Thank you so much to my beta, Chrissa, for helping me, fixing the mistakes and give me a tittle. This story is also possible thanks to Saraswans, she was the one who gave me the idea in the first place and has been supporting me along the way. You two are the best. This story was originally thought as a one-shot, but it was growing and growing to become this monster. This is a kind of an experiment since there will be four different POVs, all properly indicated. I found it quite interesting to write Emma and Killian relationship from the point of view of other people. Let me know what do you think.
Emma
The streets of Boston passed before her eyes at full speed, wrapped in the lights and shadows typical of a big city. When the cab stopped at a red light for what seemed like the millionth time, Emma snorted, unable to hide her displeasure. The trip home had become torture. She couldn't wait to get to her apartment, lock herself in her bedroom and bury her head under the pillow. But it seemed like that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Damn Irishman! The person who had ruined her night had a proper name. Killian Jones.
At least Elsa, sitting next to her, had the wisdom to remain silent. Though Emma could see from the corner of her eye that her friend gave her inquiring glances that also contained a hint of concern.
Damn Killian. She repeated to herself as she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the back of the seat. The night had begun so well..., she thought in frustration. For the first time in what seemed like ages, her boss Liam Jones had taken pity on her and given her the whole weekend off.
"I just hired two new waiters, we'll figure it out, the bar can survive for a couple of days without you. Now, guys, go out and have fun." Liam had explained to both she and Killian, her co-worker and Liam's brother. He had used that condescending, patronizing tone of his, as if he were speaking to his own children. The reaction of the two of them when Liam acted that way was always the same, rolling their eyes and shaking their heads.
And that's how she had ended on Friday night, going out to have a drink with Elsa and her sister Anna with the promise of an evening full of good moments, music and drinks from bar to bar. And everything went well until he appeared. Killian Jones, in all his splendor, with his swagger moves, his devilish grin, his damn dark hair falling on his forehead and his bright blue eyes with the ability to pierce hearts. The problem? He wasn't alone.
In spite of the crowd around them, for a brief instant their gazes had connected and at that moment everything else had ceased to exist, at least until her eyes moved to his left. It was then when her heart sank. Killian's left arm wrapped the shoulders of a pretty and smiling brunette. Belle. His friend. HIS FRIEND. His best friend forever, the one he had grown up with was in the city. With him. Fuck!
Emma knew of Belle's existence, of course, but until then, she had never met her in person, she had always been a distant figure. However, today she was here with him, and her mind kept creating different scenarios. Why didn't Killian tell me anything before? Oh! Is that why Liam gave us the weekend off? So that Killian could hang out with Belle? Isn't she smiling at him too much? Why does he still have his arm around her shoulders?
From that moment everything had gone wrong. He had come to where they were and introduced them to his friend. All she managed to hear was how Belle was addressing her, grateful to finally meet her in person. But she barely paid attention. At that moment she did not mind being rude. She'd have time for remorse later. She put all her effort into trying to keep a straight face enough to hide her inner agitation. He, on the other hand, also acted strangely as he met them, glancing absently, swinging his weight from foot to foot, hand scratching the back of his ear.
The result, she left the room after a few minutes of awkward conversation, alluding that she was tired, Elsa following her heels without saying a word. Fuck, Fuck! In a twist of fate, he had ended up in the same bar as her, as if there wasn't an endless amount of bars in the damn city.
Although the trip was becoming endless, they finally arrived home a few minutes later. Emma didn't even bother to pay, she left the vehicle quickly, thinking that perhaps, if she hurried enough, she could reach her bedroom and lock herself there, thus preventing Elsa's interrogation.
Luck was not on her side tonight, of course. She lost precious minutes trying to find the keys inside her purse, as a series of curses escaped her mouth. "Where are my damn keys?" She muttered in frustration.
It was then that Emma remembered she had left her keys forgotten inside the apartment, something that didn't concern her at all at first since Elsa accompanied her. She groaned, smacking her forehead slightly against the door. How could she be so stupid?
"Were you looking for these?" Elsa arrived at that moment, her hand held up holding her keys and an inquisitive look on her face.
A sigh of resignation escaped her mouth as she stepped aside, allowing Elsa to finally open the door. The possibilities of locking herself in her bedroom without having to give any explanation completely vanished.
Still, she was reluctant to confess. If she had managed to keep the secret of her feelings for... an eternity, why should she give any explanation now? Maybe if she dropped herself on the couch and pretended to fall asleep…
In fact, that was the first thing she did as soon as she entered the apartment and after removing her heels. She collapsed on the sofa, covering her face with her right arm.
"Okay, enough, I thought the ride home would calm you down, but it seems like it's not like that, so tell me, what's going on, Emma?" Elsa's soft voice came to her ears but she did not respond at first, remaining in stubborn silence.
Elsa sighed. "Since the night has been ruined, I have a few hours to go, so I'm going to sit right here, right in front of you, and I'll wait for you to stop behaving like a child. I'm an older sister, remember. I know all the tricks. "
Emma moaned, sitting up to face her friend. "It's nothing, I was just tired."
"Tired ..." Elsa cocked her head slightly as she narrowed her eyes. "You know I'm not buying it, right? Come on, Emma, I know you always keep to yourself how you feel, but I also know this never ends well. So tell me, what's wrong?"
What's wrong? That's what I wanted to know. She thought. She wasn't able —or didn't want to— put a name to her feelings. He was one of her best friends, for the love of God. And since both of them worked in the same place, they spent most of the time together, either in the bar or in the apartment of one of them, or having dinner with Liam... But this situation had caught her off guard and it had served to realize that perhaps she wasn't going to keep Killian for herself as a friend forever. A moan escaped her mouth at the thought of that, though she sealed her lips hastily, unwilling to voice aloud how she felt.
Elsa looked at her expectantly for a few seconds, but seeing that she was silent, she sighed in frustration. However, she didn't give up, to her disgrace. "Okay, you're not going to talk, so I'll have to figure it out for myself." Her eyes narrowed and her brow wrinkled as she thought. "The night was going well, we were having fun, we had just got our drinks..."
Don't go that way…
"Then we met Killian, we were talking for a while..."
Don't
Her eyes widened when she finally realized. "Oh my god! This was all about Killian! But why? Did he say something that bothered you or..."
No, no, go back, go back.
"Oh no, this is because he wasn't alone! This is because of Belle!"
Emma moaned in response, putting her hands on her face.
"Emma ..." This time her voice softened. "You told me Killian was just a friend, a very close friend, okay, but nothing more. You feel something more for him, don't you?" Elsa seemed to take her silence as an affirmation because she continued on that path. "Since when?"
Since when? Since ever? Since she entered The Kraken for the first time to do a job interview three years ago. Since the first thing she saw when she entered the bar was the hottest man she had ever known playing the guitar and singing. Since he stopped what he was doing just when he noticed her and gave her a piercing stare followed by an innuendo. Since she gave him a glare receiving in response a flash of white teeth and lips curled into a big grin... Oh God ... "For a while." She just mumbled.
"For a while." Elsa echoed her words. "You're telling me you've had feelings for Killian for some time, and you're not going to do anything about it."
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
"Oh, Emma, you know that at some point you'll have to open your heart again, right? We're talking about Killian, not all men are like Neal or Walsh." Elsa approached and sat down beside her, giving her a warm look and a smile of encouragement.
"I know. That's why I don't want to risk losing what I have with Killian. I would rather keep him as a friend than lose him forever."
"But this is affecting you, Emma. Just look at your reaction from tonight. By the way, how could you be jealous of Belle? Besides, he's surrounded by girls all the time, flirting and flattering them. You witness that every day."
"It's not the same." Emma sighed. How could she explain how she felt? "At the end of the day, that's just a role. He doesn't hook up any of those girls. We just close the bar and go home. But today ... " She paused, trying to gather her thoughts. "It's not just for his friend." Although she couldn't deny that for a moment Belle had been a threat, not on a sentimental level, but on friendship. She had been his friend forever. Once again, the feeling of not being enough had made an appearance. "Before he approached us, he looked happy and carefree. He not only had Belle by his side, but he could also have been able to get any of the girls from the bar."
"Maybe he would have chosen you..."
"No." She shook her head firmly. "It's... I didn't expect to see him there, even less to see him accompanied by a woman, but everything is going to return to normal. It's the best thing for us." She tried to convince herself before Elsa's hopeful gaze. She wasn't going to risk their friendship... Damn it! She was so fucked up.
Killian
The night was just weird. In fact, that strange sensation had accompanied him all day. Since his brother had given them the whole weekend off, Killian had found himself with nothing to do, only spending time lying on the couch with Netflix as his only companion. The fact that Emma had decided to spend a girls' night with her friends had not helped his boredom.
But in a matter of minutes, everything had taken an unexpected turn. His childhood friend, Belle, had called for a brief visit by surprise. She would be in the city for less than a day, but had the afternoon off, so Killian quickly formulated an improvised plan.
And that's how he'd ended up in the same bloody bar Emma had come to. Seriously, what were the odds? Of course, he blamed himself for having flatly refused to take Belle to The Kraken. — It's my free night, love, the last thing I want is to spend the evening in the same place as always. I know you want to see Liam, but he will be with you at the airport tomorrow.—
"Killian? Are you sure you're okay?"
Belle's voice, who was walking beside him, took him out of his reverie. He cleared his throat before answering. "Sure, love, just tired." He felt Belle's gaze scrutinizing, but she just nodded without adding anything else.
They continued walking in silence, his hands in the pockets of his jeans and Belle's arm hanging from the hollow formed by his arm. It was a warm night, despite being in early October, so they had decided to walk back to the hotel where Belle was staying.
For a few minutes, he tried to focus on anything, the weather, Belle, the sounds of the street, but all his thoughts invariably had a name that night. Emma Swan. So, despite the momentary interruption, his mind bent to remind him again and again of the situation he had lived merely an hour earlier.
The choice of the bar had been totally random. It turned out to be the closest to the hotel where Belle was staying. But luck wasn't on his side that night, or maybe it was, because within minutes of entering the bloody bar, a vision appeared before his eyes, a vision that was becoming his downfall. Emma Swan.
The person he had been in love with for three years was right in front of his eyes. At least he had been lucky in something since he could notice Emma before she realized his presence. It was in this way that he was able to put into practice one of his favorite activities, that was, watching Emma while she was not looking.
No, he was not a stalker, but he enjoyed those little moments, such as seeing Emma with a wrinkle of concentration as she edited photographs, sitting in her favorite corner of the bar. Or watching how she got into the role of a tough lass when one of the clients tried to go too far with her. He also enjoyed seeing how she hummed his songs when she believed he was not looking. Or watching as she slept, unable to stay awake on one of their Netflix nights. Those little moments made her more real, but, paradoxically, they also made him see that was the most he could get from Emma. She was unreachable.
And what he saw at that moment took his breath away. She was impressive that night. Not only did she look sexier than ever, but her eyes glowed in a special way, and her carefree smile did nothing to placate his agitation. When their gazes finally met through the crowd, it was as if everything else had ceased to exist. At least for a few seconds. Until he approached her and the spell broke.
She was acting rather strangely. Why did she act like that? Avoiding his glance, answering with monosyllables, becoming even a little rude to Belle. Was it for him? They had talked in the morning and everything was normal. What was it then? An unusual restlessness in him when it came to Emma began to set in his stomach, causing him to behave strangely too, not knowing very well how to act.
After the first few minutes of awkward conversation, an idea began to settle in his head. And that was the possibility that maybe Emma felt uncomfortable at his presence because she was looking for something different that night. Maybe a one-night stand... The mere idea made him feel sick to his stomach... When was the last time she...? No, he didn't even want to remember it.
For his luck or misfortune, Emma excused herself after only a few minutes, alluding to the fact that she was tired and saying goodbye with just a nod. Elsa, her friend, followed her, not before giving both him and her sister an apologetic look. What the hell had just happened?
"Killian?"
Belle's voice brought him back to reality again, noticing then that they had just reached the hotel entrance. Killian scratched behind his ear, casting an apologetic glance. "My apologies, love, I was distracted."
"Oh, I can see that." Belle crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Now are you going to tell me what's happening?"
Killian swallowed, averting his gaze and directing it toward his feet. His feelings for Emma were something only he knew. And he had every intention of keeping it hidden. That made things easier. "I don't know what you're talking about, love." He mumbled, keeping his gaze on his feet.
"Oh, please." Belle rolled her eyes. "You've been acting strange from the very moment we met Emma. It was a rare moment there at the bar, not just for you, but for hers as well."
"Ah, about that, I apologize on her part. Emma ..." Why was it suddenly difficult for him to even pronounce her name? "She doesn't act that way normally."
"You don't need to apologize." Belle stared at him for a few seconds before continuing. "She's not just a friend anymore, is she?"
"I don't know what are you talking about. Emma is my friend, that's all." He was not lying actually. They were just friends, though all the fibers of his being were cluttering uselessly for something else.
Belle held his gaze for a few seconds longer, as if she were trying to pierce his armor. Finally, she sighed, giving up. "Whatever you say, but you should talk to her at some point. There was a weird tension there. Whatever it is, you should fix it." She raised her index finger in warning.
"It's Liam's fault, he makes us work so hard that when we find ourselves with so much unexpected free time we don't know how to act, we're not used to it." Killian tried to lighten the mood with an ingenious comment that would divert attention.
"Oh, of course, blame your brother. He's such a slaver." She rolled her eyes again as she let out a snort. But then her gaze softened, her hand caressing his arm gently. "You know it's time to move on, right?"
A lump in his throat kept him from speaking for a few seconds. He nodded, the corners of his lips pulled up in a small smile. If she knew that he had already decided to go on for some time ... But the fear of losing Emma had him paralyzed. He was unable to consider taking a step further. At least not until Emma was ready. And as it was the situation, that didn't seem to be happening at any time soon. But he preferred to have what they shared now than to have absolutely nothing.
"Talk to her, or to your brother." She asked pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Have a safe flight, Belle, we'll talk soon."
After saying goodbye to his friend with the promise of seeing her soon, Killian was reluctant to go home. The image of Emma in that tight dress and that dazzling smile didn't stop tormenting him, and the fact that her smile turned into almost a grimace when she noticed him didn't allow him to think of anything else. The restlessness and confusion that he felt, far from appeasing him, had settled in his stomach. He had to do something to distract his mind. And that's how he ended up in The Kraken, with all the intention that music and rum would cloud his senses enough to get Emma out of his system, at least for a while.
Liam noticed him as he collapsed on one of the bar stools. Fortunately, he was serving some other clients, so Killian was spare the inquisitive glances of his brother. He ordered a shot of rum and while he waited for it to be served, he pulled the phone out of his pocket. He wondered if it would be a good idea to contact Emma, his fingers sliding across the screen without ever pressing Emma's name. After a moment of hesitation, he finally decided. He couldn't leave things like this.
Did I do something tonight to bother you? - KJ
Emma answered instantly, to his pleasant surprise.
Hey! No more than usual. ;p Why do you ask? - ES
A sigh of relief escaped his mouth, not just by her words but by the inclusion of that emoji. It was amazing how two simple characters could conceal so much meaning.
You acted strange tonight - KJ
No more than you... I was just tired - ES
Aye, me too - KJ
By the way, I'd like to apologize to Belle. I acted like an asshole to her. - ES
Nah, it's okay. Are you sure you're fine? - KJ
Promise. And you? - ES
I'm fine too. Ah! You looked stunning tonight, love. - KJ
You were not that bad :) - ES
Any plans for tomorrow? - KJ
Pizza and Netflix? - ES
My apartment or yours? - KJ
Yours. Since Liam will be working, we'll be able to choose freely. - ES
Smart lass. Night Swan. - KJ
Night Killian - ES
"Your rum."
Killian looked up from the screen to find Liam, arms folded across his chest and a scrutinizing look on his face. "I seem to remember that I gave you the night off."
He grabbed the glass his brother had left on the counter and raised his hand to him as if to toast. He took a sip of the drink before answering. "I'm here as a customer, brother."
At that moment Liam reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out his phone. Killian watched as his brother's brow furrowed as he stared at the screen. He also detected Liam's eyes briefly straying to look slyly at him. A strange sensation began to grip him as he stirred uncomfortably in his seat. This couldn't be good.
Liam carefully placed the phone on the counter and folded his arms over his chest again. "So... what's wrong with Emma?"
"What the hell?" Little traitor... he thought, clenching his jaw as a growing anger began to appear. Killian glanced at his brother's phone in the corner of his eye, and in a swift, fluid movement that left no chance of reaction from Liam, he seized the device.
Liam opened his eyes in surprise at his brother's maneuver, but then he reacted grunting as he tried to reach for the phone. "Give me my bloody phone, Killian!"
"Ah, ah!" Killian moved away from the bar, enough so that his brother couldn't reach him and without further delay read the contents of the last message received.
Hey, Liam! We missed you this evening. I met Emma, at last. But I think something happened between her and Killian. Ask him, it seems that our "bro" has something to tell us. See you tomorrow. - Belle
"Bloody Hell" The words slipped out of his mouth without him doing anything to stop it. "She's such a traitorous lass." He mumbled, the urge to throw the phone against the nearest wall almost uncontrollable.
Bloody hell. He repeated, this time to himself. He began to feel like a fish out of the water, in need of air. He had so long hidden his feelings in front of his brother that he found it extremely difficult to expose them now. Especially because he was fully aware that his brother would be excited at first but then he'd feel as if someone threw him a jug of cold water when he discovered that, whatever he felt about Emma Swan, nothing was going to change their relationship.
Killian returned to his seat, placing Liam's phone on the counter again. He gestured to the waiter on the other side of the bar to get another drink, the idea of confessing with more alcohol running through his system seemed more appropriate under the circumstances.
"You know it's rude to read private messages from someone else." Liam turned to him in that calm, characteristic tone of his, but hiding a condescending hue that annoyed Killian enormously.
"Not if that damn message speaks about oneself." He mumbled. Killian didn't mind at that moment behaving like a rebellious teenager in front of his father.
"Have you argued with Emma? What is it this time? Netflix, the choice of dinner?"
"How many times do I have to tell you? Stop treating us like children. I'm not your son and Emma is obviously not your daughter."
"Then act like an adult and tell me what's going on."
"It's nothing. We meet Emma in a bar. I don't know what Belle was talking about."
"Okay." Liam grabbed his phone and began to slide his fingers across the screen.
A sensation of panic settled in his stomach. "What are you doing?"
"Calling Emma, of course."
"Do not even think of it, brother." He hissed, casting a murderous glare at Liam as he regretted deep inside coming here. What on earth was I thinking?
Liam seemed to think better of it because, after staring at him for a few seconds, he sighed and put the phone back on the counter. He then changed his attitude, softening his features a little as he addressed him. "Listen, something is happening, you know I care a lot about Emma, I just need you to tell me if everything's okay with her, brother."
Seeing his brother's face full of sincere concern stirred something inside him so, without even stopping to think what he was doing, he confessed, kind of.
"It's nothing, really. We met her unexpectedly. For some reason, she started acting in an offhand way when she saw us and after a few minutes, she just left. But I've texted her a few minutes ago and everything was fine." After a pause, he continued almost without being aware of what he was about to say. "I thought at first that my presence might have bothered her, in case I might be interfering in some way, preventing some kind of guy from approaching her, but it seems she was just tired."
Liam's features changed subtly, as if a flash of realization crossed his face. His eyes widened slightly as one eyebrow rose slightly. "And that would have been a problem for you?"
Killian closed his eyes as he sighed. After two deep breaths, he set out to confess for the first time in three years. "Aye, It would."
Liam's eyes widened even more as a smile began to appear on his face, a smile in which his brother was depositing his relief and his hopes. Something that, unfortunately, he would have to cut.
"Before you start to get your hopes up. Yes, I have feelings for Emma. No, I do not think she feels the same, or at least I don't think she's ready yet to open her heart. So nothing is going to change between us. Emma is my friend and so it will remain until she decides otherwise."
"Does Emma know?"
"About my feelings? Of course not."
After the initial impact of the confession, Liam seemed to react. He shook his head and brushed his eyes with one hand. "How could I know nothing? I mean, I know you care about her, and that you two are very good friends, but how did you manage to hide your feelings from me? I spend most of the damn time with you two!"
Killian ignored him, suddenly exhausted after the events of the day. But before he went home, he had to make sure of something. "Promise me you won't tell Emma anything."
"Killian..."
"No, just promise me. Let me do this my way."
With a sigh, Liam agreed. "Okay, but promise me something in return, promise me you'll be careful, okay? You finally have a chance to be happy, brother, do not miss it, please."
Killian nodded, though he could not really assure Liam. Because the reality was that maybe he would end up with an even more broken heart.
His initial idea when he arrived at the bar was to wait for his brother until the closing time came and then return home together. But after what happened, he changed his mind. His only desire was to lock himself in his bedroom, bury his head under the pillow, and try to sleep with the vain idea that Emma's image wouldn't appear in his dreams to torment him. Bloody hell... After finishing his drink, he murmured "I'll see you at home" to his brother while he waved and left the premises.
The trip back home was the first time he was alone with his thoughts since he saw Emma a few hours earlier. Far from vanishing, Emma's vision became even more powerful, filling all his thoughts. His mind was determined to remind him the image of Emma in that damn dress that molded all her curves and that neckline that suggested what was forbidden to him. His body started to react, liquid heat heading straight to south. By the time he got home he felt his pants tight, a series of curses escaping from his mouth. He was helpless.
Killian reached his bedroom and undressed without bothering to put on his pajamas. He collapsed in bed, the need for release was almost painful so he had no choice but to take care of himself. As the strokes increased in pressure and speed, Emma's image became more real in his mind. The image of her pink lips silently begging to be kissed, her defiant glance and her perfect body. His release came at last as he pronounced her name between panting, imagining that it was Emma who had her hand around his length. Bloody hell... He was so fucked up.
Two months later
Liam
It was a quiet afternoon, the usual for a day in early December. The calm before the storm that meant the beginning of the holiday season. Liam was in his usual corner behind the bar, doing the inventory. His brother was standing on the platform they used as a stage, guitar in hand, while he rehearsed the songs he would play two nights later. Emma, in turn, sat on her favorite stool, her laptop on the counter, staring at the screen and editing the photos taken over the previous weekend. Liam had offered his office several times, claiming that she would be more comfortable there, with a desk at her disposal and a more suitable chair. But Emma had always refused, she preferred to be at the center of the activity.
The scene he had in front of his eyes was something he was accustomed to, something that was part of his routine. And he couldn't be more grateful for it. Both Killian and Emma work hard at the bar, fully involved in the business, providing ideas, serving every night, cleaning up the mess after the most chaotic nights. But thanks to The Kraken they could also carry out their passions, at least in some way.
Killian lived for Saturday nights when he took the stage and became the musician he had always dreamed of.
And Emma... Emma. She had become their savior angel almost from the very moment she walked through that door three years ago. The corners of his lips lifted in a smile as the memory of that day came to his mind.
He had been about to give up on the bar. Although Liam had put all his effort and all his savings into the project, the income was insufficient, the clients scarce. It was then that his brother suggested that he could hire someone to help them advertise the place and get more customers. And that's how Emma came into their lives.
She had come like a whirlwind, turning their lives upside down. She was a tough woman, stubborn and determined to achieve her goals. And also very creative. It was Emma's idea to organize the 'Saturdays in Concert.' After hearing Killian singing the same day she had been hired, she had decided that they couldn't miss his physical appearance and talent.
That was the first of a myriad of ideas that were coming. It was she who created the website of the local, who organized theme parties, who spent entire nights camera-in-hand taking photographs of the crowd that she later uploaded to the website as a claim. And not only that, she was the first to stand behind the bar ready to serve beers and to engage in conversations with the male crowd. That's how Emma Swan became The Savior of The Kraken.
And here she was, one more day, doing her magic with the photographs she had taken. This time, however, Liam noticed something else. She was humming the same song Killian was playing.
Since Killian had made that half-confession about his feelings for Emma, he had been much more perceptive, focusing on things he hadn't noticed before.
How could he have been so blind? Killian wore his friend's mask to perfection, but his attraction to her was undeniable. Now Liam was fully aware of his stolen looks when he thought she was not looking, the accidental contact of their bodies, the shy smile on his lips every time Emma arrived. In fact, he could swear that Emma acted exactly the same, but of course, he didn't have confirmation of her feelings. Maybe…
"Hey, guys! We got new comments on the web, come on! Let's have some fun." Emma's excited voice brought him back to the present. She was making a gesture with her hand for them to approach. This had become another of their routines. Each time they got new comments, they read them together. Emma called it constructive criticism. The Jones brothers, however, found the perfect excuse to make fun of themselves and have a laugh.
They, of course, hurried to approach her. Killian arrived at her side first, casually placing his hand on her shoulder. Emma raised her head to look into his eyes as she gave him a warm smile. Liam didn't miss a single detail of all these subtle movements, raising an eyebrow in appreciation. He stood on Emma's other side and the three of them stared at the screen.
"Oh my God, Liam, you got a fan! Look, PrincessJones. She's written you three messages."
I love The Kraken and one of the reasons is for its owner. He is so hot.
The best of The Kraken? The owner, his brother the musician and Emma, the public relations officer. They are all very nice, but Liam, the owner, is even nicer.
Although Killian, the musician, is hot, I find his brother, Liam, much more interesting, perhaps because of his maturity.
Liam couldn't stop a smirk from appearing on his face. His chest swelled with pride as he commented, "Well, it was about bloody time. You two always get all the good reviews."
"I guess you've noticed that your admirer just addressed you as an old man, right?" His brother joked making that characteristic gesture of his, his two eyebrows raised comically and a mocking smile.
"Killian!" Emma rebuked him, tapping his chest with the back of her hand on.
"Ouch, that hurt." Killian winced as he moved his hands to where Emma had hit him.
"Oh god, you're so melodramatic." Emma, of course, rolled her eyes, though her voice came between giggles, her smile making small wrinkles appear in the corners of her eyes.
The two of them continued their argument between jokes and casual contacts of their hands, completely ignoring his presence, although that obviously didn't matter to him in the least. After a few more seconds watching the scene, Liam cleared his throat.
"Hi? I'm still here, remember?"
Killian and Emma turned their heads, two pairs of eyes staring at him for a few seconds, then they stared back at each other and burst out laughing. He shook his head as he rolled his eyes at the childlike behavior of the other two, but the corners of his lips pulled up into a wide grin.
"I'm glad to see someone appreciating my mature behavior. Someone has to behave like an adult here."
"Really?" Emma looked back at the screen and began to check the contents of one of the photo folders. Within seconds, a few photos from last Saturday appeared before his eyes. The bloody photos had captured the moment when he and his brother exhibited a behavior that was far from that of responsible adults. "You mean this mature behavior?"
"Bloody hell." Liam grumbled, covering his eyes with one hand. He felt his cheeks begin to burn, completely ashamed by what had happened. "When the hell did you take those photos? I had completely forgotten that moment." Small hints of the scene came to his mind. The night had been a success and after the closing, they decided to celebrate taking a few shots. The result? The two brothers ended up on the counter singing old Irish songs. "Do not even think about uploading those photos to the web."
"I thought about it, but considering that my job is to attract new clients and not scare them, I decided to upload this photo instead, and it seems that I got it right since it has gotten a lot of comments. You two are a success among the ladies." Emma opened a picture of the two of them, the Jones brothers. They stared at the camera, his right arm around his brother's shoulders, wide smiles, and bright eyes.
"Great shot, Swan." Killian couldn't help a bit of pride in his voice.
After a few more jokes and compliments, the two brothers ended up leaving Emma's side, each heading to their proper spot. They continued to do their tasks for a few more minutes. The silence was only broken by the strumming of the guitar and Killian's melodious voice.
As he listened to the lyrics of the song, an idea began to bubble in his head. His eyes darted back to where Emma was. Once the photo editing task was resumed, she appeared completely focused on it, but in turn, she also started humming again, accompanying in half a silence to Killian's voice.
"Hey, guys, I've been thinking." The words rushed out, without him having time to evaluate the idea correctly. His brother was going to kill him, but he couldn't help it, it was such a good opportunity that he couldn't waste it.
Liam had managed to gain the attention of both Emma and Killian, they both turned their gaze upon him with gestures of curiosity. First goal achieved.
There it goes... "I thought we could try something new." When he was sure he was still holding their attention, he threw the bomb. "You two could do a duet next Saturday."
"A duet?" Emma's eyes narrowed as her head tilted slightly. "You mean to sing, together?"
"That's exactly what I mean."
"Sing on stage ... next Saturday ..." She gestured to the stage where Killian was standing. His brother remained silent, an indecipherable expression on his face.
"Yes, think of..." He couldn't continue since Emma cut him off at that moment. It seemed that she had finally assimilated the information.
"Are you out of your mind?" Her voice rose in disbelief. She shook her head her lips puckered. "I haven't been on stage in my entire life, and even less to sing. I would die of embarrassment." She said in a mortified tone.
Since Killian remained silent, as a mere witness to the scene, Liam decided to focus on Emma. He approached her, trying to shed as much enthusiasm as possible in his words. Luckily, he knew how to make Emma react.
"Ignore that for a moment, let's focus on business. Killian would do his performance, but we could announce that there would be a surprise in the end, and that's when you'd make an appearance." Liam held his breath, but kept the necessary emotion in his tone of voice to make the idea even more appealing."Do you think something like that could work?"
He didn't fail to notice that Emma's eyes slid subtly to where Killian was. She seemed to appreciate the idea for a few seconds, then shrugged. "Yes, it could be a good advertising slogan. A surprise performance always generates expectation, but we can't forget that I don't know how to sing."
"That's not quite true, love. You know how to sing, and you do it well. You also know all the songs in Killian's were humming the song right now as he rehearsed."
"It's not the same… I'd be stuck in the middle of the stage, my voice would be trapped in my throat, or worse, I would be off pitch... Oh God, this is not a good idea... This is going to be a disaster..." She rubbed her hands together nervously. As she exposed everything that could go wrong, her features were showing more and more concern, her brow wrinkled, her look in a tinge of panic. This was not going well, maybe Liam had gone too far. He almost felt sorry for the discomfort that he was causing Emma. All this was just a stupid idea…
"Don't underestimate yourself, love." Both Emma and Liam turned to hear Killian's voice. Liam was pleasantly surprised, since he feared that Killian's silence didn't bode well. His brother was staring at them, the guitar at his side, his arms folded across his chest. "You have a beautiful voice and we have time to rehearse, everything will be fine." He continued in a calm voice, though his face was more serious than usual.
Liam noticed Emma's cheeks flushed slightly and her features relaxed a little. "How are you so sure everything will be all right?"
"Because I've yet to see you fail."
Emma's jaw dropped a little, and her cheeks tinged with an even more intense red. Killian focused his gaze on her, completely ignoring his brother. Liam felt kind of like an intruder on the scene, but he couldn't be happier about what was happening. "Still, don't feel obligated to do it, Swan. Only if you feel comfortable enough for it. It's your decision, love."
Liam glanced sideways at his brother. He suspected that Killian would be angry with him for the possible hidden meaning of this idea. He'd have time to talk to him later when they got home. Killian kept his features impassive, but he could detect a special gleam in his gaze, perhaps hope that Emma would join him on stage and be able to spend time with her with the excuse of the song. At the end of the day Killian would end up thanking him, he thought, laughing to himself.
"Why don't you give it a try?" Liam offered tentatively, as it seemed that Emma still remained reluctant. "No pressure, you can join Killian now and see how it works." He reached for Emma's hand to pull her toward the stage.
"What? Now?" Emma's eyes widened with a mixture of fear and embarrassment, but also with a hint of determination.
"We are alone, let's go!" Liam gestured toward the stage with his head as he tugged Emma a little more.
After a deep sigh, Emma murmured, "the things I do for The Kraken..." She shook her head before speaking again. "Okay, let's do it. Think about how to repay me, okay?" Emma held her index finger up and raised her eyebrows in warning.
Second goal achieved: Emma was in.
"Of course, you just have to ask." Liam's smile widened as he raised both hands in a calming gesture. "Now go up there, let's see how good of a team you two make."
Emma rolled her eyes as she walked past him toward the stage. Killian offered his hand to help her up and Emma took it while offering him a small smile. Once the two of them were on stage, they both looked at him expectantly.
"Since this was your brilliant idea, let us know, according to you, which song we should sing, because surely you already have an idea, don't you?" His brother's face remained impassive. Liam didn't overlook the deliberate emphasis on the brilliant word, full of barely concealed sarcasm.
Of course, Liam had thought of a song. In fact, it was Emma herself who gave him the idea as she hummed to the beat of Killian's voice. His brother was going to kill him...
"Since it's just a rehearsal, why don't you keep going with the song you were singing?" He tried to infuse his words with the most innocent tone possible. "Emma was humming it, in fact, it was she who inspired me with this idea."
"Are you kidding me? Do you want us to sing Because The Night?" Killian shot him a murderous look as he hissed his words, the mask of impassiveness finally gone. Emma looked mortified, her cheeks flushed, her gaze fixed on her feet.
"You know the version of Patti Smith, right? She sang once at a concert with U2 and Bruce, the original creator... "
"I know, I know." His brother cut him off. "I'm the musician here, remember?" He grunted as he held up the guitar.
"Calm down, brother, I was just trying to help."
To his surprise, Emma took his side."Liam has a point here, we can split the song the same way they did at the concert."
Killian cocked his head and narrowed his eyes, looking at her. "Seriously?"
Emma shrugged. "Since you have convinced me, now I want to go all out for it." She continued in a slightly sharper tone. "And to make it clear, I have no intention of taking your lead away. It's just a one-time thing."
Liam held his breath. I don't like the way this is going, he thought. The damn idea was supposed to aim to make them connect even more. And it seemed like what was happening was just the opposite. He was about to reply, but his brother came forward.
Killian sighed. Even from the distance, Liam could watch as his brother clenched his jaw before answering, looking for Emma's gaze. "Hey, you can sing with me whenever you want, love. It's my brother that I'm upset with."
Emma looked at Killian and her brother at intervals. "But why? It's not a bad idea, and for once it's not me that comes up with a crazy plan. Besides, you were singing the damn song yourself a few moments ago."
"That's because Killian plays Patti's version, and with a duet, he would have to do the part of Bruce, and he's not a big fan of The Boss." Liam came to help his brother before this got out of hand.
Emma raised an eyebrow and looked at them both in disbelief. "Really?"
Liam nodded exaggeratedly, his lips pressed together in a gesture of reassurance. He glanced sideways at his brother, hoping he would follow him.
Killian seemed to catch the hint because he lifted a shoulder and gave her a puppy eyes look. "Guilty?"
Liam couldn't help but roll his eyes. It was so obvious that his brother had fallen hard for Emma. How could she not realize it?
"Really?" She repeated. "You know Bruce is the original writer, right?" Now it was her turn to roll her eyes as she dropped her arms in surrender. "Okay, I'll do The Boss' part if that's the damn problem. Can we start singing before I regret it?"
After a few seconds of silence, the two brothers looked at each other and burst out laughing. Emma widened her eyes and opened her mouth, clearly confused by what was happening, her gaze traveling from one to the other. "You two are idiots. This is bizarre." Finally, she shook her head and joined them in laughter.
When the laughter subsided, Liam returned for a moment to his place behind the bar while Killian and Emma watched the concert video on Emma's phone. From time to time they made some comments, deciding the best way to distribute the song. Liam noticed how, once relieved the tension, his brother's behavior was the same as always. He casually placed his right arm on Emma's shoulders. Emma seemed to take it naturally because she showed no signs of discomfort, rather the opposite.
Liam couldn't help shaking his head. If only they realized the image they offered together... He had the feeling that they were wasting a precious time maintaining their relationship in the security of friendship.
He also understood his brother, though. He didn't know all the details, but Liam knew that Emma had been heartbroken in the past, so she had put a wall around her to protect her heart. Even they had a hard time breaking that barrier at first. But now that Emma had let them in, it was normal that Killian didn't want to risk losing her. Liam took two deep breaths, wondering why everything had to be so difficult.
The first strumming of the guitar caught him off guard, lost in thought. He looked up, Killian and Emma were about to start and he didn't want to miss it for the world. Before he positioned himself in front of the stage, Liam took the camera that Emma had left on the bar. This had to be immortalized in some way.
The first attempt was unsuccessful. Emma began with a hesitant voice, a little out of tune with the first notes. Far from being discouraged, however, Emma started again. Liam clapped in encouragement as Killian nodded at her and gave her supportive looks. The second time everything was much better. Her voice settled, and as she was gaining confidence, the song began to flow.
It was on the third attempt when the magic appeared. "Very good guys!" Liam shouted at them. This, just what was in front of his eyes was what he was waiting for when the idea popped into his head. Their voices blended perfectly, the chemistry between them was evident.
Once the initial shyness was set aside, they were giving it all up on stage. Liam took a few photos, focusing on the small gestures that betrayed his brother. Killian couldn't look away from her. He seemed clearly impressed by Emma's talent. She instead gave him looks and smiles that seemed to hide much more behind an apparent shyness. Liam certainly didn't want to get excited and imagine things, but a small voice in his mind kept repeating to him that perhaps Emma was hiding feelings towards his brother beyond a deep friendship.
As the song sounded, Liam noticed the meaning of the lyrics. He understood the initial reluctance of his brother, since, certainly, its meaning didn't help to mask feelings.
Come on now try and understand
The way I feel under your command
Take my hand as the sun descends
They can't touch you now,
Can't touch you now, can't touch you now
Because the night belongs to lovers.
Both blushed and looked away in the most suggestive parts, the eyes of one looking for the other few seconds later. Liam was attending a performance of teenage behavior with a first crush. With the difference that the two teens were actually thirty years old. He smiled to himself as he continued to take pictures.
The rehearsals ended after having practiced the song a couple more times, gaining in security and harmony. Both of them stepped off the stage together with huge smiles and bright eyes. Killian curled his arm around her shoulders as Emma slipped her arm around his waist.
"Well, it wasn't that bad, was it?" Liam flattered them, unable to suppress a grin of satisfaction. "Now you just have to repeat the same thing next Saturday and it will be an assured success."
"It seems we make quite the team, love." Killian addressed Emma with undisguised pride, getting a small smile on her part. "Whoa, I'm thirsty, do you want something to drink, Swan?"
"A beer is fine with me, thank you." Emma sat in her usual stool, while the two brothers went behind the bar to pour the drinks.
When Liam made sure that they were far enough from Emma and she couldn't hear them, he grabbed a towel from the counter and threw it at his brother.
Killian caught it and looked at him strangely. "What are you doing?"
"It's for you to clean yourself, you're still drooling." He pressed his lips together, stifling a smirk.
Killian's smile disappeared immediately from his face. "Shut up!" his eyes darted to where Emma was. "You and I have to talk later. When we get back home." He hissed pointing his index finger threateningly.
Liam raised his arms in peace, but his brother scowled away, grabbed two beers, and walked over to Emma, offering her one of the bottles. His features softened the instant he was in front of her.
Liam rolled his eyes as he shook his head. He could bear the scolding of his brother since he was sure that everything would be worth it in the end.
Third Goal Achieved: They were to sing together and Liam hoped Saturday night would be a success in every respect.
Elsa
Elsa still couldn't believe this was about to happen. When Emma told her she was going to sing with Killian on Saturday night, Elsa thought at first that her friend was joking. When she also learned the song they'd sing she had been about to laugh, because seriously? What was Emma thinking?
"Who will sing 'the way I feel under your command'?" She had asked her as she hummed the song, getting a murderous look from her friend and a firm refusal to talk about it. It wasn't her fault that the first thing had come to mind was the meaning of the lyrics, especially considering the feelings Emma tried to hide. "It's just for business." It's all she got from her.
Two months had passed since her confession, and Elsa, sadly, saw no advance from Emma. At least the knowledge of her feelings towards Killian had allowed her to observe more closely, proving that the connection between them was brutal. How could all this have gone unnoticed before? To their credit, they disguised all those affectionate gestures behind the mask of friendship. But now that she knew that, at least on Emma's part, there was much more, everything seemed so much more obvious.
So here she was, sitting on a stool at the bar of The Kraken, not willing to miss the great performance under any circumstances. She glanced around. The bar had its usual appearance, its decoration represented the marine world, simulating the deck of a ship, various objects related to the sea hanging from its wooden walls. Even though the room was of considerable size, she always found it cozy, and that was to Liam's merit, who, as Emma had told her, had taken care of every detail of the decor. At this time of year, moreover, they had included some Christmas motifs, which made the bar even more welcoming.
Her eyes followed their scrutiny across the place to meet Emma. She, as usual, was busy camera in hand, taking pictures of the crowd. Her friend had chosen a very appropriate outfit for the night. She wore dark blue skinny jeans, and knee high boots. Her tank top, with an image of one of Bruce's album covers printed on it, was wound up to her waist. The pants rode just low enough to glimpse the band of her underwear.
Killian instead, was behind the bar, serving drinks. His performance would begin shortly, but, in his own words, keeping his mind occupied in other activities helped him relax before taking the stage. His attire was also the usual, flannel shirt in different shades of blue over a white t-shirt with v-shaped collar and dark blue jeans.
She had a privileged view from her corner of the bar, being able to observe both Emma and Killian as they performed their usual duties. That was how Elsa realized that, while he served drink after drink, his eyes followed every one of Emma's movements through the room. Elsa tilted her head slightly as she narrowed her eyes, trying to watch Killian's expression more closely. Maybe…
"Have you already ordered anything to drink, lass?"
Elsa winced in her seat at the sound of Liam's voice. She had been so intent on watching Killian that she hadn't even noticed his approach. She quickly composed herself and gave him a smile as she asked. "Tequila for me, thank you."
Liam made a gesture of appreciation and set out to pour the drink. "To what do we owe the honor of your presence tonight? I guess you have come to witness the great performance." He waved his hands in the air as if he were showing a neon sign.
"Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world." Elsa cocked her head slightly, giving him a suspicious look. "By the way, what did you do to convince her?"
"Do you doubt my powers of persuasion, lass?" Liam replied as he winked. Elsa shook her head as she smiled. Although it was Killian that was the master in flirtation, his brother followed closely. She had a much closer relationship with Killian, due to her friendship with Emma, but she had always been more comfortable with the older brother.
"Speaking of which, I think it's time for the great presentation. I'll be right back." He gave her a warm smile before leaving to search for Killian and Emma.
Elsa grabbed her glass and turned on her stool for a better look. Liam waved Emma to catch her attention. Then the three of them headed to one side of the stage, Killian already prepared with his guitar. Liam gave him a cheerful pat on his back before taking the stage to present the performance.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, a new performance of Saturdays in Concert is about to start, and tonight we'll have a great surprise at the end, but in the meantime, I ask you all to give a big ovation to my talented brother, a great musician and an even better person. I present to all of you, Killian Jones!"
The crowd broke into applause and cheers to welcome Killian on stage. Elsa didn't overlook that, before he got on, Killian melted into a tight embrace with Emma. Once on stage, Liam placed the microphone in the holder and raised his thumbs before leaving. Emma, meanwhile, stood right in front, the most appropriate place to take the best photos.
And so began the show, the melodious voice of Killian and the strumming of his guitar wrapping the whole room. Since he played regularly hits of the 80's and 90's, the crowd already knew most of the songs so they chanted it to the beat of the music.
Elsa also joined the rest and, although she didn't leave her place next to the bar, she did send out shouts of encouragement and hummed some of the songs. Killian was good, very good, she never got tired of listening to him.
Evidently, Emma thought the same, since she didn't stop taking photos from below the stage. Elsa also noticed that Killian was constantly looking for her, smiling every time she directed her camera toward him. It was as if he were singing just for her. Could it be possible...
"Enjoying the show, love?"
For the second time on the same night, Elsa gave a start at the unexpected voice of Liam. She turned to answer him. "Of course, I'm one of his fans." She said, raising her voice to make herself heard through the music.
"Another drink? It's on the house today since you're a special guest."
Yeah, why not? Elsa accepted the offer with a nod and a brief smile. As Liam poured her drink, she turned her gaze back to the stage area. The idea that had begun to emerge before her thoughts were interrupted by Liam, began to bubble again in her head as she checked once more Killian's attitude toward Emma.
The words came out of her mouth just as Liam set the glass in front of her. "I didn't realize it until now. Does Killian always act like that? As if there was no one else in the room except Emma?"
Liam's smile evaporated slightly, giving way to a reserved expression, but he also had a special gleam in his eyes. What was happening here? When it seemed that he was going to ignore her question, Liam surprised her with an unexpected counterattack. "Just as whenever Killian performs, there's like a million photos of him."
Elsa narrowed her eyes, looking suspiciously at Liam. "Are you trying to tell me something?"
"Of course not, lass, I'm just stating something obvious, just like you."
Her mouth opened, but she thought better of it before she spoke, rummaging instead in his words. Was it possible he wanted to say what she suspected? He had practically confirmed her first impression. Before she could think of anything appropriate to say, Liam continued.
"Is there something I should know about my brother?" Liam leaned toward her, invading her personal space a little, his arms on the counter, as he stared at her. Although his tone was not very high, she could hear his words perfectly, such was his closeness.
"Is there something I should know about my best friend?" She countered, holding his gaze in a challenging way.
Liam cocked his head slightly, keeping the scrutiny on her, the tip of his tongue poking out the corner of his mouth. After a few more seconds, he nodded almost subtly and asked again, changing the contents. "Does Emma have feelings for Killian?"
"Sure, they're close friends." Elsa answered tentatively, not sure where this conversation was going.
"You know what I mean."
At that moment, Elsa saw the light, all the pieces fit in her head. She widened her eyes as she looked around. "Wait a minute, that's why you've arranged all this?" Her hand waved to the stage. "To make them sing together?"
"I had to get them out of their comfort zone somehow."
Elsa gasped with excitement. "So it's true, your brother has feelings for Emma!"
"I guess from your expression that Emma feels the same towards my brother." Once the masks were removed, Liam was smiling broadly, the gleam in his eyes now having a clear meaning. Hope.
Elsa lifted her glass as a toast and took a sip of her drink. After the brief moment of euphoria, she felt as the initial emotion was dragged by the liquid as it passed through her throat, reality began to prevail again. And it was that, regardless of Killian's feelings, Emma was determined not to risk her friendship with him. Her fear of losing him was almost paralyzing.
"You know it's not going to be enough for them to sing together tonight, right?"
Liam sighed, it seemed that his initial euphoria was also evaporating a bit. "I am aware of it. They are both so stubborn and their heart is so hurt that I don't think they are able to advance in that strange relationship they have."
He paused for a moment as he poured himself a shot of rum. He raised the glass, inviting Elsa to toast him. After taking the drink, he continued. "But it seems to place them in different scenarios they are accustomed to, affects them in a certain way."
Elsa remembered the night two months ago, when Emma confessed her feelings. "Oh, I'm aware of that, remember when you gave them the weekend off? That was when Emma confessed."
Liam's eyes widened in surprise. "That was when Killian confessed as well."
"Really?"
"Something happened that night!" They both shouted in unison.
"Really?" Elsa repeated, the corners of her lips drawing up a broad smile. The night was taking an unexpected turn and she couldn't be more grateful for it.
Liam arched an eyebrow in appreciation. "It seems that you and I are in sync, lass. We should take advantage of that and do something productive about it."
Elsa's cheeks flushed slightly at his words but she ignored any possible hidden meaning and focused instead on Killian and Emma.
"Yeah, I agree with you. We should work as a team. That night they met when they didn't expect it and that created tension between them."
"We could generate more situations of this kind, put them in scenarios that they don't expect, push them out of their comfort zone without forcing too much." Liam continued her thread of thought. His voice sounded excited, clearly he was as interested as she was in uniting those two idiots.
Her mind began to run, drawing those possible scenarios. An idea began to emerge but just as she was about to suggest it to Liam, Emma suddenly appeared.
"Hey, guys, say cheese." Without further warning, Emma took a few photographs. Then she looked at the camera screen and smiled clearly satisfied by what she saw.
"Oh, God, I hate it when you do that. I always look awful in those improvised pictures." Elsa grumbled, her lips forming a pout.
"No, you don't. You two make a nice couple on the screen. Anyway you have the opportunity to do the same now." Emma slid the camera strap over her head and handed the device to Elsa. "You're in charge of taking the pictures of the performance."
"Is it your turn now? Go up there and show everyone your talent." Elsa took the camera and hugged her friend. As she did, she whispered in her ear, "don't get nervous, everything will be fine. Let yourself go and enjoy this moment with him."
Emma gave her a shy smile as she walked away and turned her gaze to Liam. "You'll reward me for this, you know, right?"
"Of course, lass. Good luck."
Emma took a deep breath, gave them one last look and then headed toward the stage.
Elsa, for her part, hung the camera strap around her neck and before walking to the stage, gave Liam a warm smile, receiving the same in response.
Killian was singing the last chorus of his song as Elsa walked through the crowd. Despite the fact that she had tried to infuse Emma with encouragement, as the moment approached, she was getting more and more nervous. Elsa didn't doubt that all would be well, but after all, this was a new situation for her friend.
When the music ended, everyone around her broke into applause. It seemed like people were enjoying themselves a lot with the performance.
"Thank you very much to everyone!" Killian began to speak. "As my brother announced, tonight we have a surprise as a closing. She is the soul of The Kraken, the person who makes this bar shine, who brings a bit of sanity between the two Jones brothers. I ask you all for a great applause to welcome the talented, beautiful and lovely Emma Swan!"
The crowd began to cheer, accompanying her friend on her way to the stage. She was welcomed here by Killian, who gave her a brief hug before offering her one of the microphones and putting himself in his place. The performance was about to begin.
Her heart began to pound in her chest in anticipation of what was about to happen. Elsa grabbed the camera and start taking pictures of everything that happened on the stage, not willing to miss a single detail between them.
As the first notes sounded, the enraptured audience applauded even more, to Elsa's delight. Here it comes...
Emma stood in the center of the stage, with Killian on her right. When the time came, she began to sing, her voice clear and tuned, without a hint of nervousness.
Take me now baby here as i am
pull me close, try and understand
desire is hunger is the fire i breathe
love is a banquet on which we feed.
If until then the song sounded great, when their two voices joined, the magic ended up appearing. They were creating something special, sharing not only lyrics but also their gazes and their smiles. The chemistry between them was evident and increased as the song progressed.
Elsa was impressed by Emma's ability to act. She was totally in her role. Killian for his part, despite being totally focused on her, didn't lose his ability to sing and play his guitar with great talent.
The performance was passing before her eyes through the viewfinder of the screen. She couldn't stop shooting, trying to immortalize those magic moments forever.
At one point of the song, Emma moved even closer to Killian and placed her free hand on his arm, squeezing it gently. They both stared at each other as they sang the last notes. Elsa could almost feel the electricity emanating from them.
With love we sleep
with doubt the vicious circle
turn and burns
without you i cannot live
forgive, the yearning burning
i believe it's time, too real to feel
so touch me now, touch me now, touch me now.
After the last strumming of the guitar, the song ended, but they remained in the same position for a few seconds as the audience applauded and shouted around her. They were so close that their foreheads were almost in contact. After a brief moment lost in each other's eyes, they smiled and melted into a tight embrace, to the enjoyment of the public, who began to applaud even with more enthusiasm.
Finally they moved away a little, directing their attention to the audience. They bowed, while holding their hands and then raised their arms in gratitude. Their smiles didn't disappear from their faces. She herself was infected by the enthusiasm around her and raised her fist as she screamed. "Bravo!"
"Whoa, this has exceeded my expectations. It's been amazing." For the third time in the night, Liam's voice made her jump in surprise. Somehow he had managed to position himself right behind her and was speaking very close to make himself heard through the crowd.
Elsa felt an involuntary shiver as she noticed his presence perhaps too close. But she didn't have time to appreciate what was happening, because at that moment the two singers came down from the stage and approached where they were.
"You were bloody brilliant, love. You're a natural on stage." Killian's voice and smile did nothing to hide the pride he felt. Elsa and Liam glanced at each other, the expression on his face a mirror of her own, lips pressed together suppressing a grin.
Elsa also didn't overlook that, despite having finished their performance, their hands were still intertwined. And that Emma blushed slightly at his words, giving him a shy smile while she returned the compliment. "I had a great partner up there."
When Liam cleared his throat, the spell faded a little, both realized they were being watched, so their hands parted, although they still kept a special glitter in their eyes. It was then Elsa and Liam's turn to share hugs, compliments, and congratulations with them.
"My throat is dry, I'm bloody thirsty." Killian offered his hand back to Emma. "Come on, love, let's have some well-deserved drinks." Emma took his hand, of course, and they both walked to the counter, leaving Liam and Elsa alone again.
Liam took the moment to guide her to a corner of the bar away from where his brother and Emma stood. "This was amazing." It was the first thing Liam said, repeating his earlier words.
Elsa glanced behind the bar, where the other two were sharing a few beers. Yes, it had been amazing. And it was a shame they didn't realize the huge potential as a couple they had at all levels. Well, actually Elsa suspected they were aware, but they were too terrified to go one step further in their relationship. Maybe they needed a little push.
"We need a plan." Elsa turned to look at Liam. "I know Emma, and although today's been impressive, I know she's not going to do anything about it, so maybe we should work for them in that regard."
"Aye, as I said before, we should create similar scenarios to the one experienced today. Obviously, the idea has been a success." Liam said with barely concealed pride. "So, what do you think could be the next step?"
Elsa valued the idea that had begun to form for a few seconds. "A date."
"A date." Liam echoed her words with some reticence.
"I mean, they wouldn't know it would be a date, of course. We could go to dinner together, but you and I would look for an excuse to disappear at some point." As the idea began to take shape, Elsa felt more enthusiastic.
"We had dinner together all the time. Besides, don't you think they would be suspicious?"
"Not if we do it well. It wouldn't be a normal dinner, we could choose a romantic place using any credible excuse." Elsa put in her voice all the enthusiasm she felt for the idea. It could work. Although Emma would kill her if she found out. But it was worth taking the risk.
Liam crossed his arms over his chest, valuing her idea. After a few seconds, he nodded. "Okay, we have a plan." He offered her hand and she shook it without hesitation as she gave him a warm smile. "But if these two find out, I'll blame you."
"Uhm, maybe we should use a code name for our mission. What do you think of Operation HE?"
"HE?" Liam repeated in confusion.
"Operation Happy Ending."
"It's a bit cheesy for my liking, but it might work." The corners of his lips lifted, drawing a grin.
"Great, I'll arrange everything." So it was a reality, Operation Happy Ending was under way. Elsa gave him a conspiratorial look, her smile matching his. She glanced once more at Emma and Killian who still remained in their own bubble. These two didn't know what was waiting for them. She couldn't wait to begin to carry it out.