Chapter Title: Birthday Surprise

Title: lessons

AUTHOR: obisgirl
Rating: nc-17
Characters: Killian/Emma

Summary: Fairytale land – AU. Emma is a princess on the verge of becoming a woman but wants more out of life than what her parents can give her, so she makes a wish to be swept away which translates into being kidnapped and sold at a slave auction to one Captain Killian Jones.

A/N: The Evil Queen's curse never happened. Beta'd by zeldabel.

Disclaimer: Once Upon a Time characters are property of Disney and Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis. This fanfic is for pure entertainment.

When Emma was a little, she was excited to fall in love. The tale of her parent's love story was the best bedtime story and she hoped, that she would have the same opportunity herself one day ; to find someone who loves her so deeply and she loves him in return. She thought being in love would be the greatest adventure and she still believes that it is, but now Emma is questioning if she is ready for it.

Love can be complicated and Emma knows, if she were falling in love, it would never work out. A pirate and a princess, her waiting at home for months while he sails away. Emma can't deal with that kind of separation and she needs to be realistic.

This arrangement with Killian – Captain Jones isn't working.

And she needs to sever their relationship as soon as possible, she rationalizes, sitting alone in her room.

Killian said it himself, he's never been with a woman long enough to care for her and Emma's quite sure, the longer they are together, the more he will grow wary of her.

She wants to love, to feel love but she is playing a dangerous game here. It's hard to think of her relationship with Killian as anything other than a business transaction when she's around him. But she needs to be professional about this. This has to end before they both end up hurt.

A princess doesn't have a place in a pirate's life.

She has to end it.

Killian knows when to give a woman space but he also knows Emma; two days on board his ship and he thinks he knows her feelings which he doesn't. But he knows his feelings and there is no question that she is changing him. Every time she is even a little close to him, his pulse beats a little faster and all he can think of is tasting those sweet lips of hers.

She is a business partner, a client and their relationship is a business transaction, nothing more. If only she knew that there were more to the story. And he wishes that matters were not complicated by his plans but it isn't that simple anymore.

She isn't a business partner or his student and in fact, wants to her to become so much more.

He wants her.

This is a very bad idea but it's her birthday and she shouldn't be spending it alone in her room, sulking or doing whatever princesses do to cheer themselves up when they're depressed. Killian knocks on her door and hears a stir.

"Emma?"

"I don't want to see you," she calls back, "Leave me alone, Killian,"

He knocks one more time and he can hear a quiet growl from inside.

"Do you have a hearing problem? I said leave me alone!" she shouts back.

"Emma," he says calmly, "It's your birthday and you shouldn't be spending it alone in your room the whole night. Come, there's happy festivities on deck; dancing and music,"

Emma doesn't say anything and he sighs, pressing his hand to the door. "I know you missed your birthday ball and this won't be the same but I wanted to do something special for you, Emma," he says, "because it's your birthday,"

She opens the doors suddenly and he looks at her. "I made a mistake, regarding our arrangement," she manages, "I want to leave as soon as possible,"

"You're running,"

She shrugs helplessly and he can see, it's taking everything in her not to cry. "I'm not running; I want to go home, Killian," she continues, "Please oblige me this request and I will work in your favor to get you your money as soon as I can,"

"You think I still care about the money?"

Emma looks away from him and he touches her chin, turning her to look at him. "My concern at the moment isn't my money, Emma; it's you. There's only so few hours left of your birthday and I think, it would be a waste if you didn't at least enjoy yourself," he reasons, extending other his hand to her. "Please Emma, you shouldn't be spending your birthday alone; we'll talk about our arrangement tomorrow,"

"I'm only one year older," she says. "Why should it matter?"

"Because you're not just one year older today," he reasons.

Emma sighs and slips her hand into his.

Emma doesn't pay attention to the way Killian reacts holding her hand, guiding her on deck. But he knows that he must feel the tension because she doesn't relax until she sees his men, waiting patiently for her arrival. She's always spent her birthdays at home with her parents and although, her mother would prefer elaborate birthday celebrations, Emma's always preferred quiet ones.

She does miss being home but she doesn't miss having to wear a corset and being forced to dance in it.

She glances once at Killian but he doesn't look at her as one of his men step forward, carrying a violin. "Starkey,

m'lady," the man says, "Happy birthday,"

"Mr. Smee, ma'am," a shorter man says, removing his red hat.

Emma rolls her eyes and relaxes. "First of all," she says, "I am a princess but I'm not at home, so no 'm'lady's or ma'am – I'm only eighteen and hearing someone refer to me as ma'am – makes me think that instead of turning eighteen, maybe I turned 58 instead. Please call me, Emma,"

The pirates laugh, the sound echoed by Killian's and she turns and looks at him. Emma turns around fully, smiling kindly, extending her hand to him. "Dance with me?" she asks.

Killian takes her hand, turns her palm over and kisses it, sending a shiver down her back but Emma quickly recovers before he can see the effect on her. "Your invitation is accepted," he says and guides her to the center.

Starkey takes up his violin and starts playing a slow tune. Killian slips his right hand behind her back and one into her other, dancing slowly, holding her close.

"Do you have a wish?" he asks.

Emma doesn't say. "You really didn't have to do this," she manages, "Breakfast would have been enough,"

Killian smiles at her. "As I understand it, when a girl turns eighteen – her eighteenth birthday is usually one of the biggest milestones in her life," he says, "other than marrying and her wedding night,"

Emma can't help but blush and his smile widens, causing her to glare at him. "Now you're teasing me," she retorts.

"If I'm teasing you Emma, it's only because I like to see your reaction," he says, leaning closer to her, "and right now, you are too beautiful,"

He kisses her cheek and backs away, winking at her and Emma shakes her head. "And I wanted to do this for you," he adds.

"You thought it would change my mind about leaving?" she wonders.

"I'm not keeping you here against your will," he reasons, "but I do ask that you think about this, at least sleep on it and make your decision in the morning,"

Emma shrugs, looking plainly at him. "I can't think of a reason to stay. What you've done for me, Killian, is so sweet and I'll never forget it but this is no place for a princess," she says, "but I promise that I'll keep my part of our arrangement and you will get your money,"

He stops dancing with her, prompting Starkey to stop playing and Killian looks at her. "The money isn't the only reason why I want you to stay, Emma," he says bluntly.

Emma stops dancing and Starkey quits playing the violin, staring at her as she stands up to the Captain.

"This isn't a relationship Killian, it's a business transaction," she retorts and walks away.

tbc