Chapter Title: Dangerous Waters

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.

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

Killian can't help but grin as he walks back to his ship, a loud Emma banging her fists against him and cursing the whole way to let her down. He knows that she'll continue to be furious with him even after he puts her down on her own two feet but he didn't expect to find a brunette huntress in red, standing on the deck of his ship, glaring at him.

Starkey storms forward first, confronting the other woman but as soon as he tries to ram into her, she punches him hard in the face and falls to his feet, looking back at Killian. Killian rushes aboard and promptly lets Emma down and turns her around, facing the huntress.

"Red!" she cries and runs to hug the other woman.

"Red as in the wolf-huntress Red?" Killian asks.

Emma glances at Red and backs away from her, standing beside Killian. "Red, are you alone?" she wonders breathlessly.

"Snow didn't want to cause panic in the kingdom over you, so she sent me to track you. Your father on the other hand, he got desperate and almost went to Rumpelstiltskin for help," Red explains, "I've been tracking you for the past couple of days and didn't pick up your scent until you docked. Emma, what is going on?"

Before she can explain, Killian takes her aside. "I think it would be best if you lovely ladies take this down below," he advises, "We don't need to attract any further attention,"

Emma agrees and turns back to Red. "Follow me," she says. "I'll take you to my room,"

"Room, you have your own room? And you're dressed in pirate's clothes," Red observes and sniffs hers, "And you've been drinking,"

"No," Emma says innocently, "Not a lot,"

"Emma, were you kidnapped or brain-washed?"

"Let me explain in private Red," Emma pleads.

The huntress sighs and reluctantly follows her.

Emma knows Red and she knows that Red doesn't make judgements without knowing the full story, even one as complicated as her current situation. She sighs, ushering inside her room, which Red notes is right next door to the captain's but doesn't say anything about it.

"I was kidnapped," Emma says as Red closes the door behind her. "I was kidnapped on the eve of my birthday and sold to a pirate captain, this pirate captain,"

"And you haven't even tried to escape?" Red wonders, turning to her. "Emma, he's a pirate! Do you have idea the dangerous game that you are playing?"

Emma looks away. "I know this isn't a game but I can't go home yet either," she admits, "I'm helping him,"

Red shifts uncomfortably and shakes her head. "So, you were kidnapped and sold to this man and instead of

escaping, you're helping him by dressing up like his pirate queen, wearing the thing that you hate the most?" she asks, "Emma, none of this is making any sense,"

Emma doesn't say anything and Red has an epiphany, looking at her. "Oh my Gods, you're in love with

him," she cries.

"I'm not," Emma says defiantly, "He's helping me and I'm helping him; that's all there is to it,"

"You are in love with him," Red continues, "Normally, I would be very happy for you Emma but he's a pirate

and you're a princess. You're from two different worlds. You need to stop this, end things with him and go home,"

"Red, I can't," she cries, "I don't know, maybe I am in love with him and maybe, he's in love with me but I can't leave him. Believe me, I've tried twice and it didn't do any good,"

Red shakes her head. "So, what do you expect me to tell your parents? Because I certainly can't tell them the truth. Snow would never accept this and I don't even want to think about how your father would react," she reasons.

Emma comes over to her and holds her hands. "Tell them, you lost my scent and you're still looking for me," she says.

Red fixes her hair, noticing for the first time that her blond hair is gone. "I never thought that I'd see you as anything but blond but you actually look great," she muses, smiling reluctantly, "I don't have to tell you to be careful but emotional entanglements can lead you down dangerous paths, Emma. I hope you know what you're doing,"

Emma hugs her emphatically. "But please be careful, princess," Red advises her, "These are dangerous waters and things can go badly very quickly. Your mother would never forgive me if something happened to you,"

Killian doesn't know what to expect when Red leaves Emma's quarters alone and she confronts him. Red takes a moment to study him and Killian stares at her.

"I'm leaving," she says, "and I'm trusting you Captain to take care of her and treat her with respect. She is the daughter of my best friend and if anything should happen to her, I tracked Emma down once and could do it again. And I promise you, if you hurt her, next time I won't hesitate to let the wolf out,"

"I promise," he breathes, "I won't hurt her,"

"Good," Red says evenly.

After Red leaves the ship without any further trouble, Killian runs to Emma's room, mostly to make sure that she's still there and comfort her if needed. When he comes into her room, she's lying on her bed, rubbing her head. Killian walks over, sits on the edge and helps her sit up.

"I have a really bad headache," she admits, "If this is what a hangover feels like, remind me to never drink again,"

Killian moves closer and starts gently massaging her temples, smiling. Emma groggily notices him and moves to lie down again but Killian holds her hands, forcing her to stay sitting up. "If you sleep now love, then whatever you're feeling, will be magnified ten times later. Trust me, I've dealt with treating severe hangovers before,"

Emma doesn't say anything.

"So, you're staying," he says and she looks at him. "I noticed that Red left alone,"

"It's complicated," she reasons.

Emma sighs heavily and starts fidgeting with the corset tugging at her waist. Killian stops massaging her temples and helps her remove it. As soon as feels herself free, Emma lets out a long breath and laughs. "You think I can burn this thing now?"

"Something's burning but it's not the corset," he muses, staring at her.

Emma blushes and then moves away quickly, racing to the tin pot near the dresser, leaning over in pain, throwing up into it. Killian comes over and holds her hair to one side, careful not to get any throw-up on it, gently massaging her back at the same time.

"I think I've learned my lesson, no more alcohol," she reasons, looking at him. "What was that anyway?"

"Rum," he says, "which probably wasn't the best first choice, especially for you,"

He ushers over to the bed and lets her lie down gently, but her body inclined a little. Killian places the blanket over her and starts to stand but stops, feeling Emma's hand on his.

"Please stay," she pleads.

Killian hesitates for a moment. He has responsibilities to the ship and his mother but there is one thing that he's

learned in the past couple of days, it's that he can't deny Emma anything. He sighs, sitting back down on the bed and looks down at her boots and begins unlacing them.

As soon as they're all unlaced, he removes them; next, are her leather pants which are lot easier to deal with and then the half-dress attached to her waist.

Emma smiles as her leg rests in his lap, his fingers gently massaging her which is greatly appreciated. She likes feeling his fingers on her skin and quickly relaxes, closing her eyes. Killian scoots back on the bed and leans down, kissing her left leg.

She sighs and Killian continues his trek, kissing up her leg to her thighs, running his hands around her. He presses on, kissing all parts of her, watching her gasp and wreathe under his touch. This is what he wanted to teach her: what passion feels like, what true love can feel like.

As soon as that thought occurs to him, Killian stands up.

Emma opens her eyes and looks at him. "What's wrong?"

"This isn't right, Emma," he says, "I'm sorry,"

"Killian,"

"Emma, you don't belong here," Killian insists, "You should have left with Red when you had the chance. This is no life for a princess,"

Emma shrugs. "But I want to be here with you," she whispers.

He turns back to her. "No, you don't," he returns, "I'm not a good man for you, Emma. You deserve better than

me; you deserve to be with someone who can provide the love and security you need. I'm not that person,"

"But I feel safe when I'm with you, Killian," Emma cries, "I feel happiness when I'm with you and you make me feel alive and I crave -"

"You crave sex, Emma," he cuts her off, "because that's really what this whole arrangement boils down too: you wanting to learn about sex. That's not love, real love,"

She shrugs. "I thought that's what I wanted but these past couple of days, things have changed Killian," she continues, "You're right: I could have walked away when Red was here but I stayed because I chose to be with you,"

"You chose foolishly," he mutters, leaving her alone.

tbc