A/N: Hi! I totally thought of that cheeseburger song from Veggietales when I just was toying with this idea during school today, thank you for Thanksgiving break! Finally! Finals study week haha. But anyway, this will be a multichaptered fic. Thanks to all who read, and reviews are much appreciated!

Disclaimer: Again, Adam. Eddy. I hate/love you both, but please put me in your will as future owner of the character of Captain Hook. Thanks!

It was the middle of nowhere, or at least it would be if nowhere was surrounded by gas stations and too-tall buildings, an overcrowded In 'N Out the only place for three hungry, tired college students to stop.

Emma groaned inwardly, she normally craved the only fast food restaurant that used fresh beef, but after two weeks of being in a car with Ruby and Belle on a cross country trip, enough was enough. She had consumed enough grease to open a small gasoline factory, and the smell of anything related to oil was not going to be good news for her at the moment, considering her stomach was not agreeing with her.

"Come on, Emma...It'll be just like home!" Belle tugged lightly on her friend's arm, her charming, lilting voice with a hint of an English accent coercing Emma to step out of the van, despite the latter wobbling a bit.

"Yeah. If home is in the middle of Texas, overcrowded, and surrounded by fucking gas factories." Come to think of it, Davis isn't exactly the most spacious college on Earth...

"Well, I'm sorry if not everyone's whole lives have been spent dealing with superficial bitches, palm trees, and tan lines," Ruby said pointedly, referring to Emma's life in Los Angeles before the three had met in college. Emma sighed and shoved her friend lightly, earning a frown from the perky redhead. Ruby locked the car, which emitted a shrill beep, and the three girls began maneuvering their way through the crowded parking lot.

As hard as it was for her to admit it, Emma was truly grateful for the time away from Davis. The past two weeks had been the closest to what friends would call "bonding time" or at least they would, if Emma had ever had any before then. Although she wasn't exactly a people person, she could definitely not deny that the three of them-Ruby, her, and Belle, had become best friends, however unlikely it seemed. Luck hadn't usually favored her, but in placing Ruby and Belle as her roommates, it certainly did for once, making Emma smile at the thought of some interesting moments they had shared when they first met.

Shaking off her thoughts, and focusing on her friends, Emma realized Belle had been talking the whole time.

"So, Ruby, what have you decided to do for a career?"

Ruby, who was also preoccupied with other thoughts of her own, looked up startled.

Emma, being naturally suspicious and tough, or at least according to Belle she was, had decided on being a cop or detective long ago, in places she would rather not remember. She was leaning toward forensics and the like and would love to apprehend someone who deserved justice, many individuals in her life before having needed someone to do that. Belle, on the other hand, being somewhat of Emma's polar opposite, wanted to be an English major, on account of her love of books. Emma and her had actually bonded over that, because when she was being moved from family to family, Emma had loved reading, because it transported her into fairytale worlds so much different than the cold harsh reality of her own.

On the other hand, Ruby was indecisive and capricious, which Emma both loved and hated about her-after all, although she hated to admit it, Ruby's spontaneous ideas always ended up satisfactorily. Although this road trip might end in catastrophe.

Ruby laughed at Belle's question, "Me? Well..."
Her face suddenly darkened, a strange expression on the vivacious girl.

The three girls were stopped suddenly short of the restaurant doors by Ruby, who sighed and looked at them. Emma felt the mood become instantly serious. Ruby's energy usually bolstered them all, and it was a strange occurrence for her to be the one darkening the mood, when usually it was Emma being the "Negative Nancy."

In a softer voice, Ruby continued, "I was...thinking about being a cancer researcher. I-I've never told anyone, but the reason I'm always so perky is because I know I have to be strong. It's what's my parents told me, each of them, as I watched them lay on their deathbeds. Because of cancer." A lump in Ruby's throat interrupted her. Emma and Belle waited in compassionate silence for their friend to go on. "When Granny took me in, I vowed to try and find a way that others never had to go through losing a loved one due to cancer."

A beat passed, as Emma and Belle took it all in.

Belle was somewhat shocked but also not, considering that most people held a facade and were hiding something. She had felt a sense of purpose emanating off of Ruby lately and she couldn't help but wonder what it was toward. Although she had respected the perky girl before, her respect was increased tenfold by what Ruby had told them and how she had shouldered her burdens all by herself.

Emma had thought Ruby had gotten rid of most of her demons, but apparently her parents' death and all that came with it still haunted her, and Emma felt guilty for not giving Ruby more credit in managing to stay happy, and keep up appearances when there were cases when she felt the complete opposite.

"Wow." Belle broke the silence, admiration clearly reflected in her eyes.
"That's amazing, Ruby, and so noble. I'm sure they'd be proud, and I certainly am to know you and have you as one of my closest friends."

Belle smiled, which Ruby returned, and Emma was overtaken by the urge to hug her friend and practically pounced on her. The expression on Ruby's face was priceless, a mixture of shock and sadness and joy that made her friends' hearts break and burst to see it.

"I'm so glad you're here," Ruby whispered, and pushed her friends toward the restaurant.

When Emma and Belle turned around to check if she was okay, she had rebuilt her walls and her eyes were no longer red-rimmed but dry.

Once inside, Belle took in the aroma of the restaurant. It was filled with less people then they had originally predicted, and she loved the smell of freshly grilled meat wafting out from the kitchen.

Emma on the other hand, was half repulsed by the smell of french fries being fried in oil, while Ruby was just happy to eat.

"It smells like McDonald's except marginally better," Emma muttered, causing Belle to emit a rather unladylike snort.

Suddenly, after Ruby finished looking around, her eyes lit up as though she had an idea.

"What..." Emma suddenly put up her guard, since the other girl's ideas when it came to matchmaking were not exactly the best.

A certain blind date with a brunette didn't go so well, considering he became her first love, lied to her, ran away from her, and ripped away her virginity. It was a wonder she didn't get pregnant that one day.

"Okay, I know. But didn't I set Belle up with...what was his name? Robert Gold?" Ruby looked at Emma pleadingly.

Belle scoffed, "You didn't even remember his name! And yes...Robert..." Her eyes got dreamy. Robert had been, to be honest, somewhat of a big bully when she met him, but she saw that he was still kind and sweet in his heart and was able to bring it out in him, something Emma had been confused and awed at.

"Emma, this is the last time I'll ever set you up. I promise...pretty please? Maybe he'll even be your true love!"

"Like true love even exists," Emma snorted. She was a pretty firm supporter of the "anti-love" movement and didn't expect any sane male to have feelings of any sort for her other than jealousy that she was better than them, as petty as it sounded.

Then again...

"Fine," Emma groaned. "But I better be getting-"

"Of course, I know, your precious Starbucks, I'll pay for a year's worth of it. Now for the game...whoever serves us the burgers, you're going out with him. Even if he is that guy," Ruby said, pointing to a mousy guy with a large nose flipping the burgers.

Belle couldn't help but laugh at the grimace on Emma's face.

"Sure, whatever," she conceded. "No big deal." Or is it? a voice nagged inside Emma's head.

Ruby stepped up to order three double-doubles, complete with fries and chocolate milkshakes, as Emma and Belle conversed.

"Do you really think this is going to work out this time?" Emma snorted as if it was the most absurd thing ever, but Belle had a serious expression on her face.

"You know, you should give this a chance. Ruby has had a rough time of it, and the least you can do is indulge her in...this." Belle made a gesture and grinned. "After all, it did work for little old me."

Emma smiled. "Please, Belle. Guys love you because you're smart, beautiful, and you have a hidden talent for kicking ass."

Belle returned the smile. "That sounds like a certain blonde I know...Come on Emma, we all know you have guys falling over you, you just ignore them because you don't want to let anyone in."

Ugh. She loathed the statement, but she had to concede that she knew it was at least partly true.

"Number 144?" A slightly Irish voice yelled into the crowd.

Interesting. An Irish man in Texas. "Somewhat of a fish out of water, isn't he?" Emma mouthed to Ruby, who smiled and pushed her forward through the crowd.

Here comes...the damn moment of truth. Trying to stop her hands from shaking, she steeled herself and met the guy's eyes.

Fuck. He had charcoal hair, perfectly tousled, and scruff that could rival a mountain man's without overpowering his face. His eyes were the color of the ocean at dusk, and she felt herself falling into them...No.

Emma Swan did not admire the looks of guys. Especially not one who she was being forced to ask out.

She gave him her most gruesome smile and scribbled something on the receipt before she showed it to him. Call me, (530) 142-3544.

In return, he shot her a smirk and cocked his eyebrow, and handed her a bag, their hands brushing and Emma feeling a tingle that he had to have felt too, mentally chiding herself for it.

"I suppose you are requesting my services?" He smiled smugly.

Jerk.

"Meaning?"

"A special night of passion, love?" The man waggled his eyebrows suggestively, ignoring angry shouts from other customers waiting for their food.

Who the hell does he think he is?

Emma groaned inwardly. Ruby, I am going to murder you later. Just you watch.

"A date. Call that number, and my friend will work it out."

She turned to leave when the cashier grabbed her arm.

"I don't believe I got your name?"

Emma smirked. "Of course. Emma Swan, 'at your service.'" She mock bowed and turned on her heel, disappearing into the crowd.

Even through the throng, she could hear the infuriatingly charming Irish voice say, with an unavoidable smile clear in his words,
"The name's Killian-Killian Jones."