to three after this one. I hope you are all still enjoying the story and thanks so much for all the follows, favourites and reviews! The number of each astounds me! You really are all awesome! Thanks again! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.
When Emma and Killian arrived at the theatre they grabbed their tickets from the box office where David had left them and then moved to the coat check. Emma paused outside the door of the room, wanting to leave her coat on indefinitely now that she was surrounded by people in gorgeous swirling gowns and well pressed suits. These people didn't have a hair out of place, let alone a shoulder that looked like it had been put through a meat grinder. What would they think of her?
Killian placed a light hand against her back and pushed her forward. "I'm here, Swan. We're doing this together." Emma glanced back at Killian and the surety in his gaze made her step forward. She was doing this for Killian, because they needed to be able to move forward and heal. Together.
Killian helped Emma ease the coat off her shoulders before he handed it to the valet. Emma didn't miss the way that the young man's eyes flashed immediately to her shoulder once she had revealed the old injury. Emma tried to keep her back straight under his gaze, which was too long to be accidental, but all she wanted to do was grab the coat back and cover up the marks of her violent past. And then run. Far and fast.
The brush of scar roughened fingers against the tense muscles of her back made Emma roll her shoulders against the pressure. A small sigh slipped through her lips. Killian was still with her. She had to remember that.
"Isn't she beautiful?" Killian asked the valet. While his tone was conversational there was a glint in his eye sharper than Emma had ever seen before. Like he was daring the valet to say something rude or not agree wholeheartedly.
The valet quickly nodded, obviously intimidated by the handsome older man. Emma blushed, embarrassed that Killian was making the man agree to such a thing, especially in front of her. What else was the guy supposed to say? She's as ugly as a brushed fence? Yeah, that would have gone over well. "Yes, sir. She is very beautiful."
Killian placed a light kiss against Emma's cheek after nodding his agreement to the valet. "And she's all mine." The whispered words made Emma shiver. Emma turned back to Killian and gave him a little push against the lapels of his suit. She'd had enough of his flattery. While she was flattered at the compliments she was still Emma Swan and this much attention was making her even more uncomfortable than the questioning had made the valet. And that was saying something.
Killian grasped her hand and led her into the theatre proper. The seats David had reserved for him were in the lower section, very middle. As the husband of the principle dancer David had some pull with the seats he procured. David, dressed in his best black suit, was seated next to Ruby, who, as her name sake suggested, was wearing a silky crimson gown. It was her go to dress for events like this and was sure to make all the men chase her. David's eyes widened when he saw Emma's appearance.
David rose and took Emma into his arms. "I never thought I'd see the day," he murmured against her ear. Emma set her head against David's shoulder when he hugged her tighter. Just as she did when she was next to Killian, Emma felt safer in David's arms, as if the stares of those around her didn't matter as much. In the arms of her brother nothing would hurt her.
"I did it for Killian," she whispered back.
"Which means you did it for yourself as well." David's tone invited no argument. Because he was right.
"Maybe," Emma answered coyly, unwilling to give him the full satisfaction of an admittance to his correctness. She pulled away from David and took her seat when the lights in the theatre dimmed. Killian seated himself next to her, taking her hand in his scared one, his last two fingers making a gentle circuit against her palm.
The ballet was beautiful. Mary Margaret was as graceful as she ever was, but wearing the custom tutu, studded liberally with purple stones and poofed out with lavender taffeta, she shone. Every step was magnified from the ones Emma had seen in her living room. On the stage Mary Margaret was a different person, grander than life, the motherly persona gone. On the stage Mary Margaret truly was a prima ballerina.
As usual David, Ruby and Emma gave Mary Margaret a standing ovation when the performance finished, regardless of the response of the other patrons. When Killian noticed Emma and her friends whooping in a way that was slightly too exuberant for a classical ballet he jumped up as well and joined in. A large bouquet of red roses was brought out to Mary Margaret. She accepted them gratefully, accompanying the thank you with a deep curtsey. When the curtains finally closed Killian wrapped his arms around Emma and grinned into her shoulder before pulling back and shaking David's hand in congratulations.
The three of them waited in the auditorium for Mary Margaret to finish in her dressing room before going out to the party. Mary Margaret was supposed to go out into the party with the other dancers but after the performance she had just put on the other invited guests wouldn't give her a chance to spend time with her husband and friends once she got there. By meeting the group in the theatre she had a chance to speak with them, sans interruption.
Mary Margaret swept out from behind the stage about ten minutes after the last person had left the auditorium wearing a light pink dress, her hair tied up in a matching silk scarf. She accepted hugs from everyone and a long kiss from David. None of them had brought flowers for Mary Margaret but they had all purchased some for her. After meeting all the invited guests at the party and receiving their congratulations, Mary Margaret would have enough bouquets to deal with. The collection of lilies Emma had picked out for her were sitting on the counter at home, waiting to be dropped off in the morning.
David checked his watch and sighed. They had hogged Mary Margaret for long enough. The people who were already at the party would be getting anxious to see the star. David held out his arm for his wife and she slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow.
"Shall we?" he asked, gesturing towards the exit with a flourish fit for a prince.
Mary Margaret giggled and pressed a kiss to the sleeve of his suit. "Lead the way," she answered and they were off. Ruby, Emma and Killian followed behind, moving as a group towards the lavishly decorated room off the lobby where the party was to be held.
Emma presented her invitation to the man who was running the door to the party. Ruby had entered first and David and Mary Margaret stood behind Emma, waiting for her and Killian to move through. The butler took the invitation and examined it for its authenticity.
"Emma Swan and my plus one," Emma told him, motioning to Killian. She didn't think she'd ever get tired of saying my plus one.
The man nodded and checked through the list in his hand to mark them off. He paused and looked back up at the couple.
"It's already marked that your plus one is here," the man told her, handing back the invitation.
"That must be a mistake," Emma replied, trying not to panic about Killian not being able to go with her. The longer the man re-examined the list the more obvious her scar tightened shoulder skin felt. She wouldn't show off her shoulder alone.
The beginning threads of a flashback began to wash over her as she was reminded of the first time she was forced to show off her shoulder alone. Emma had been getting her police physical before she could start active duty and the doctor hadn't been able to take his eyes off her shoulder. To add insult to injury the doctor had then forced her to walk across the hospital to the x-ray room wearing a tank top because he wanted to make sure her shoulder was still in working order, even though Emma had frantically waved it around to show that it was. Emma had wanted to report him for being unprofessional but that would have meant admitting her past abuse in the process so she'd stayed quiet. Emma tried to stave off the shaking that started when the flashback began to cloud the edges of her vision.
Killian stepped closer behind her, his good hand slipping around her waist and holding her tight. "It's okay, Swan. Calm down." Killian placed a soft kiss between her shoulder blades and Emma heaved a sigh of relief as the warm pressure forced away the bad memory.
David, perhaps sensing Emma's fears or also recognizing the tell-tale way her body had stiffened and then shook, stepped forward. "Matt," he said, addressing the butler directly. Matt smiled up at David, recognizing the principle dancer's husband. "Trust me; this is Emma's plus one, her boyfriend Killian. It must be a mistake on the list."
Matt put the list down and stepped aside. "I'm sure it is," he told David with a nod. David swept ahead of Emma and ushered her and Killian into the lavishly decorated ballroom.
"That was weird," Mary Margaret stated, furrowing her brow when they were all inside the party. Music swelled from the corner of the ballroom where some of the members of the ballet's orchestra had set up.
Servers from the catering company moved through the crowd serving canapés to the little groups that had congregated throughout the room. Each group seemed to have a ballerina held captive. The redhead who played the Lilac Fairy was being entertained by the mayor in the group closest to Emma. The director of the ballet company rushed over and whisked Mary Margaret away.
Killian pulled Emma to the edge of the room and braced her shoulders, using Mary Margaret's departure to sweep Emma away, unnoticed. "Are you okay?" he asked, ducking his face so he could better look at Emma. Concern filled his eyes as he ran them over her face.
"I'm okay," Emma replied, kissing his cheek.
"So no flashback?"
Emma shook her head. Of course Killian would be able to read her and know when the darkness started to creep in on her. And after just experiencing one. The notion filled her with warmth.
"It's gone."
Killian smiled back at her. "Good, now will you dance with me?" Killian flourished his good hand in front of Emma.
"I don't dance," Emma replied, nervously. She never danced at such parties. Usually, she just stood and talked with David.
"You danced with me in the kitchen," he answered, eyebrow climbing at her hesitancy.
When Killian didn't immediately put down his hand Emma bit her lip and sighed. "I can't dance," she told him quietly. "Not like this." Emma had never done the fancy dancing, the twirling and proper manners. The most she could do was an awkward shuffle and a few turns if she was led into them.
Killian smirked at her. "Well love, the secret is finding a partner who knows how to dance." Killian clasped Emma's hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor.
After finding an open space among the dancing partners Killian positioned Emma's hand on his shoulder. Killian's bad hand slipped around her waist, clasping it in his warm grasp. Emma's other hand went in Killian's good one and he began to move.
The couple moved together across the floor, Killian leading her along the same path as the other pairs. A smile started to pull up her lips as Killian led her flawlessly, his direction making her feel nearly as graceful as the couples that included the ballerinas.
"See, Swan? You're a natural." Emma moved her hand to punch his shoulder for using such a teasing tone. Killian tsked at her. "That isn't very lady-like."
Emma rolled her eyes and swallowed the laugh that threatened to bubble out at his words. They spun around and moved among the crowd again. When the song ended, Ruby was standing behind them. She tapped Killian's arm lightly.
"Now Emma," she started with a mischievous grin. "I don't begrudge you one bit for having this lovely man in your bed each night but right now, I'd like to steal him away for a dance and show him off some more. May I?"
Emma laughed at Ruby and stepped back. "Be my guest. Would you like some champagne, Jones?"
"Sure, thanks, Swan." Killian turned back to Ruby with a grandiose flourish. "Milady?" Ruby took Killian's hand with a deep curtsey and allowed him to spin her back into the fray.
Emma moved off the dance floor and towards a corner of the room where she could watch for the server with the tray of champagne. Being alone the presence of all the other guests was a bit unnerving. She didn't particularity want to hide; she just didn't want to be front and center. Emma leaned against the wall next to the open stage door and watched Ruby and Killian move together.
She was so lost in watching them, laughing herself at the way Ruby threw her head back and giggled at something Killian said, that she didn't realize someone had grabbed her arm and pulled her from the ballroom until a large hand closed over her mouth and a voice, all too familiar and unwelcome, hissed in her ear, "Nice to see you again, Ems."