Happy Birthday Mona001!

I

All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I've been

He should have seen it coming. Clearly, all the signs were there. But he didn't and now they were in this predicament.

It had started a couple of years ago, given his boss' insistence that he'd bring a date to the company's quarterly party. Yes, his company held four parties a year. It was about building team spirit and promoting collaboration and a bunch of corporate wellbeing mumbo-jumbo that Belle kept repeating to him.

Killian didn't care. He just wanted to do his job, have a somewhat friendly time with his coworkers, and then go back home to his solitude, his rum, and his books.

But alas, Wiz Merlin (yes, that really was his name) loved to think everyone in the company was family; and he wanted to meet all the members of his extended family. He insisted. All the time. He didn't make it company policy because Belle had told him that, legally, he couldn't. (Otherwise he would have done it)

It all had started one evening at David and Mary Margaret's. He'd been complaining about this entire ordeal when it seemed that Emma had finally had enough.

"For crying out loud, I'll go with you. Stop whining." She groaned.

"You'll go with me?" He asked, unsure if he were confused or amused at the prospect.

"Yes… on two conditions: you don't introduce me as your girlfriend, you come with me to my yearly party and help me get rid of that creepy accountant that keeps trying to hit on me each year and you stop whining about this."

"Those are three conditions, love." he teased her cockingly.

"Do you want a date to get Merlin off your back about this party or not?!"

"Very much so, thank you, Swan."

And that was how it began. She ended up going with him to the quarterly company's parties and all the other events Merlin and Belle would come up with. The charity car wash. The softball game. The football game. The American football game. Charade night. Casino night. Movie night.

Killian, on the other hand, made sure that the creepy accountant (who actually looked like a bloody monkey) understood in clear terms that Emma wasn't available and even if she were to become available, she was not interested. He showed up next to her at her company's 10k charity run just to make sure the accountant got the message. And the next year's party. Just in case.

It was a comfortable agreement for the both of them. It worked.

Until now.

Because now he's standing at the reception of the lovely B&B where they would all stay for the company retreat and he only has one key in his hand. Emma is in the restroom and when she comes back he'll have to tell her they only booked one room for them. One room with a queen size bed.

/-/

Killian stared at the key in his hand again and mentally wanted to kick himself for not double checking with Belle. He turned around and there was the culprit, bouncing back on her high heels and cute little skirt.

"Isn't the place lovely? We have so many activities planned… we'll have a blast!" Belle exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Belle, why do I only have one room for me and Emma?"

"Well, you and Emma are together now, right?" She asked confused.

"Nope, we are still only friends."

Belle tilted her head, her eyes squinting, "But I thought, you took her to the all the parties and she comes to the office regularly to have lunch with you. You guys spent all that time locked in your office, we - we thought you were, you know."

Killian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Just because you and Will like to get frisky in the office, darling, it doesn't mean the rest of us do the same."

It was in that exact moment that the man responsible of Belle's sudden blush in her cheeks came along trotting with Robin.

"Will!" Belle said, "Killian and Emma are not dating! You told me they were!"

"Oi! What do you mean you are not dating? I thought you were. You haven't mentioned anyone else in the past year."

"Mate, really? But you do everything together!" Robin added.

"We do everything together because this company is hell-bent on events that take a lot of time and Merlin insists that I bring someone along, so she has graciously accepted. And now she has grown fond of all of you wankers and it makes sense for her to come. But, we are not together and you booked us only one room!"

"Hey guys…" They all turned around to find Emma looking at them confused. "Is everything ok?"

/-/

Killian and Emma stood in the middle of the room. It was a cozy and spacious room, with a fireplace, a double bed, wooden floors, and natural light.

Killian scratched behind his ear, "I'm so sorry, Emma, I - I'll take the floor."

"It's ok," she said trying to comfort him, "We could share."

"No, I insist," he said as he placed her bag over the bed and moved to the sofa to place his.

"Why would Belle book us a shared room. I mean- we've never…" she trailed off.

Killian sighed, "They thought we were dating." His eyes meet Emma's across the room. "They - they all seem sure about it."

Emma's scoffed, "David and Mary Margaret think the same."

He cocked an eyebrow at her, "They do? But they saw us make this deal."

"Yeah, like two years ago. They are convinced that we are dating in secret and not telling them because we don't want them to overreact." Emma lifted her head to meet Killian's amused face. "You know them as well as I do…."

"Aye, it's befitting of them to think such a far-fetched theory instead of the logical explanation." He stood silent for a while, pondering. "Emma?" He finally asked, his eyes meeting hers. "If they are all so convinced… do you - do you think we should, perhaps,.. you know?" He stumbled on his last words.

She sighed, reaching to grab her bag of toiletries. "I don't know. I think that if it was supposed to happen, it would have happened by now, right?" She finished in a low voice as she headed to the bathroom.

"Aye, you are right," he said, running a hand through his hair, watching her close the door and not being able to shake off the strange feeling that came to him the moment he heard her words.