Chapter Title: Betrayal

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.

Emma doesn't say anything, walking away from Rumpelstiltskin's cell with Killian. As soon as they turn a corner, Emma falls into his arms and Killian embraces her, gently rubbing her back. "This was a very bad idea," she cries, "We shouldn't have come here,"

"We needed to be here, Emma," he says, leaning down to kiss her.

"But what good does it do to know this information now?" she wonders, "We can't go back and fix time; not even the blue fairy would allow that,"

Killian shrugs. "So we could understand," he reasons, "and maybe, be better prepared for the future,"

Emma sighs and rests her head against his chest. "It's a hell of a lot of responsibility to know the future, what could have been," she adds, "I'm not sure I would have accepted the responsibility of being the savior for my entire kingdom,"

"Knowing how stubborn you are," he teases, "I wouldn't expect any less,"

Emma laughs solemnly, looking up at him. "I'm no savior, Killian," she says.

"I'm no hero either," he counters, "and yet somehow, we're perfect for each other,"

Before Emma can counter that, she turns, hearing someone coming; not someone but several voices in fact. Emma stands in front of Killian, protecting him which he can't but smile thinking about the irony.

"Are you sure you saw someone coming down here?" the gruff voice asks. "No one is allowed down here, not even the princess,"

As soon as the figure turns a corner, followed by six other short fellows, Emma smiles and runs up to him. "Grumpy!" she cries, hugging him.

"Princess Emma?!" he asks, hugging her back in disbelief. "You came back,"

Killian keeps his distance, not wanting to sour a cheerful reunion.

"The Prince and your mother will be very happy about your safe return," he says, "but what are you doing down

here?"

"It's complicated," Emma reasons and Grumpy notices Killian for the first time.

"And who's he?"

Killian steps forward, placing a protective hand on Emma's waist. "I'm the man who brought her home," he defends, "Safely back to your care,"

"He's a pirate!" Doc manages, studying his clothes.

"He is," Emma confirms, "but a good pirate; he's a good man who deserves my parent's pardon,"

"Emma," he whispers into her hair, "I don't deserve a royal pardon, not after what I've done to you,"

She turns to him curiously. "But you haven't done anything to me," she reasons, "You brought me home. I'm back here because of you; you kept me safe while I was under your care,"

He shakes his head. "No, I haven't," he disagrees, "Emma, there's something you need to know; something I should have told you a long time ago: I'm the reason why you were kidnapped. I kidnapped you,"

"No, that's not possible," she retorts, "I remember it clearly. You weren't the one who went into my room and took me by surprise; it was someone else,"

"You're right; that wasn't me but he was one of my men," he continues, "And I set up the slave auction as well, paying off those men to bid on the other girls and leave you, for me. Everything was supposed to go according to plan—her plan and mine but you changed things. I brought the witch into our lives under the pretense that I didn't believe that she wanted anything else other than money,"

"But why did you believe her?" she cries.

"Because she masqueraded as my mother," he reasons, "which, she wasn't,"

"And you're telling me the truth now because you suddenly felt guilty about lying to me after all this time?" Emma rants, "Killian, I almost died!"

"We're on first name basis with a pirate?" Grumpy interrupts, eliciting a glare from Emma.

"You lied to me," she seethes, "You used me and I - fell for it,"

Killian knows he's in the pit now but he can't stand keeping the truth from her anymore. "I'm sorry Emma," he cries, "but there is one thing that was never a lie: my feelings for you. Emma, I really think that you're my..."

"Stop!" she cuts him off, "Grumpy, arrest him,"

The gruff one steps forward, followed by three other dwarves as Emma backs away from him.

"Emma, I love you!" he cries, "I swear, I do. If you don't believe anything, please believe that I truly love you and that is the only reason why I'm speaking the truth now,"

Emma looks back at him in disgust before being escorted away by the other four dwarves.

tbc