A/N Hey guys, so as promised, the next part of Wanderlust, this story will be three maybe more parts, depends on how I feel about the next chapter, and if I want to elaborate on the ending. This one takes place directly after chapter 1 and the day after. It's a little bit of background for those of you, that would wonder why the overprotective Charming's would marry off their only daughter to the Dark One's son. This also sets up for next chapter. Let me know if you want this to be more than three parts. and above all else... Enjoy

Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT, if I did so much CS would be happening next season

Emma ran through the streets that she had only recently learned about. Ran from the pirate at the tavern. Ran from the idea of freedom. The bells tolled around her, people emerging from their homes, startled, and unaware of why the alarm bells would go off at this hour. Emma was the only one who knew. It was her. Her parents likely went to check on her, and found the empty chambers. A less well protected princess, would never have been caught for a simple few hours outside of the palace. The alarm bells should hardly have had to have been rung, yet this was her kingdom. Her parents always lived with the fear of the Evil Queen returning and doing what she swore twenty years ago. They feared her taking Emma away.

She slowed as she entered the town square, and took a deep breath. She should return home. Face her parent's ire, and tell them where she went. There's still a chance to run. A small traitorous voice in the back of her mind said softly. Emma waved it away, but it came back. Why should you care what this kingdom thinks of you? They don't even know you. You're a myth. Emma shook her head, and sighed. There was only one thing stopping her, and unlike she told Hook at the tavern, it wasn't her family.

Several months earlier:

The Dark One paced before them. Emma's parents didn't want him there, and Emma thought she knew why. It was no secret, that the curse Regina almost cast, had come from him. He was hardly an ally to their kingdom. Still, Emma had spent her childhood knowing only one child. She met Baelfire when she was ten, and he was fifteen. Belle, the queen of the Dark Kingdom had brought her stepson with for a meeting of the kingdom's heads. A summit to ensure continuing peace in the realms. Queen Belle, had come in Rumpelstiltskin's place, as nobody wished for dealings with the one who almost had them all cursed to a land where everything they loved was ripped away.

"What is your business, Dark One?" her father demanded. He sat stock still in his throne, as though any movement would set off the Imp before them.

Rumpelstiltskin tented his fingers as he paced, and then giggled, a high piercing sound, that filled Emma with dread. "Haven't you already guessed, your majesty?" He asked. He tented his fingers gleefully. "Well, as you know… I have a son, about your daughter's age. He has been woefully unable to find a suitable bride. I have come to make a deal with you, King Charming" He began meaningfully. "Honestly, it won't be so long, until your daughter becomes a spinster, and my boy is quite available. I propose, that we join our kingdoms in the ancient tradition, of marriage."

David shot out of his seat. "Absolutely not!" He roared. "You come into my home, you insult my family, and then you expect me to sing over my daughter's life?" He demanded, "You should leave now!"

Rumpelstiltskin didn't seem daunted, only smirked in slight irritation. "You think you have a choice, Dearie?" He sneered. "Well, actually… you do have a choice." He resumed his pacing. "You allow Baelfire your daughter's hand in marriage. Or I start with the farthest village in your kingdom, and I leave ruin in my wake."

"And if I refuse? I dare say, it's my life you are toying with Dark One." Emma declared, standing from her own throne. "You want your answer? Your son is a boorish oaf, the few times I have met him, have shown not even an ounce of princely wiles. I will not be his wife."

Rumpelstiltskin advanced on her, his wide eyes, more unnerving up close, his jagged teeth shown through his slightly open maw. His skin a sickly green, with scales that didn't belong on a human face. "Oh, won't you dearie?" He asked. His breath acrid on her face. "I'll give you a similar choice to the one I offered your parents." He pulled away from her, and Emma released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "You can marry Bae, willingly. Or!" He ticked his finger into the air for emphasis. "Everyone dies. If you won't marry him willingly… I suppose I'll just have to start destroying your kingdom, one tiny village at a time. Then, if you still don't, Dearie? I'll slit your throat, and take your kingdom for mine anyway."

"So you haven't come to ask for a marriage treaty. More or less, you have come to usurp our kingdom." Snow snapped, from her place in her throne.

Rumpelstiltskin giggled. "I have no interest in your silly little kingdom. I only want her."

present

Emma shuddered at the memory. She would have turned him down outright, but she couldn't sign all those people to death. Not over the unlikely possibility of a happy ending that wasn't in her cards. She wasn't so naïve to believe that royals often had the chance her parents did. She wouldn't find a prince hiding in the woods, waiting to steal a ring from her.

There was still the chance, that the pirate in the tavern had the chance to be that happy ending. Emma couldn't risk all of the people that would die if she took that chance. She couldn't take the chance that she was wrong about him, when innocent people were on the line.

So with a heavy heart, and a solid, and heartbreaking resolve, Emma turned towards the palace, and began to walk home.

~~Wanderlust~~

Emma slipped into the palace, the same way she left it, her plan to get to her chambers, and change into one of her simple gowns, and find her parents. Allow them to believe she had simply been wandering the palace. This dream was dashed however, when her long time friend, and confidante, as well as one of her families most trusted guards, Graham came around the corner, his stance relaxing when he caught sight of her.

"Princess" He gasped. "Thank the gods, we thought the Dark One had taken you!" Then his eyes trailed down to her gown, and his expression grew confused. "Why are you dressed like that?" He asked, his head tilted to the side in question, as he came towards her.

Emma shifted under his gaze, it was true, that when she was younger, she had a crush on the Huntsman, despite the fact he was more than fifteen years her elder. It was also true, she had since moved on from that crush, but his scrutiny still made her stomach flip. The sensation was so unlike the one that had gripped her at the tavern. She had never felt the desire to grab the Huntsman and kiss him breathless, but the attraction was there nonetheless.

Graham's face grew stormy with her silence. "Where have you been, Emma?"

She took a deep breath, she should have known this was coming. "I went for a walk…" She explained in a small voice, her eyes cast down from his.

"Outside? Alone? At this hour?" The questions came one after another.

Emma knew he would understand, if she told him… Graham would understand, still there was a part of her, that didn't wish to share. She wanted to keep her late night adventure a secret. She didn't want them to know about Killian. She cast her eyes down. She wouldn't tell him that, but she would tell the truth. "I needed to know. I needed to see something, before I was taken away to live as a trophy. I went down to the village, I just wanted a taste. I was always going to come back." Her explanation was rushed, and desperate. She knew he would understand. She had heard his anger, when her parents had told him of the forced arrangement. He knew it was nothing less than slavery, that the Dark One wanted from her.

"A nigh of freedom. I've never left the castle before. I wanted to see the ocean up close, because I know the Dark One, he doesn't live near water. I wanted to have it memorized, because in just a week, I'll never see it again."

Graham's expression softened, as he came to her, pulling her into his arms. "Oh, Emma." He whispered. "You don't deserve this…" he whispered, rubbing circles on her back, and that was when Emma broke down, sobbing into the shoulder of her one friend.

~~Wanderlust~~

Hook knew he couldn't stay in this port long. Misthaven had a tight patrol, that was ruthless when it came to pirates. He had only been allowed to remain long as he has by never conducting business in this port, beyond bartering for wares and provisions. Something made him stay this time though. More than a night stay in the harbor, at the local tavern. He would be kidding himself, if he claimed it had nothing to do with an enchanting mystery that he had met the night before.

"Emma" The name had danced through his mind, since her sudden departure the night before. Such a simple, yet elegant name. There was something about her, that he simply couldn't shake. What had spooked her, so suddenly? Why was he so damn drawn to her, after one kiss, and a couple of drinks?

He must have gone mad, because in all his years, he had never been so captivated by a woman before. What made, Emma different? He was determined to find her again, even if h"e had to spend months searching this port for her.

He walked through the streets of the small village, and paused as he heard whispers from one of the stalls.

"Heard, The Dark One appeared in the throne room. That he threatened the people, if they didn't agree."

"I heard, that the Dark Queen, brought the boy to a ball when her highness was ten, and it was love at first sight."

"I heard, that they kept her hidden away, because she was sickly, and the only way to heal her, was with Dark magic, and the only way he would help them, is if she married his son."

A small huffing. "No matter what, though, that man is going to be our king one day."

"Gods help us all, if the Dark One gets his hooks into Misthaven. Gods help us all"

A wedding? One that included the Dark One? Come to think of it, the harbor had seemed rather crowded, and it dawned on him, that it could be guests for this wedding. A wedding, that in all his visits to this port, he had never heard about happening. Hell, the last he had heard, the kingdom's heir was a well-protected secret. He remembered once, hearing the tale of the Princess' birth. They had been at war, and when she was born, the threat of a great curse, that would rip her away from them had been the reality. Then when the war was won, the king and queen had been loath to allow her out of their sights, leading to a princess hidden from the world. He had heard rumors of her beauty, that men at sea would see a golden-haired siren watching them from the highest tower of the palace. Heard of a cherub faced little lass, running around the grounds, told by staff from the palace itself.

He couldn't imagine a king and queen so set on protecting their child, selling her to the Dark One.

"I heard that they're opening the gates tonight." The soft voices from the stall filtered in again. "A ball to commemorate the Princess' engagement."

"That's not really a rumor though. Why else would all those noble folks be in the port? The wedding isn't for two days."

Killian felt an idea brew. Nobles from across the lands, the Dark One being within his grasps, and the treasures of the Kingdom of Misthaven, being ripe for the picking. He began back towards his ship. He was going to a ball.

Next up, the ball

sneak peek

"Pirate, luv. We don't tend to rub elbows well with royalty."

please review, they feed the hungry whovian