Thanks for the response so far, I really appreciate it! I'm going to try my best to update at least once a week but we'll see how it goes. This chapter is mostly just groundwork but the good stuff is coming soon, I promise.

*three months later*

It was the day Emma Swan dreaded. She didn't always think it was horrible, once upon a time finding out who her celebrity dancing partner was for (potentially) the next 12 weeks was genuinely exciting.

It hadn't been the same for the past two years.

She'd lost the passion for dance once she'd been betrayed - any time she was happy on the floor, it would only remind her of him. Now she had to be on her guard more than ever, and even she could admit it was tiring. The happy faces and closeness she had to portray while she was on camera was a necessity; without that she had no chance of getting her partner any votes. The chemistry thing was the hardest; it was key in winning over the audience but how could she have could chemistry while still staying emotionally detached?

That's why she only saw this as a job now, and why she found it so hard, because today was the day she would have to break it down to her match that this partnership was strictly (pun very much intended) business and they had to work on staying separate but still being believable to the audience. Maybe it was unfair on them because it was just added workload but she was tired of doing things for the ease of other people, she needed to think of her self once in a while.

However, she wasn't helping herself seeing this as only a job when she was already running late for her first day. Well, it technically wasn't her first day, she'd already done some prep work for the professional dances with Graham (her professional partner on the show) and been to see the producers a few times. But still.

Her phone had rung twice already but she'd ignored it, knowing it was Ruby. It became annoying by the eighth time so she picked it up as she scuttled across a busy road (it was London, nothing new about that) and tried to avoid the numerous taxis and other city workers.

"I know, Ruby," She knew the drill by now but it didn't stop her from calling.

"I didn't realise I had been through a sex change - that's an interesting way to start the day," She must have been really late if Graham was calling her.

"Har, har. Good morning to you too, Graham. I'll be there in two secs, okay?"

"Hurry, Zelena's looking a little green - you know how she hates things going wrong." And with that reminder of her incompetence, he put down the phone.

She whispered a bitter love you too and pushed the door open to the studio.

~/~

Unexpectedly, the morning hadn't been too strange. No glitter in sight as of yet, but then again, it was only 10 am.

He'd mostly been sat with the other celebrities (some he recognised, some he didn't) in a small but very grand ballroom. There had been a break down of the competition, scheduling etc., all of which seemed pretty straightforward. He knew this was a commitment, even when he was shooting a film in a few weeks. He doubted he would be on the show that long so it didn't matter really, and even if the impossible happened, the set location was here in London anyway.

Zelena (the head producer) had just explained that the rest of the day would consist of a 'taster' session almost, where they would all dance with the professionals and then the producers would tell them who their partners were.

However, this had seemed to have been halted as the celebrities had been waiting for half an hour for the dancers to come in. Killian passed the time by talking to the other celebrities, most people recognised him and had been bombarding him with questions about the actors he'd worked with (not many seemed to care much about him, he noted) -

"Is Johnny Depp really as great as they say?" This one came from a blonde, he thought she was a singer maybe.

He'd been asked this question more times then he could count, "He's even better, love." She didn't seem to notice his dry tone.

One person he did like was this Robin fellow, an archer from the Olympics (a damn talented one, he might add). He was all brooding looks and smirks and Killian could tell he would be a popular one with audience, assuming he could dance of course.

Killian had been making small talk with him for the past ten minutes (football team, best place to get a steak in London - the usual).

He finally asked the thing that was on all of their minds, "Which one do you want then?" He wondered whether Emma was as popular as he figured she would (and should) be.

Robin clearly didn't need any clarification on what he was referring to, "I don't know, Emma Swan is wonderful for sure, but there's this way that Marian glides across that is just..." He sighed and Killian didn't need a further explanation.

After a few seconds in a wistful trance, Robin returned the question.

"Well, actually..." And that's when he was cut off by the opening of the ballroom doors.

~/~

Zelena had been seething when she had finally turned up - you may not think this is serious anymore Emma but if want to keep your place on this show you better get your mojo back. Emma had been too stunned too reply, of course she took this seriously and yeah okay she had less passion but she still wanted this job - still needed this job.

Ruby stuck her head around the door jamb to the changing room, with a small smile.

"You okay?" She knew that Zelena's words had hurt her.

Emma fixed the strap on her shoe and stood up, a new sense of purpose in her demeanor, "Yeah, let's do this."

~/~

It was pretty farcical really. The producers would try us out today with the celebrities and tell us later who are partners were. That alone would be fine but then they expected us all to be surprised when they announced on the opening show who was with who. That was reality TV for you.

They'd been a shown some simple steps that each celebrity would try with different professionals, with the producers scrutinising eyes looking on. It was a few simple steps and while they tried to say it was about compatibility, it was all about the looks in reality.

Ruby was currently dancing with Killian Jones - a simple 1-2-3, 1-2-3 - he must have said something flirty because she smiled as he spun her around. She wasn't sure if Ruby had changed her mind from wanting Victor but she couldn't resist an Irish accent and a charming smile, that much Emma was certain.

Emma had to admit he could move though; loose hips, great musicality and the perfect physicality for dancing. He was good looking and complimented Ruby perfectly - she'd had been on this show long enough to know that they would be put together.

It wasn't long before the producers changed it up and switched the partners, it was the last rotation meaning it was her turn with Killian. She took a quick look at the producers and saw them talking in hushed tones and frantically scratching on their notepads. They'd already made their decisions. The rest was just for show.

"You're looking pensive, Miss Swan," She knew from the Irish lilt it was him but she was surprised at deep the accent was. His American accent in his films were flawless (not that she'd been watching his films...) and she figured he just had family from there - but wow.

She spun around slowly to a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

"It's rude to sneak up on people, you know." Emma knew she didn't sound completely friendly but something about this guy just rattled her.

"Miss Swan, you seem tense. Maybe we should do something about relieving that tension." He spoke the last word slowly, as if tasting it on lips. The effect was not lost on Emma.

"You are unbelievable," She rolled her eyes but it lacked conviction. "Now, get into the correct stance - you're not going to be able to dance stood like that, trying to flirt with me." Pulling back her shoulders, she demonstrated how he should be standing; he followed her lead.

"Miss Swan, I was merely referring to dancing," He said it with a mock innocence and god this guy annoyed her.

"And stop calling me 'Miss Swan,'" She didn't even realise they had already started moving, easily falling into the rhythm of the music.

"Swan it is then."

~/~

She didn't like him. That much was obvious.

Killian had been watching her out of the corner of his eye all day, she was radiant - even more so than she had been on screen. But she seemed distracted, not really focusing on the people she was dancing with, like she didn't want to be here.

She only seemed more alert when they started announcing the partners. They had been taken to another room with rows of chairs facing the producers. Emma was sat in the row in front of him, just off to the right, enough for him to see her profile. She still had the stern look etched upon her face but there was a glint in her eye, her body leaning ever so slightly forwards.

Most of the names passed Killian by without impact, (Robin had gotten Marian which he had tried (and failed) not to show his enthusiasm about) but the list wasn't long and too soon they were saying Killian Jones -

".. and Ruby."

She looked over at him with a playful smile, her brown hair shimmering.

He couldn't bring himself to return that smile, not when the only reason - the only real reason - he came on this show was because of the blonde women sat beside her.