Chapter Title: Something Isn't Right

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 doesn't feel pain right away, but the moment he does, it's excruciatingly sharp, it brings him to his knees, steps away from boarding his ship. He's never felt a pain so intense before, he almost blanks out but struggles to focus. He remembers what the stranger said to him in the tavern:

Emma will hurt and won't know how to deal with her grief – and that is the most dangerous time. He left her because she said that she didn't want to see him again but what happens tomorrow when her grief doesn't go away and she has to deal with it? She'll get desperate and do anything for a moment of peace. That is why he has to fight for her love, to save her before it's too late.

But this pain he's feeling, it has nothing to do with Emma? Does it?

She doesn't love him.

Killian inhales deeply and struggles to stand up, the pain shooting through him again and he stumbles over.

This is too much of a coincidence.

Something isn't right.

"Captain?" Starkey asks, helping the other man to stand.

"I have to return to Emma's castle," he says finally.

Charming's increasing impatience and worrying is driving his wife crazy. Snow knows he can be over protective of Emma but she really feels that she is in no immediate danger and he needs to calm down. She trusts her daughter's judgement and knows she wouldn't act rash.

"David, please relax," Snow begs. "Emma will be fine,"

"I don't understand how you could let her go alone," he says, "especially after everything she's been through,"

Snow shrugs. "Because I know my daughter and she's a strong woman," she reasons, "And you need to stop worrying, my love,"

Charming wishes that his wife's words would ease his mind but something doesn't feel right to him. "You could have at least let Red go with her," he adds. "She could help her if there's trouble,"

"David, Emma has many talents and tricks that she's learned from both of us," Snow reminds him, "If there's trouble, she knows what to do,"

"Something doesn't feel right Snow," he admits, finally sitting down on his throne. "Emma, she hasn't been herself since she came home; you've even tried reaching out to her but instead of accepting your support, she turned you away,"

"I can't change who she is," she reasons, sighing. "If she is going through something, she'll deal with it on her own terms,"

Before David can rebut, the dwarves enter the chamber, holding a familiar pirate in black. Snow looks incredulously at her husband and then to him. "Seriously, you plan to kidnap my daughter twice in one week?" she asks.

"I didn't come back here to kidnap her," Killian retorts, "I came here because...I felt something wasn't right. Is the princess Emma here?"

"Not at the moment," Charming replies, "She went out riding on her own; she won't be back for a few hours,"

"I'm sorry," Snow interrupts, looking curiously at Killian. "You came back here because you were concerned about her safety,"

Killian shrugs. "Yes, majesty," he admits. "I had a horrible feeling that something happened to her and I needed to see her and make sure the feeling wasn't true,"

Snow smiles at him thoughtfully.

"She won't be back from her ride for a few hours," Charming reasons, stepping closer to him. "But in the mean time, to ensure that your intentions towards my daughter are honorable, you won't mind if you're locked up again, pirate,"

"Actually, I do mind highness," Killian retorts, "Emma's safety is all that matters to me and if she's not here, then I'll look for her which I can't do if I'm locked up,"

Charming looks at him curiously. "You really – honestly care about her?" he asks.

Killian sighs. "She's a very stubborn lass, your daughter, highness," he admits, "but I would never wish harm to her. I'm only here to make sure she's alright,"

"You care for her," Snow observes and Kilian and Charming turn to her. "You wouldn't have come back if you didn't have feelings for her. The question is, does she have the same feelings for you?"

"I broke her heart," he admits, "I'm not proud of my actions – and I wish more than anything to make it right but I need to see her, please,"

Killian suddenly slumps over in pain again and Snow rushes to him, helping him stand up.

She examines him, not feeling any blood wound on his person and glances back at her husband. "We have to find Emma," she says.

Charming looks to the dwarves. "Search the country side, take as many men as you need," he orders.

"No!" Red cries, coming into the room, looking between the Charmings, the dwarves and Killian. "You don't need to do that. I know where she is; it's where she always goes when she's troubled about something: the dwarves' cottage,"

She looks to Killian. "I'll take you there," she offers.

Killian smiles thoughtfully at the huntress. "Thank you Red," he says. "but why are you helping me – again?"

Snow looks worriedly at her friend but Red ignores her. "Because you could have continued lying to her but you didn't," Red reasons, "and as unconventional a pairing that you are, you're not that different from each other either,"

tbc