A/N: I'm sorry! I know it's been a while (like three months *tugs shirt nervously*). My first semester at uni is over and it was awesome and I'm currently on holidays exploring Europe. So this update is coming to you from the hot and busy Rome. On this trip, I have been mistaken for Spanish, Italian and even a Croatian Television Actress (My Lizzie McGuire moment in the pharmacy). Suffice it to say I now have a very decent tan. :P

Aighty, I'm currently writing the next chappie. And I'm not sure how many are left, but I'll be wrapping it up before I go back to uni at the end of July. xx

Chapter Seventeen: The Magic and the Masquerade

"Hmm…" Emma was concentrating completely on trying to move the cup from one side of Killian's desk to the other that she completely missed his appearance behind her. His hands snuck around her waist and his face nuzzled into the side of her neck, curling into her hair with a contented sigh.

The cup shot across the table and hit the opposite wall, landing on the floor with the accompanying sound of shattering porcelain

"Killian!" Emma chastised, pulling herself away from him to go pick up the shards in frustration. "I'm trying to get this magic thing together. I still have no idea how we're going to get past the black guard, or even where my parents…the king and queen are!"

"They're in the dungeon," he said simply, "Heard so from my inside man."

"You have an inside man?" Emma said doubtfully.

"Where did your optimism go, my love?" Killian asked, pulling her away from the mess and towards his bed. She all but sank into the bed, dragging him down next to her as she stared up at the swaying ceiling.

"I think I left it back in Pelna," Emma answered with a sigh. "What if we do complete this, Killian? We'll rescue my parents, but Regina will still be out there, raging more powerful than ever. She overtook the kingdom once and there's no way we could do that again."

"I think you'd be surprised by the allies your parents have, Emma," Killian replied, turning to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Have faith in yourself."

"You have enough for both of us," she murmured, snuggling into his chest.

"Aye," he said, "If you can't find it, then I'll have enough for both of us."

They were awoken a few hours later by Freya climbing over them both to settle in between their bodies. She simply sat there expectantly, waiting for them to break their way out of sleep and back into the land of the living.

"What time is it?" Emma grumbled into her pillow.

"I don't think it's dawn…"

"She's your daughter."

"Before sunrise she's your daughter," Killian answered, his eyes shut as he flung an arm over them.

"DADDY!" Freya whined loudly, climbing onto his face to pull it away. He used her distraction to grab her and tickle her on the bed, listening to her peals of laughter echo through the room. He was grateful that this cabin was seeing some happiness once more, and as he looked down at his daughter's giggling face, he was overwhelmingly grateful for her being the cause.

"Freya," Killian admonished jokingly. "You woke up mommy."

"Shhh," she answered, her finger going to her lips and whispering, "Pretend." And then her hands were under her head and she was closing her eyes and a minute later she was asleep again. Emma's soft snores came a moment later.

"Definitely your daughter," Killian chuckled as he rolled out of bed to greet the sun.

Upon exiting his room, he strolled across the deck to awaken the rest of the crew. He could see the coastline in the distance and Collins up at the helm, but what he didn't see was Ruby running out from the Quartermaster's cabin as she hastily did her hair.

"Ruby," Killian greeted with a raised brow. "What's got you in such a rush?"

"Nothing," she said in a very telling way, with a wolfish grin. "Is Emma awake? I need to chat to her."

"If you bring her breakfast, she may be more pleasant," Killian answered, and Ruby shot of down to the galley.

As he headed down to the crew's quarters, he shot Collins a quick, "If I find one scratch on my ship because you abandoned your post, it is coming out of your share, Collins."

At least the man had the decency to look a little bit sheepish.

The cliffs loomed ominously as they docked in a nearby bay. Emma was still in Killian's cabin, trying to move another cup from one side to the other. Killian was beside her, holding her hand and she was managing it fine. But without him, nothing was happening and she didn't know why.

Of course, when she did manage to float the cup, Killian responded by seizing her by the waist and tugging her body into his, lips crushing against each other in the most heated kiss they'd shared in a while. His lips tugged hers, pulling her skin with his teeth as his hands tightened and removed all space between them.

When she needed to breath, she pulled back, "Easy tiger," she whispered, out of breath. She probably looked flushed – she certainly felt it – especially with those pools of black that were his eyes staring at her with such open lust.

Which quickly turned to amazement.

"Emma…" His eyes traversed the room where she soon realized every single candle had been lit, casting the cabin into the warmth of yellow light.

"You're amazing," he breathed with the widest and most adorable grin on his face. "Bloody brilliant."

She couldn't help herself, she kissed him, her hands tugging at the clasps of his vest and forcefully pushing it off his shoulders. She was just pulling his shirt up his chest when he wrenched his lips away, "Door, Emma…"

She flicked her hand and they both heard the lock click. She was surprised that it worked, but she didn't let it show. He made her stronger somehow.

"Why, Captain?" she enquired, "Don't want anyone to walk in on your lady ravishing you?"

"It does put a damper in the pirate reputation, love," he answered with a smirk, proceeding to flip her onto her back. "By the way, I hope you like the rug, I'm sure you'll be intimately acquainted by the time we're through."

"I'd prefer to be more intimately acquainted with you," Emma retorted, eyes wide as he threw his shirt off to his side somewhere.

"That can be arranged," he answered, sealing it with a kiss.

He had barely removed the necessary clothing before he was pushing into her, her quiet moan filling the room.

"Shh, love," he whispered, as she pulled at his hair and tugged on his shirt. "We're not alone on this ship."

"Then stop torturing me and move," Emma ordered. She gasped in delight as he sped up his movements, but pain as well. One of those shoes that they'd so hurriedly thrown aside, was now digging into her back.

"Killian..there's a…"

He slowed abruptly, trying to figure out what was wrong as she squirmed, pulling the boot out from beneath her and throwing it aside. With a sigh of relief, she settled back on the rug in relief, looking up at him with a smirk and a majestic wave of her hand.

"Continue," she said.

"As you wish, your majesty."

It's too quiet.

The castle was deserted. With a wave of her hand, Emma was able to diminish all the candles in sight, but that had nothing to do with the guards that should be there.

"Something's not right…" she breathed, wishing Killian was within arms reach so she could stop him, but he wasn't. He was heading directly for what seemed to be a trapdoor outside the gates to the palace. A lone guard stood watch, but as yet, he hadn't called the alarm. Emma could feel her heart beating erratically as they approached.

This felt wrong. She wanted to get back to the ship – back to Freya – and run.

"Huntsman," Killian nodded towards the man as they approached, not realizing that Emma had fallen out of step with him. It was only when he turned around that he noticed her horrified face as she whispered:

"It's a trap."