Title: The Love Challenge, a Captain Swan Valentine's Day
Author: Pinkcat4569
Rating: Teen for adult themes and situations, innuendos, and language. Nothing explicit.
Pairing/Characters: Emma/Hook (Killian), Henry, Snow, Charming, Robin, Regina, Ruby
Description: Killian learns about Valentine's Day and challenges Emma to a duel: who can present the best celebration for the other. The pirate is especially intrigued by the adult Valentines' traditions.
Author's Note: Kind of a sequel to "Twelve Pirate Improved Days of Christmas" in that my OC Daisy the waitress appears. It isn't necessary to read that story though.
Total word length at least 10,000, will be multi-chapter. 1501 words, this chapter
The Love Challenge, a Captain Swan Valentine's Day, Chapter One
"I am so hungry."
"I gathered that, Love, from the two grilled cheese sandwiches and the extra large serving of onion rings you ordered.'
Emma gave her boyfriend a slight glare. "Someone interrupted my lunch."
Killian smirked. "You did not seem to mind at the time, Swan." Emma blushed but smiled. "We did expend quite a bit of energy though, did we not?" he asked her with a leer.
Henry, sitting across from them in the booth at Granny's, moaned. "You guys promised to tone down the icky stuff."
"I'm just waiting for my food," Emma said, giving Killian a glare. "Talk to him."
"I am," Henry said, staring at the pirate.
Killian laughed. "I apologize, Lad. I cannot help that your mother is so alluring."
The boy shook his head. Then he smiled. "Thank goodness, the food's here."
"Finally," grumbled Emma.
"Look who our waitress is," said Killian with a smirk to Henry.
Henry rolled his eyes but smiled at the pretty young brunette.
"Hi," she said with a shy smile.
He returned it and said softly, "Hi."
Killian smirked at the young pair as Emma hungrily took her food. "Wait a second," she said, "there's only one grilled cheese here!"
"I'm so sorry,' said the waitress. "There were supposed to be two."
"It's fine, Daisy. I got it," said Emma. She jumped up and marched to the counter on a grilled cheese recovery mission.
Killian laughed. "I do admire your mother's single-minded determination.'
"Especially when it comes to grilled cheese," agreed Henry with a chuckle.
Daisy laughed too and passed out the rest of the food. Just before she left, she slipped something quickly into Henry's hand.
Hook saw the action of course, being an expert at slight of hand. "Ah, the lass gave you a small pink, heart-shaped piece of paper, eh, Lad?" he asked with a wink and an excited grin.
Henry froze, looking wide-eyed and embarrassed. "Uh, yeah, it's um...for Valentine's Day," he said with a blush.
Killian looked confused. "I am afraid you shall have to inform me as to what that is, Lad."
"It's a day where you give presents to people you...um…"
"Yes, Lad?"
Henry sighed. "Fine. You give things to people you like, ok?" He blushed, sighed again and shook his head.
Killian smiled widely. "Ah, a day of love." He leaned back and smirked teasingly at the red-faced boy.
"Like, Killian, like."
"Then why is the symbol you hold a representation of the organ that is associated with love, eh?"
"I dunno," Henry said, sinking into his seat. "I didn't make the stupid holiday."
"What holiday?" asked Emma, joining them with her previously missing grilled cheese. She looked at the small heart and smiled sympathetically at her son. "Oh, Valentine's."
Killian kept smirking at Henry. "I gather that it is a day devoted to the celebration of love."
"I don't love her!" Henry cried, then turned pink as he saw the alarm on Daisy's face. "Just kill me," he mumbled.
Killian smirked but Emma kicked him under the table. "Leave Henry alone."
"I have done nothing," said the pirate innocently.
"You have too, now Daisy hates me."
"So you do care for her."
Henry rolled his eyes.
"Killian, stop," commanded Emma. "I mean it, or you'll be celebrating Valentine's Day alone."
"Since all I have learned about the day is that one gives people you do or do not care for a heart-shaped piece of paper, I do not feel it is a great loss," the pirate said dramatically.
Emma sipped her cocoa and laughed. "No great loss." She winked at Henry. "It's only a day for couples, one that's heavy on romantic, gushy stuff."
"Ooh, romance," said Killian, licking his lip. "I am quite adept at that game." He smirked at her.
Emma stayed cool. "Valentine's day is kind of stupid actually. People get way too caught up in it." She acted aloof as she twirled an onion ring in her fingers. "There's usually gifts like roses, chocolate, sometimes champagne." She looked Killian in the eye and smiled.
"Champagne? That is the bubbly alcohol concoction that makes you...friendly. is it not?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
She smiled flirtatiously. "Yep. The holiday sometimes includes a romantic dinner for two, maybe dancing, and…" She licked her lips now as she said, "quiet, intimate moments."
"Ugh, can we stop talking about it?" asked Henry. "I'm losing my appetite."
"If the conversation topic offends you, Lad, may I suggest that you go and chat with your lady friend," Killian said, scooting closer to Emma. "I am afraid I must demand more information, Love. Lots more."
She chuckled. "You are so easy to maneuver."
"Indeed. Again Lad, I suggest you leave as I feel the conversation turning toward a certain kind of 'maneuvering," he said, a lusty smirk on his lips as he nearly drooled.
"You guys are gross," Henry said, grabbing his plate and moving. He took a few steps and came back for his paper heart. He joined Daisy at the counter. "I'm going to eat here," he said. She smiled. He gestured to Emma and Killian. "They're at it again, being all gooey eyed and sickening."
Daisy laughed. "I think it's sweet."
Henry chuckled. "I should be mad at you."
"Me? Why?'
He held up the Valentine. Her face fell. "Killian saw this and now he's on a gushy, disgusting Valentine kick."
Daisy laughed with relief. "Oh, sorry."
"Try explaining the Love Holiday to an overly dramatic pirate who doesn't know the meaning of TMI (too much information)." He rolled his eyes.
Daisy giggled and swiped a fry from his plate. "I guess that would be uncomfortable."
"Yeah, and it's going to get worse. February fourteenth is going to be awful."
"Aw, don't think like that," she said. "Maybe you can...hang out with me that day." He stopped mid-gulp and looked at her. "I mean, if you don't want to be around your mom and Hook."
"Uh, yeah, that sounds good," he answered. They shared an awkward but warm smile.
"It does."
Back at the booth, Emma was giving Killian a rundown of Valentine's Day. "It can be the most annoying day in the world," she said. "People shove love at you. It's horrible if you're alone."
He smiled widely. "Ah, but my love, this year you are not."
She blushed. "No."
"So...romance and love are the orders of the day," he said. "We shall partake of alcoholic drinks, chocolate delicacies, and a private dinner." He grinned. "You may consider me interested." He took her hand and kissed it. "Very," he said.
She felt her face get warm. She couldn't help a light, happy smile. "Maybe a Valentine's celebration won't kill me."
"It will not, I shall see to that," he said. He leaned back and draped his arm over the booth's edge so his chest stuck out even more. He actually pointed it towards her. "Now, let's get to the more...important aspects of the holiday which celebrates the intricacies of a romantic relationship."
She chuckled. "What aspects?" she asked, trying hard to focus on his face and not that damn chest.
He smirked. "The aspects that consist of private activities that often occur in one's boudoir," he said with a twitching of his eyebrows.
She turned bright red and looked around. Henry was occupied. No one else was in earshot. She leaned closer to him. "You mean the bedroom?" she whispered.
He nodded.
Her smile was playful but a bit naughty. "What about them?"
"Certainly they get special Valentine attention."
She licked her lips and saw his eyes follow the movement. "Actually, there are special clothes."
"Ooh, like the naughty ones you received for Christmas?"
She laughed, picturing the two lingerie pieces he snuck into his twelve days of Christmas gifts for day seven, Swans a swimming. "Even worse."
His smiled got more wicked. "Indeed?"
"Hmm, and there are other things," she said, lowering her voice even more, "like...scented oils, candles, body paint," she said watching his eyes widen.
"Body...paint?"
She giggled at his expression, lust and awe rolled into one. "Yeah, and some of it's edible."
His mouth hung open. "Oh, Swan, we must partake."
"There are, um...toys available too."
"What?"
She giggled, blushing as deeply as possible, her face going into her hands. "I can't believe I'm discussing this with you, and in public."
"Emma, you must educate me in this incredible new world of bedroom activity," he said, his heartbeat increasing. "At once."
"Sorry, you'll have to wait until Valentine's Day."
He smiled even wider and leaned forward, his face inches from hers. "I think this Valentine's Day is the best invention this realm has ever concocted."
She laughed. "We'll see. It's possible that I just made a big mistake, revving Captain Hook up on Valentine naughtiness." She shook her head and chuckled.
Naturally, Hook smiled wickedly.
End of Chapter One