She hadn't been having a good day. No particular reason. The weather had been heavy and hot and drizzling. She'd accidentally kicked her favorite coffee mug from the kitchen table before going to work. Especially though, she'd arrested two people today, both kids, both on grounds of inebriety, which was a lot for Storybrooke. Oh, and she'd gotten a funny look from one of them who apparently didn't think she looked mean – or was it tough? – enough to arrest anyone. You serious, C'mon darling, an unpleasant enough reminder of being young and a woman and beautiful and blond.

Those weren't things that were bad as such. But I'm doing a man's job, Emma thought bitterly, once in a while, there's always someone all too willing to remind me that's what I'm doing.

"Another one of those?" The bartender asked – though she didn't come here very often, she knew his name was Bill and he had three children and was cheating on his wife. Storybrooke was a small town.

"No," she contemplated the empty glass in front of her. "No, I should be getting back."

"Now, that's too bad."

The interruption came from a customer Emma hadn't noticed before, sitting a couple of seats away – the lighting was too dim for her to make out his face. His voice was pleasant, low and deep, and rich, like dark chocolate, the kind that's an acquired taste.

The man got on his feet and stepped forward. "I was just about to buy you a drink."

His looks were what you'd expect from his voice. Confidence means charm, not always handsome – which he happened to be – and the smile was a perfect indicator that he was well aware of it.

"You're new to town," Emma heard herself say.

"Quite right." That smile of his beamed, a crack of moonlight. "Did the accent give me away?"

She didn't humor this with a laugh. "No, really – it's just that everyone here knows pretty much everyone."

"Ah." He sat on the stool next to her. The bartender had gone on minding his own business. "You were born here?"

"Yes." Which made her think she was entitled to a special interest in newcomers – oh, sometimes they were just passing by, trying to get a break from a big city, looking for a momentary escape. Sometimes, though, they meant trouble. And sometimes they were there to stay.

Emma appraised the stranger for a few seconds. In all likelihood, he'd think she was wondering whether he'd be decent company for the night, not that she had a professional interest in what he was doing in Storybrooke.

When she was done, he gave out a tame chuckle – meant to come off as harmless. "I'm Killian." He said.

Killian, Emma thought to herself. We don't get a lot of those around here.

"So," he resumed, chuckled again. Somehow, she thought he wasn't half as nervous as he tried to look. "There're a couple of things I could think to call you, love –"

Now, she couldn't hold back a surprised scoff. Yet again, he seemed like the type to be forward – and was there any other type, past ten o'clock in a bar?

"But a name might be nice."

Emma bit her lower lip, considering this. She still wanted him to think she was considering him for other reasons. Really, he didn't really look like a troublemaker. Too calm; too patient. But there was something about him, she didn't know what – something in the corner of his eyes, in the dark depths of his voice – that just made her think he wasn't quite what he wanted you to think.

In the end, it was better to enter his game for a while, find out what she could about him.

"Emma," she said.

"Emma," he repeated. For a reason she was incapable to determine, a chill crawled down her spine. "Can I buy you a drink?"

She agreed but ordered something light. You never know when clear-headedness will come in handy.

"Well," she said, apparently making conversation, twirling the straw in her glass. The drink was the color of a radioactive rainbow; the ice cubes danced on with a delicate chime. "How long are you staying in town?"

"Oh, I can't really say. Long enough." There was that smile again. The smile was good, very good; it would make him charming even if he looked vile. "All I can say's I'm planning to settle down for a bit."

"Are you?"

"Why don't you tell me a few stories about this place?" He suggested. "Seems only fitting, since you've been here all your life. You must know it well."

Emma smiled back. "Better than anyone. But you know, there's not much to say. It's a quiet place. Few people, but tight. We take care of our own."

"That's good. I love places that have a homey spirit." When he thought she was busy finishing her drink, he eyed her up and down and back again, blue eyes disappearing under dark lashes. No, really, she thought, amused. He wasn't her type at all. "So what'd you do for a living, anyway?"

The casualness of his question got her laughing softly. It was time this little game came to an end. "Oh," she made sure she still sounded flirtatious. "I do plenty. I execute arrest warrants. I go patrolling. I investigate. And of course, I do way too much paperwork."

The smile on Killian's lips slowly morphed into a look of disbelief. Priceless. "You're the sheriff?"

"Yes."

"No."

"I assure you."

Now that he looked crestfallen and no longer so keen on hitting on her, Emma felt confident enough to write down her number the napkin near her drink.

"Here," she handed the napkin over and he'd sufficiently recovered from his astonishment to take it. "That way if you see anything wrong during your stay to Storybrooke, you'll know where to reach me."

Picking up her purse from the stool on her left, she got on her feet and left him sitting there. Before she'd taken more than three steps, she heard him ask. "Is that the only circumstances under which I'm allowed to call you?"

She cast a glance over her shoulder and met his eyes. "I'm afraid so. Have a pleasant evening, Killian."

"It was nice meeting you," he retorted.

Just from the tone he used, she could tell he'd regained the confidence she'd shaken by taking him aback.

Then he added with a mischievous smile, "Emma."

And ridiculously enough, she shuddered as she had the first time.

…

AN: I know most of you are waiting for an update on "Redbreast in a Cage" but I feel like I'll never have the heart to finish it if I don't have another Hook/Emma story going on ; ). Please let me know your reactions! See you soon.