HELLO EVERYONE! I AM TRYING SOMETHING NEW! This is my second Captain Swan fic, and my second AU and my second multi-chap story, but this is the first time I am trying to put all three of the above together! This is a commonly used idea, I know, your soulmate's first words to you on your arm, but I hope this will be slightly different!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story

Enjoy!

…..

"Maybe if, you know, you didn't get sworn at so much, this would be easier?"

Killian glared at Liam. He wasn't making this any better. Liam was trying to encourage him for the millionth time that the words on his wrist weren't so bad.

You see, the words on Killian's wrist were different to everyone else's.

Everybody else had the name of their soulmate, their perfect partner, on their wrist. But Killian didn't.

Of course, his arm wasn't blank. It was just; the sentence on your wrist was the first words your soulmate says to you. And so, a system had been set up years ago, a kind of rule. Nobody knew who came up with it or when. But whenever you met somebody for the first time, the first thing you say to them must be: 'Hello, my name is…" This meant that everybody had their partner's name on their wrist, and could find them easily.

But of course, Killian's bloody soulmate had to go and be an idiot, and swear at him instead of introducing themselves.

The words on Liam's wrist read, "Hello, my name is Kristen Harver." Liam was now married to Kristen Jones (nee Harver), and had two children, Luke and Nathan.

The words on Jefferson's wrist (a friend of Killian) read, "Hello, my name is Mary Danter." Jefferson was now living with Mary Danter, and had a daughter, Grace.

The words on Robin's wrist (Killian's other best mate) read, "Hello, my name is Regina Mills." Robin had not yet met this Regina, but at least he had a bloody name to go on.

The words on Killian's wrist read, "Oh shit, damn you!"

Killian got swore at a lot, but they had never been anyone's first words to him.

Killian kicked his brother.

Liam chuckled. "Listen, it's not that bad. You will meet this girl one day. You know that. Nobody's ever not met their soulmate. Your soulmate is just a rebel. And you'll know her immediately because everybody else will be polite and say their name first. Just keep listening out for a new voice swearing at you."

"Thanks." Killian grunted. "Great words of advice there."

Kristen came through to the dining room. "What are you boys doing? Moping again, Killian?"

"I don't mope!"

"Yeah, he is."

The brothers spoke at the same time, and Kristen laughed. "Well, stop moping! You're taxi is here!"

Killian frowned. "Taxi?"

Liam and Kristen rolled their eyes (they were so similar. You would know they were soulmates even without the words on their arms) and Liam nudged him. "You know, Robin and Jefferson trying to cheer you up? Probably are planning to just get you laid?"

Kristen laughed again. "Probably true! But you need to get your ass moving, whatever it is. And thank you for looking after the kids."

Killian smiled and nodded his head. "No problem. I'll see you guys for lunch on Tuesday then, eh?"

He heaved himself up and to the door, waving at his brother and sister-in-law on the way out, shouting a goodbye to the kids.

He wasn't expecting to enjoy whatever it was Jefferson and Robin had planned for him, but he appreciated it, and was hoping that it would take his mind of everything.

About once every few months Killian would get like this. All annoyed and pissed off and mad at the world. For the words on his arm. For Milah. For Gold. For his hand. In the old days, he would drink himself into oblivion, have a one night stand and get into a fight. Nowadays he would vent to, and be given bad advice from Liam, spend some time with his young nephews, and Kristen would call the boys and they would give him a night out. This varied from getting drunk, laid, and into a fight (hilariously close to his old days, but with mates there to stop him from being arrested) to taking him to meet some old college buddies, or out to a diner and letting him rant for hours on end.

When he got in the taxi, opposite Robin and next to Jefferson, he had narrowed it down slightly. They weren't going to get drunk because Grace was in a school concert tomorrow, and Jefferson couldn't be hungover. They weren't just going to let him rant, because they hadn't said anything yet, and normally they tried to get him talking about random stuff first if that was the case, trying to distract him.

"So?" Killian gave in eventually. "Where are we going?"

Jefferson smirked. "The Rabbit Hole."

Killian frowned. "But you can't get drunk…"

Robin cut in. "We won't. It's a party, but hopefully not that kind. Emma's turning 28. You know, Emma Swan? David's old roommate? Apparently he and the Mrs eventually just kind of adopted her into the family."

Jefferson snorted. "It's a very David and Mary Margaret like thing to do, you have to admit. David is like Prince freaking Charming, with Mary Margaret as his princess."

Killian grinned. "And have either have you met Emma yet?"

Jefferson shook his head but Robin nodded. "Remember that time in college when we all got pissed and I went to bunk at David's so Marian didn't find out? That was when he was staying with Emma. She found the whole situation hilarious, to be honest."

When they got to the Rabbit Hole, Killian was happier and looking forward to seeing David and his 'true love' (they were soulmates to be fair) again. David came to greet them as soon as they arrived.

"Robin, Killian, Jefferson!"

Killian gave one of his oldest friends a hug. "David! Good to see you again, mate!"

Robin and Jefferson both stepped forward to give him a hug as well.

"Where's Snow White?" Robin asked, grinning.

"What?" David looked slightly bewildered and Killian chuckled.

"Never mind, mate. So where are Mary Margaret and Miss Swan?"

David grinned and called over Mary Margaret. "Killian! Jefferson! Robin!"

Killian allowed the woman to hug him. "Where's Emma?" David asked. Mary Margaret shrugged.

"Probably hiding. She's 100% sure that Neal is going to turn up."

David growled. "If that bastard has the guts to-"

"Don't worry." Mary Margaret interrupted, soothing him. "He won't. He's not that much of an idiot. Emma's just worried."

Killian raised an eyebrow. "And who is this bastard that may or may not show up? Because if there is going to be a fight –"

"You can count us in." Finished Robin, Jefferson nodding.

David laughed. "Mary Margaret's right, he's not going to show up. He knows I'll sock him in the face if I ever see him again."

The five chatted for a little while, before Mary Margaret excused herself to go and find Emma.

"So, how is Emma?" Killian asked. "I still haven't met her."

David scratched the back of his neck. "She's alright. She's getting better."

When the three men looked confused, David explained.

"It's the guy I mentioned earlier, Neal. He was her boyfriend, they were together for quite a while, Emma even moved out of our flat, and in with him. And then one afternoon he just didn't come back from work. He didn't say anything, disappeared off the face of the planet for about a week. Emma tried to file a missing person report, but there was evidence, according to the police, that he was still alive and in Tallahassee, for some reason. He wasn't answering his phone. And then after that week, Emma got a text from him saying that he had found his soulmate, and that he would miss her, and try to visit at some point. That was it."

Jefferson and Robin looked shocked. Killian was glaring straight ahead. "Son of a bitch!"

"Exactly." David nodded. "But, a month before he left, he had been invited to be Emma's plus one for our wedding, me and Mary Margaret. He didn't send anything saying whether he was coming. It was few weeks after he had disappeared and he just turned up in a suit at the wedding. Emma avoided him until after the party, where he tried to convince her to talk to him so he could explain. She punched him in the face. We didn't see him for years, and Emma moved back in with us. But she was mad, and didn't trust any guy for more than a one night stand from then onwards. She would only get drunk and then leave in the morning before the bloke woke up. Then Neal appeared again a couple of days ago, saying that his soulmate had got in a car accident and died, and that he wanted Emma back. She was just getting better, Ruby and Mary Margaret and Regina looking after her, but now… When he came back she just blanched. Regina punched him in the face and he hasn't appeared around any of us since, although Emma said he tried to talk to her when she went to Starbucks the other day, and she just ran."

Killian was speechless. This guy was a jerk. And he couldn't help thinking that this sounded rather like his own story.