A/N: Once again a huge thank you to my beta, steph-the-fangirl-925, for the wonderful job she does on this story. And to aimeeloren, for always being there to lend a hand as well. Luckily I was able to write two chapters last week for True North. If I hadn't I wouldn't have been able to post a chapter for you this week as I have had a really bad cold and hardly did any writing at all. Thank you for all being patient with me.

Disclaimer: I do not own the major characters. They belong to the franchise of Once Upon A Time.

Chapter 15:

Signora Assante tracked Emma down the next morning and asked her if she could pick up some items for that night's dinner. Wanting to help since the older woman was helping Emma translate, she readily agreed. Robin had already told her that he had plans for the day and Emma was left at loose ends, so chores sounded like something productive.

It was late afternoon by the time Emma picked up the last of the items she needed. Her feet were sore and swollen from all the walking she had done. Emma could definitely use something to drink before heading back to the boarding house.

Spotting a small café, Emma went inside to relax and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate with fresh whipped cream and shaved cinnamon. Emma wasn't quite sure that once she left Rome she'd be able to drink it again with Cool Whip and canned cinnamon again.

As she enjoyed her beverage, a man approached and sat across from her. Emma's back stiffened at the man's gall. He didn't even have the excuse of good looks like Killian had when he crashed her date with Walsh. The dark haired Italian who sat across from her had a hawk-like nose and beady brown eyes that were red-rimmed from too much drink. When he smiled at her she felt more like she was about to be eaten by a predator than charmed. Why couldn't guys like this turn into flying monkeys? That would be way too easy.

"Signorina, you are beautiful." His drawn out accent made Emma's skin crawl.

"And you're apparently drunk," Emma noted as the smell of liquor wafted from his breath.

"Drunk on your beauty. Swimming in the sea of your eyes."

Emma narrowed her eyes at him. "Does that actually work for you?"

The man reached out and captured one of her hands bringing it to his lips and kissing each of her fingers. "I want to make love to you."

Emma was about to tell the man to let her go when a fist came crashing across the man's face. Her eyes rose and she saw Killian standing there in his clerics shaking his hand.

Robin grabbed Killian's hand and examined it. "You cut yourself on his teeth. You're bleeding."

Emma rose, a napkin in hand. Robin grabbed it from her and wrapped it around Killian's palm. Emma couldn't help but snicker at the scene playing out in front of her that was so very familiar.

Pretending to be stern, Emma placed her hands on her hips and glared at Robin. "Et tu, Brute?" He glanced over at her confused and she continued. "Bad enough my own father flirts with him, now you have to join in?"

Robin glanced down at his and Killian's hands locked together and both men quickly dropped their arms and stepped back from one another. They both managed to grit out apologies at they tried to act like nothing happened, causing Emma to grin uncontrollably.

"I'm… um… going to get a drink," Robin mumbled pointing to the counter.

The man Killian punched began to stir and Killian grabbed her arm and drug her to a darkened corner of the café close to the bathrooms. His eyes searched hers and then swept down giving her a once over.

"Are you okay?" he finally asked.

"I'm fine. I could have handled him. You didn't have to punch him."

"I don't know why I did." He examined his napkin covered hand. "Robin and I only just came in. We never expected to see you. And then when I saw that guy there with you…"

"Go on," she encouraged.

His eyes met hers. "And when I heard him say he wanted to make love to you, I sort of blacked out."

Emma reached out and caressed his smooth cheek. "I'm fine. Thank you."

"I didn't like…"

"What?"

"What he said to you. It was inappropriate."

"Very. But he was drunk," Emma agreed.

"I'm not."

Emma shook her head. "No, you're not."

"I want to make love to you."

"Killian," Emma gasped before he pushed her up against the wall of the hall they were hidden in.

His forehead pressed into hers. His nose caressing her own. Both of their breaths coming in small gasps. Their eyes locked together. Emma shifted slightly and pressed her lips gently to his. Killian's lips opened and he sucked on her top lip.

Emma wanted, no needed, more. Her right hand traced up over his chest. Her left tangled in his shorter locks. Tilting her hips toward his, she could feel him hardening as their kiss deepened. His hands he kept balled up on each side of her hips, braced against the wall. It was if he actually touched her with them then he would lose all control. And his control was definitely slipping. She could feel it in the shaking of his arms around her.

"Killian? Emma?"

Barely making out their names as Robin searched for them, Killian pulled back. He kept his eyes firmly shut as he didn't want to see the censure on Emma's face for losing control. This was the second time he had kissed her and he was afraid she'd see that once more he had no regrets. If he had to stand before God for his sins, to repent for all he had done he'd have to admit he didn't want to be forgiven for taking a small slice of heaven early.

Opening his eyes, he saw Emma standing before him looking thoroughly ravished. Her hand was raised to her swollen lips. Groaning, Killian took another step back so he wouldn't take possession of her lips again.

"Are you a devil or an angel?" he asked, not sure if he intended for her to really answer.

"Neither," she murmured as Robin joined them.

He looked between them. "I seemed to have come at the wrong time."

"No." Killian patted Robin on the back grateful the man interrupted when he did. "You've come at the right time. I need to return to Father Bastian's for an exorcism. Could you escort Emma… um… Miss Swan home?"

"Emma?"

She nodded at Robin. "I have some things I need to bring back to Signora Assante at my table."

Robin smiled at Killian and began to turn to grab Emma's items. Emma, however, seemed unable to look at him. She began to pass him, following Robin, when Killian grabbed her arm.

"I wish I could say I was sorry but I can't. I'm not a liar."

"Well, thank you for that." Her eyes finally raised to his. "I'm not sorry either, if we're being truthful."

Killian reached out and tucked a piece of her hair behind her shoulder. It felt like the most natural of actions. "I want us to always be truthful and not just because I'm a priest."

"You make that sound like we will be seeing more of each other. Does that mean you are done avoiding me?"

"We do live in the same town, Swan. I imagine as much as we might try, we'll have no choice." He doubted after tasting her, confirming that this want he felt wasn't just his imagination, he'd be able to stay away.

"Then for the sake of this truthful truce that we've established, I have something to tell you."

"What's that?" he asked with a smile.

She leaned toward him and whispered in his ear. "I want to make love to you too."

Killian stood there as still as a statue as she walked away. He fought to regain his breath. If she had suckered punched him it wouldn't have surprised him as much as her statement. A huge grin covered his face as she suddenly turned to search her out. She was already gone but her words remained. Killian strolled out of the café in one of the lightest moods he had experienced since coming to Rome. Whistling, he turned in the direction of the rectory where he was to meet Father Bastian.

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"Father Killian, I am glad you here," Father Bastian told him hastily, his verbiage off, though Killian had to admit the father's English was becoming much better.

Killian's smile, the one that had become a permanent fixture on his face since the café, disappeared. "What happened?"

"We go. Hurry." Father Bastian took Killian's arm and steered him down the road he had just come from.

Killian matched his pace to the hurried steps of the older cleric. When they reached the main road and caught a taxi, Kilian began to really worry as Father Bastian preferred to walk almost everywhere. The man spoke quickly in Italian to the driver and the gentleman behind the wheel nodded and shot off into the heavy traffic.

"What's going on, Father?" Killian asked.

"No talk. We must pray." The man closed his eyes and did exactly what he advised Killian to do. "In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spirtus Sancti."

Killian crossed himself as the priest prayed, his own mouth forming the words that had become second nature after so many entreaties. Yet, as he did so his mind wandered, his eyes closing tying to shut out the wayward thoughts that warred with the holy words.

It didn't work. Instead of crossing himself, he saw crossing swords. Instead of prayers, he heard screams of dying men. Instead of peace, he felt the thrill of the chase. Instead of the noises from outside the cab's open windows, he heard the roar of the ocean during a storm. It all felt so real. Like the life he was leading now was the dream instead of the other way around.

A had landed on Killian's arm tugging him from his thoughts. Opening his eyes, Killian realized the cab had stopped and Father Bastian was outside hurrying inside a small villa. The cab driver pulled at Killian's arm once more. "Father, you must go."

"Si. Grazie." Killian handed the man some money, hoping it was enough. The cab driver nodded his thanks and returned to his seat as Killian exited.

Killian had no idea where he was. They hadn't gone all that far so they must still be in Rome. The front door was still open awaiting his entry. Before he could take in his surroundings, screams echoed throughout the house.

For a brief second, Killian wanted nothing more than to run. Instinct kicked in before the fear could settle and instead of running away, he found himself hurrying up the stairs two at a time towards the spine tingling screams. Grasping for his cross, Killian felt the second chain and charms under his shirt as well. Subconsciously, he must have put it around his neck earlier, though he didn't remember doing so.

Killian stopped dead in his tracks when he reached the bedroom where the sounds were originating. Crosses were turned upside down. The Virgin Mary's head was removed from the statue. And most disturbing of all was the Italian words 'Demone', 'Diablo' and other unholy words written in red. Written in blood.

A prepubescent boy stood there in the middle of the room, his clothes covered in blood, a knife in his hand. A woman, Killian guessed the mother, cowered in the corner, screaming and crying, holding bloodied rags. From the cradle that stood next to her that dripped blood, Killian suspected the rags were a baby, or what might have once been a baby.

Father Bastian stood before the boy holding out a cross and chanting prayers, occasionally spraying holy water in the boy's direction. When the boy spotted Killian he smiled.

"Ahoy, Captain. Good to see you again," the boy said in perfect English. Considering the fact the woman was screaming in heavily accented English, Killian doubted that English was anywhere near the boy's native language.

Killian glared at the demon child and accepted the vial of holy water from Father Bastian. Joining in the father's chants, Killian tossed the holy water as the older man tried to approach the boy.

"No," the child screamed. "Him."

Father Bastian looked between the boy and Killian, to him the boy pointed. His eyes questioned Killian as to whether he would like to proceed as the demon requested. For it was the demon within they boy who commanded his presence.

Killian exchanged the vial for the cross and took the lead on the exorcism. It was the first time he ever had to do so and he questioned his capability of doing it effectively.

"Yes, Captain," the demon encouraged. "Tell me about your God."

The child inched closer brandishing the blood stained blade. Gently the child reached up and traced the sharp edge along Killian's jaw. Killian held the cross tighter in his fist trying not to flinch and show the slight tremble of fear he felt. Before he allowed the darkness of the emotion consume him, an image of Emma came to him. It strengthened his spine and shook away his fear.

"Ah. So, it is Miss Swan who is your weakness and your strength. Good. I have confirmation," the demon mocked.

Killian's eyes shot to the demon child. "Don't you dare hurt her," he growled, no longer chanting prayers or even caring to do so. "There is no place you can hide if you harm her."

The demon laughed. "It is I who hold the power here, not you. You aren't even a mere mortal but a character influenced by the wills of God and man. Your life is held constantly in the balance, while I am free to do as I will."

The child dropped the knife and smiled at Killian. "Good-bye for now, dear captain. We shall meet again very soon. That I promise you."

Killian watched the child's eyes roll backwards before his body fell heavily to the floor. Unable to reach the child in time, despite their closeness, Killian pulled the child onto his lap and began to check him for injury. A hand landed on Killian's shoulder. Looking up, Killian saw Father Bastian shaking his head.

"He is gone. We must care for the living." Father Bastian motioned toward the woman still crying in the corner but Killian's mind drifted to Emma. What plans did the demon have for her? He was afraid that he may find out.