Note: This was originally supposed to be a one-shot, but it got too long so I broke it up into two parts. Part two will be posted in a couple of days. I hope you enjoy it! ~Steph

…A Chance at Love: Part 1/2...

Princess Emma stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her wedding dress was beautiful. It had a full skirt with beading all over it and the bodice. A sweetheart neckline left just enough to the imagination. A diamond encrusted crown sat atop her hair, which was piled into a mass of curls. She looked every bit the princess she was. But she found herself frowning at her reflection.

Her mother appeared by her side. "You look beautiful, sweetheart."

"I can't do this," she said softly.

Queen Mary Margaret sighed. "Emma, not this again. Please, it's your wedding day."

She turned to face her mother. "I don't want to marry Prince Neal. We've only met once and for only a few minutes. I don't love him."

"You will come to love him. This is what's best for our kingdom and our people. We can join two kingdoms together today. I know it's a sacrifice, but as royalty we must put the needs of our people ahead of our own."

Emma felt tears fill her eyes, as her father, King David, walked into the dressing room and smiled at his daughter.

"You look lovely, honey."

"Dad, I can't marry him," she said.

David glanced at his wife. "This again?"

Mary Margaret shrugged, as David approached Emma and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"I know you wished to marry for love, but that is not possible when you're royalty. You've been betrothed to Prince Neal since before you were born. He is a good man. You will learn to love him."

"You and mom married for love," she countered.

"It was different for us," her father said, smiling at his wife. "Fate played a part in our union. As you know, I was out in the village market one day when I saw your mother. It was love at first sight."

The queen nodded. "I didn't know who your father was and he didn't realize who I was. We gave false names to each other. He pretended to be a simple blacksmith and I pretended to be a peasant. When you're royalty, it's difficult to know when someone is interested in you for you."

"We began a romance, but we were already betrothed to two people we had never even met. We planned to run away together, but we each knew we couldn't hurt our families or our kingdom in that way. We finally revealed our true identities to each other."

Mary Margaret smiled as she placed her hand in her husband's. "And when we did, we realized we were already betrothed to each other and didn't even know it."

Emma nodded at the story she'd heard a thousand times. "But it doesn't change the fact that you still married for love."

"Our point is that we were meant to be, so we would have fallen in love no matter what. The same can happen for you and Prince Neal," her mother said.

"You two were lucky. Not everyone is."

Suddenly, they heard music begin to play.

"It's time," King David said.

Emma took a deep breath as she looked at herself in the mirror one last time. She then slipped her arm into her father's and he led the way out.

They walked to the grand ballroom and the doors opened before them. Emma looked at all of the guests, most royalty. She felt her stomach begin to do flips as she walked down the aisle toward Neal. She couldn't even stand to look at him. This would only be the second time they had laid eyes on each other, but Emma knew right from the start that he was not the one for her.

They finally made it to the end of the aisle. Her father lifted her veil and kissed her cheek. He then placed her hand in Neal's and took his seat.

Emma looked at Neal for the first time since she'd entered the room. She searched his eyes for something, anything, that told her love could grow between them one day. But she found nothing. She knew she would never grow to love him. She knew it deep in her heart and soul.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I can't do this."

She pulled her hand free of Neal's. Emma yanked off her veil and crown and tossed them into the aisle. Then she ran toward a side exit.

"Emma!" her parents called after her.

Emma kept running right out of the castle, past guards who were too stunned to react. She lifted the skirt of her gown and ran all the way to the harbor. Once there, she found a rowboat and jumped in. She began to row out into the water.

…

Captain Killian Jones sauntered into the grand ballroom. The guests were now gone, but it was still decorated with thousands of flowers.

"It's about time," the king said. "I summoned you hours ago."

Killian ignored him and gestured around the room as he came to stand before King David, the lone occupant of the room.

"Seems there was a rather extravagant event here. My invitation must have been misplaced."

The king's jaw tightened. "You know exactly what was to occur today. My daughter was to wed Prince Neal."

"I'm sensing things did not go off without a hitch.

"Emma ran out of her wedding. She took a rowboat out into the ocean."

Killian grinned. "Rather dramatic, isn't she?"

King David ignored him. "I need you to bring her back. Your tardiness has given her quite the head start as it is. I would send my own men, but they've known her all of her life and she is quite persuasive. I fear she would convince them to let her go."

"But I wouldn't?"

The king shook his head. "You've never met her and you're a pirate. You care about one thing and one thing only: yourself."

He shrugged. "I'm afraid I can't argue with that."

"Bring my daughter back to me and I will reward you handsomely."

"How handsomely?"

King David held a 3 carat purple diamond out to him. It was the rarest of jewels and something sought by every pirate. Killian had been chasing it for years. His eyes lit up and his hand reached out to touch it.

"It's magnificent," he whispered in awe.

King David pulled it out of his reach. "Bring Emma back within 24 hours and it is yours."

Killian nodded. "I can do better than that. Your daughter will be returned to you before daybreak."

"See that she is," he said.

With that, Killian turned on his heel and exited the ballroom.

…

Emma rowed until every muscle in her arms ached. She kept looking behind her, certain that her father's ship would soon follow. But it didn't. She rested for a few moments and then continued to row. Suddenly, she felt her boat hit something and come to an abrupt stop. She groaned as she looked down into the water. She had hit a reef and the boat was damaged. Water had already begun to slowly seep in.

Suddenly, a ship seemed to appear out of nowhere. Emma flooded with relief at the sight of the ship. Even more so because it wasn't her father's.

She waved her arms and the ship pulled up beside her. A man came to stand on the deck and looked down at her.

"Ah, princess, it looks as if you have run into a bit of trouble."

Emma's mouth turned downwards as she realized who he was. She had never met him, but she recognized his ship and knew that he did her father's dirty work from time to time.

"Allow me to be of assistance," he said.

"I don't need or want your help."

"Where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself."

"I know who you are. You're the pirate who does my father's dirty work."

He cocked an eyebrow. "I see my reputation precedes me. Captain Killian Jones, at your service."

"My service? You're only here because my father hired you. You don't really want to help me."

Killian shrugged. "I'm afraid I can't argue with that. But your boat is rapidly filling with water. I don't see that you have much of a choice. Climb aboard."

"I always have a choice. I can repair the boat somehow."

He laughed. "What do you plan on doing exactly? Stuffing your ample gown into the hole?"

Emma didn't reply. Killian sighed and lowered himself down into one of the emergency rowboats. He rowed over to Emma and held out his hand.

"Come on, princess, let's get on with it."

Emma was taken aback by his sparkling blue eyes and impossibly gorgeous face.

"I said no," she finally managed.

He chuckled. "Oh, you're a stubborn lass for sure. You'd rather drown out here than accept my help."

"I'd rather drown out here than be forced into a loveless marriage," she countered.

Killian shook his head and laughed.

"What?" she shot at him.

"I was right, you're quite dramatic."

Emma's eyes flared at him. "I'm not being dramatic. This is my life we're talking about."

"So you'd choose death over marriage to a prince? Bloody hell. The problems of royalty."

Emma stared daggers at him. "You're a pirate. I'm willing to bet you don't let anyone make choices for you."

"Of course not."

"Well, I want that same freedom. How can you fault me for that?"

Killian sighed heavily. "Listen, princess, I don't care what you want. I've been hired to do a job and I plan on doing it. And I will be paid rather handsomely for its completion."

"And that's all you care about? Your own selfish needs?" she asked, meeting his gaze.

Killian's mouth hung open for a second, as he found himself staring into her beautiful eyes.

"I am a pirate, after all. I do believe it's in the job description." He paused and said, "Get in the boat, love."

Emma crossed her arms over her chest as the water in the boat reached her ankles. "No."

"We can do this the hard way or the easy way. The choice is yours. You wanted choices."

"I am not going anywhere with you," she replied firmly.

"Hard it is then," he said, as he stood up and leaned into her boat.

She screamed as he wrapped his arms around her waist and threw her over his shoulder.

"Put me down!"

Killian groaned. "Bloody hell. I've carried rum barrels lighter than you. Piece of advice, princess. When you do finally get married, take it easy on the wedding cake."

Emma's eyes widened. "Excuse me? How dare you! It's the dress. It's very heavy!"

"Whatever you say, princess."

"Let go of me this instant!"

Emma pounded her fists on his back, as he managed to hold her in place with one hand and row with the other. Emma struggled, but managed to maneuver herself so she could bite the shoulder of the arm he was rowing with.

Killian yelped and dropped the oar into the water. "Bloody hell!"

He released his hold on her and rubbed at his shoulder. Emma slid down and onto the bench across from him.

"Why the devil did you do that?" he asked, meeting her eyes.

Emma's jaw tightened. She brought her hand up and slapped him across the face. Killian's eyes widened and he moved his hand from his shoulder to his stinging cheek.

"Damnit!" he muttered.

"Return me to my boat at once," she said.

A smile slid across his lips as he nodded at the water.

"You mean that boat?"

Emma's eyes widened as she watched the boat slip beneath the water.

"Seems to me, princess, that you're fresh out of choices."

Emma set her jaw and crossed her arms over her chest, but sighed in defeat. Killian picked up the remaining oar and they made their way to his ship.

…

Killian looked at Emma as she stared out at the water, a defiant expression on her face.

"I accept your apology," he said.

Emma's head whipped in his direction. "Excuse me?"

He cocked his head to side. "Well, it seemed as if you wished to apologize for biting and striking me, but your stubbornness was preventing you from doing so."

Emma scoffed. "Apologize? To the man who kidnapped me? For defending myself against him? I don't think so."

"I didn't kidnap you, princess."

"You forced me against my will onto your ship. What would you call it?"

"I would call it doing my job. A job your father hired me to do."

"It's still kidnapping anyway you justify it."

Killian sighed and then gestured at the water. "If anything, you should be thanking me."

Emma's eyes grew so wide, she thought they might fall out of her head. "Thank you? You must be delusional."

"I saved you from a sinking vessel. You would be some shark's dinner right now if it weren't for me."

Emma dropped her eyes and replied weakly, "I told you. I would have figured out a way to save myself."

Killian chuckled. "Aye, sure you would. That was quite obvious." He paused and shook his head. "You're a princess. You're used to having everyone do everything for you. You haven't the first clue how to fend for yourself."

Emma's head snapped up and she met his eyes. "Is that so? Because I seem to remember biting and striking a pirate who was attempting to kidnap me."

Killian laughed and threw up his hands. "Fine, I'll give you that, love."

Emma turned away from him, a satisfied smile slipping across her lips.

…

Killian found Emma below deck.

"It looks as if a storm is brewing up ahead. We've changed course to try to avoid it," he said, sitting on a barrel across from her.

She shrugged. "I'm for anything that delays my return."

Killian eyed her for a long moment. "So why don't you wish to marry Prince Neal? I've never met him, but I've seen him before. He isn't devilishly handsome like meself, but you could do worse."

Emma met his gaze. "It has nothing to do with his looks. I don't know him. We've met once. I don't want to marry someone I don't love."

Killian gestured at her. "I was under the impression that's how these things work when you're royalty."

"It is. That doesn't mean I have to accept it. My whole life I've had choices made for me. I want to make my own choices. Surely you can understand that."

He nodded. "Aye, that I do. More than you know."

Emma eyed him for a long moment. "What does that mean?"

"I know what it's like to want your freedom."

"You're a pirate. You answer to no one. I think that's about a free as you can get."

Killian dropped his eyes to the ground. "It wasn't always that way."

Emma watched as his boot kicked at a pebble on the wood.

"How was it?" she asked.

Killian slowly met her eyes and his voice emerged softly. "When I was a lad, my mother died and my father abandoned my brother and I. But not before selling us into slavery."

Emma's mouth dropped open in shock. "That's awful. I am so sorry."

"It was long ago."

"How did you go from being a child slave to a pirate?"

Killian sucked in a deep breath. "My brother was able to secure our freedom and we joined the royal navy."

"You served in my father's navy?" Emma asked.

Killian nodded. "Aye, that is how I first met him."

"What happened to your brother?"

Killian lowered his eyes. "Our ship was attacked by pirates during a mission to retrieve jewels that had been stolen from the kingdom. My brother was the captain. He died defending his ship and crew."

Emma shook her head. "I don't understand. If pirates killed your brother, then why did you become one?"

He lifted his head. "There was no justice to be had for my brother. I had spent my childhood taking orders. I realized I was doing the same thing in the royal navy. I wanted my freedom and, as you said, a pirate answers to no one."

Emma nodded. "So then you understand how I feel?"

"To a degree. But you have power and riches, love. We come from two different worlds. We are not the same. Yet we desire the same thing."

"It seems to me my father is still controlling you. He has you do his dirty work. The work he deems too unseemly for his own men."

Killian shook his head sharply and stood up abruptly. "Your father does not own me. I choose when to accept a job from him and I am paid handsomely for my efforts."

Emma opened her mouth to speak, but Smee, Killian's first mate, scrambled down the ladder and interrupted them.

"Captain, we've got trouble. Shifting course didn't do enough to avoid the storm. We're about to go right through it."

"I'll be right up," Killian said.

Smee exited, as Killian looked at Emma. "Stay down here where it's safe."

"I can help," she said.

Killian chuckled. "No, princess, you can't."

Emma's jaw tightened as she watched him climb the ladder.

…

The crew prepared the ship for the storm, as Killian spun the wheel to try to avoid the brunt of it.

"You're pretty good at that," he heard come from behind him.

He spun around and came face to face with Emma. "Bloody hell, I told you to stay below deck!"

"I don't need you protecting me. I told you, I can fend for myself. Let me help."

"You're impossible," he muttered, but his lips curled into a tiny smile he hid from her.

Emma grinned. "I know."

"Your father would have my head if he knew I was endangering you."

"My father isn't here and I won't tell if you won't. Are you going to be like him and try to control me? Or am I finally going to be allowed to make my own choices?"

Killian nodded. "Very well, love. If you wish to put yourself in harm's way, then be my guest."

Emma smiled triumphantly. "What can I do?"

"Assist Smee," he said.

Emma bobbed her head and walked over to the first mate. Just as she did, the clouds opened up and rain poured down on them. Lightening lit up the dark sky and thunder cracked around them. The ocean's waves became violent, tossing the ship from side to side.

Killian fought to control the ship and keep it upright. "Hold on!" he screamed.

Emma grabbed onto the rope of a sail as the ship jerked back and forth. In the near distance, Killian spotted a small island.

"I'm going to try to make it to the island!" he yelled, as the rain pelted him, causing his hair to stick to his forehead.

Killian managed to get the ship to go in the direction of the island, but the waves grew more violent. The ship was being tossed as if it were a tugboat. As they neared the land, Killian and his crew tried to drop anchor, but it was of no use. The waves carried the ship forward and it crashed into the island. The ship came to an abrupt stop, but the damage was done. Water had already begun to seep into the new cracks in the ship.

"Abandon ship!" Killian ordered.

Emma felt her heart beating wildly, as she met Killian's eyes. He held his hand out to her.

"Come on, princess. Let's get to safety."

Emma hesitantly placed her hand in his and they quickly exited the ship.

…

Emma held her hands over the fire Killian had started, trying to get warm and dry off. Killian sat beside her on a large piece of driftwood, trying to do the same. Nearby, the crew had started their own fire and began preparations for a makeshift shelter.

Killian turned to Emma. "Are you okay, love?"

She nodded. "I'm fine. Just cold."

"The fire should warm us both soon," he said.

He considered putting his arm around her, but thought better of it.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Killian looked over at her, amazed at how the light from the flames enhanced her beauty.

"Sorry for what, love?" he asked.

Emma gestured at the ship. "I'm sorry about your ship. This is all my fault."

"A ship can be replaced. People cannot. I am just relieved that everyone is safe and sound. And you didn't cause the storm, princess."

"You and your crew wouldn't have even been out here if I hadn't run away from my wedding. I should have handled it better. I was a coward."

Emma dropped her eyes. Killian slowly lifted his hand to her chin. He raised her head so her eyes met his.

"I don't see it that way at all, Emma. I think what you did was very brave."

"You do?" Emma asked softly.

"Aye. It takes a great deal of courage to defy your family and tradition."

Emma felt a smile pull at her lips. "Thank you."

They lapsed into silence for a few long moments, before Killian broke it.

"How can you be so certain?" he asked.

"Certain of what?"

"Certain that you wouldn't grow to love Prince Neal."

Emma's eyes scanned his face, getting lost in his blue eyes for a moment.

"I just know. I can feel it in my heart and soul. I want to fall in love, not be forced into a marriage in the hopes that love will one day blossom." She paused and then asked softly, "Have you ever been in love?"

Killian dropped his eyes. "Once...long ago."

"What happened?"

Killian licked at his lips slowly. "Her name was Milah. I met her one day when I was in port while serving in the royal navy. Things happened rather quickly between us. And then my brother died. Things changed after that. I changed. She couldn't accept who I became. I can't say I blame her."

Emma hesitantly reached out and placed her hand over his. "I'm sorry."

"As I said, it was long ago."

"What did it feel like?" she whispered.

Killian met her eyes. "What?"

"Falling in love," she breathed, her eyes focused intently on his.

She watched as Killian leaned in close to her, so close she could smell the rum on his breath and the salt of his skin. His eyes scanned her face appreciatively, as the shadows danced across her skin.

He spoke so softly she could barely hear him. "Your heart races. Your palms become sweaty. You feel like you can't breathe every time you're around them. They occupy your every thought."

Killian's eyes moved to her lips, as he leaned in even closer to her. Emma stared at his mouth, wondering what it would feel like to kiss him. She felt herself leaning towards him too, their lips mere inches away. Emma's eyes slipped closed, as Killian's hand came up to stroke her cheek. Their lips were just about to meet when they heard Smee's voice behind them.

"Shelter's ready, Captain," he said.

Emma and Killian quickly parted and Emma stood up abruptly, her eyes moving to the ground.

Killian sighed heavily and turned to glare at Smee. "Thank you," he replied sharply.

Smee sensed his captain's displeasure and that he had just interrupted something. He turned and walked away.

"Emma," Killian said, as he stood and stepped toward her.

"Goodnight, Killian," she said, as she quickly walked past him.

He watched her go without another word.

…

End of Part 1

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. I'd love to know what you thought. ~Steph