Be My Valentine
A/N Yes, I'm doing a cheesy Valentine's Day themed fanfic, don't hate me. It will go day by day - therefore Killian has four days to win her over.
Monday 11th February
Killian scratched the wooden bench absentmindedly with his hook. It was a fairly nice day in Storybrooke, ever since arriving the pirate had disliked the consistently dreary weather. But today was uncharacteristically bright, it lightened his mood considerably. The woodlands that was apparently titled a 'park' was essentially empty. It was a Monday and the school opposite the grassy expanse was quiet.
A shrill bell made Killian's head snap up, quickly registering its origin as the school. The previously sombre atmosphere became chaotic as children spilled from the front doors. A yellow bus was already waiting and many of the young ones sprinted towards it. The pirate searched the crowd for a familiar face and landed on a small boy. He was walking with a young girl who was easily recognisable as Jefferson's daughter; Killian had briefly met the madman in Wonderland, his daughter resembled him stunningly.
The young lad's eyes swept over the park and landed on the pirate. His expression changed to one of eagerness and he turned to say something to his female companion before walking across the road. He was headed in Killian's direction, a spring in his step and a smile on his face.
"Henry," he greeted the boy with a nod, trademark smirk in place.
"Hey Hook, how's it going?" Henry replied, taking a seat next to the pirate. Despite the knowledge that this man had worked with Cora, removed Belle's memory and just generally caused havoc in town, he was still someone the young boy was keen to talk to. Emma's son also realised that he wasn't evil per say, he just needed some assistance.
"I'm well, how are you?"
"I'm good."
"And your mother?"
Henry smiled knowingly, "She's good too." The young lad pulled out a red heart-shaped card from his backpack and a pen. Looking to the pirate curiously he asked, "How do you tell a girl you like her?"
Killian grinned, but was curious as to the occasion. "Well I think the customs from my land are quite different to those here. Say, who are you writing to?" Henry's cheeks tinged pink as he looked back up to where the last of the kids were boarding the bus. The pirate followed his gaze to where it ended; where his former female companion stood with her friend waiting to hop aboard the bus. Jefferson's daughter appeared to be the subject of the young lad's affection.
"You fancy Miss Grace?" he asked Henry, turning back to the boy who nodded shyly.
"I want to ask her to be my valentine," Emma's son replied self-consciously. He looked down from Grace to the card and back up to Killian.
"I'm sorry, your what?" he asked, unfamiliar with the terminology that had just been used. What in the devil was a 'valentine?' Henry laughed, apparently this was humorous. In fact, when the pirate thought about it, there had been quite a lot of talk of something to do with a 'valentine.' Many shops around the small town had red and pink decorations, mostly dominated by hearts and roses.
"Didn't you have Valentine's Day back in Fairy-tale land?" Henry asked inquisitively, folding the card back over and putting it in his bag again. He could write that later, right now this subject required his undivided attention. The most infamous pirate scoundrel had no idea of the significance of February the fourteenth or its added implications.
"Aye, we had no such thing. What is a valentine? Is it slang, perhaps another term for romantic companion?" Killian asked, only to elicit another chuckle from the small boy.
"No. Valentine's Day is a romantic holiday, it's like the day of the year where couples get really romantic," Henry explained vaguely.
"So you and Miss Grace are a couple?" the pirate asked, incredulous to the notion of children being deemed a couple. Even that was a bit too young for his standards. The young lad shook his head vigorously, albeit ruefully.
"No, we aren't together. On Valentine's Day you can also ask another person to be your valentine. It's sort of like asking them to be your… um… it's really hard to explain. Like you aren't asking them to be your girlfriend or boyfriend it's just romantic and nice to be someone's valentine."
"And the point of the day is to secure someone you fancy as your 'valentine?'" Killian asked, starting to pick up on the concept. Henry cocked his head and nodded; this was as close as he could get to explaining it.
"So when it this Valentine's Day?" he asked the boy, sitting up a little straighter. Idea began to spin in his head and the boy could almost see the wheel spinning.
"It's on February the fourteenth; this Thursday… do you think you'll ask someone?" Henry replied quizzically, attempting to divulge the reason the pirate now had a knowing glint in his eye. Killian smiled at the boy.
"I think I have some ideas… out of curiosity, how are you travelling home?"
Henry looked across the street to the empty bus stop.
"I'll just walk; in fact I should probably go. Mum will be worried if she gets home and I'm nowhere to be seen," he informed the man, standing up and pulling his bag onto his back. Hands clasped around the straps, he smiled.
"I'll see you around, Hook." The boy turned to leave but was halted.
"Oi! Wait, I'll walk you home… wouldn't want you to be left unprotected on these mean streets," Killian said, standing and catching up to the kid. Henry resumed walking and faced his companion incredulously.
"Storybrooke? Mean streets? You obviously haven't been here too long," he said amusedly. The pirate chuckled but didn't reply. His thoughts were occupied by other thoughts.
"So how do you go about securing a valentine? Is there a specific courting process?" he asked.
Henry smiled, "No, you generally buy them a card, maybe flowers. It's just gift-giving; only it's romantic." Killian nodded in understanding. Comfortable silence followed the exchange, the two of them walking quietly through the street. The pirate no longer attracted stares, although he found the garb tacky he had quickly replaced his pirate-wear with this realm's traditional dress. At least this town knew the importance of a good leather jacket, however simple it was compared to his knee-length coat currently stashed in the hull of his ship.
"You're going to ask my Mom aren't you?"
Henry's question surprised Killian, making him briefly stop. Damn kid was perceptive – clearly Emma's child.
"Why do you say that?" he replied, dodging answering the question.
"Because I know you fancy her, as you would say," Henry said. The pirate smirked, tucking his hands in his jean pockets. He took a moment to reply, weighing his options. This kid probably already knew so there was no use denying it, and honesty was a virtue.
"Well then yes, I will likely request she be my valentine."
"She'll say no at first, you know." His reply wasn't at all rude, just candid. In fact, from what the man could observe, Emma's son didn't seem at all troubled by the prospect of Killian propositioning his mother. What astounded him furthermore, however, was that the boy had made sure to include the phrase 'not at first.'
"I know."
"But you're still going to ask?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
Killian smirked, "Because I'm nothing if not attracted by a challenge." They had reached the apartment building and climbed the stairs briskly. They reached the saviour's apartment with ease and Henry pulled out his keys, the feint tinkling alerting the resident within behind the door. Before he could insert the correct key into the lock, the door swung open and Emma was there. As her eyes landed on Henry, relief flooded her face. But then she looked up, quickly noticing Killian's presence. He smirked, leaning against the doorframe casually.
8888
Emma cleaned the kitchen bench-top for the second time, fidgeting anxiously as she checked the time again. She was home early and had expected Henry to be home by now, it was a quarter past four and her son still hadn't returned home. She didn't actually know what time he usually got home but surely the bus didn't take this long. The lack of solid knowledge was the only thing restraining the sheriff from sending out a search-party. Parenthood was bloody stressful, especially when you lived in a town with fairy-tale characters; including all the villains.
She checked the clock again, it was still quarter past four. Damn it all to hell, Emma thought, picking up her keys and walking towards the door. Halfway there, she heard the familiar tinkle of keys outside in the hall. Dropping the keys on the kitchen table, the blonde jogged over to the door and unlocked it, swiftly opening it afterwards.
Sheer relief flooded her at the sight of her son. He was smiling sheepishly and she needn't wonder why as her eyes drifted up to the handsome pirate's face. His eyes sparkled and he smiled smugly at her, shifting his weight and leaning against the door frame.
Ignoring him for the time being, Emma turned to her son.
"Where have you been?" she asked, pulling him inside by his arm.
"I'm only fifteen minutes late, Mom. What are you even doing home this early? You usually get home at like five-ish," he replied in defence. Emma sighed and her expression became more or less apologetic.
"Sorry, I got home early and I don't actually know what time you usually get home so I got a little worried," she said and turned to the doorframe where Killian was lounging. Noticing that her attention was now on him, he looked up through hi eyelashes.
"Hello, love," he greeted her, bearing a winning smile. Her expression remained apathetic.
"Hook, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be planning an escape route? Gold is still fairly pissed off about Belle, even if he's got his son now."
"I had a lovely discussion with your boy and decided to walk him home; I won't lie and say the prospect of seeing you wasn't a great motivator," Killian said, still trying to elicit a smile from the saviour. Emma refused to be affected by him and turned to Henry.
"Go put your stuff in your room, I need to talk to Hook," she said and the small boy nodded.
Before he left, he smiled at the pirate, "I'll see you around, let me know if you need help with… the thing we talked about." Emma watched the exchange with narrowed eyes, curious as to what they had talked about. She watched the man in her doorway nod appreciatively and her son walk quickly to his room, closing the door as he entered. The second the door shut, the saviour turned on the pirate.
"What are you doing talking to my son?" she asked vehemently.
"Actually lass, if we're being technical, he sought me out," Killian replied breezily, playing with his hook nonchalantly. Emma looked in the direction that Henry had gone and turned back to the pirate.
"What did the two of you talk about?"
He smiled in response, dragging his thumb and forefinger across his lips in imitation of a zipper.
"Sorry darling, I'm disinclined to fill you in. It was a private conversation." Emma huffed; she knew this bloody idiot wouldn't say a word now that he knew she wanted to know. Accepting this, she moved on to a more important subject.
"Look, just leave him out of this. I don't want him caught in the middle of this war, even if you don't know where Cora is it doesn't mean you aren't on her side."
Killian's previous expression of good humour faltered and showed the resentment he felt at her statement. It was his own fault though; he'd conspired with the witch when it came to the events with Archie and the Giant. It also didn't help his case that he'd injured Belle in his vendetta against Gold.
"I'm wounded by what you're implying. I was just doing the honourable thing in walking him home."
Emma raised her eyebrows incredulously, a smirk playing around the edges of her lips. Killian put his hands up defensively and shrugged. She shook her head in response and moved to close the door but before she could, the pirate put his arm in the way. Stepping forward so that their bodies were centimetres apart, Killian leaned down so his lips were a breath away from hers.
The sudden proximity caught her off guard and she was overwhelmed by the intensity of his serene blue eyes.
"I hear Valentine's Day is approaching," he whispered. Emma's eyes flitted between his eyes and lips and she bit her lip seductively. This pirate didn't know what he was playing at. Hands sliding up to land on his chest she leaned forward one iota, smirking mischievously. Stopping just before her lips met his she whispered back.
"I know," and then she pushed him back abruptly, smirking at his shocked expression. Killian regained his confidence in a second though, returning the smirk with familiarity.
"I think it's time for you to run on home, Hook," Emma said, still satisfied with her ability to best the pirate at his own game. He nodded in agreement, walking backwards over the threshold.
"Until next time," he said, eyes flashing with the promise of unfinished business. She raised her eyebrows in challenge before closing the door. This wasn't over and she knew it. This had only just begun.
Reviews are roses Killian sends to Emma.
