So I was supposed to be working on a couple of Reign fanfics I have in progress, but one of those readers introduced me to this lovely show and now I've become a tad infatuated. This insisted on being written first. So if any of you guys are reading my Reign fanfics: I promise I am coming back. I just had to take a little break to please the muse.
As always I own nothing OUAT. But don't we all want our very own blue eyed pirate? Lol
Emma Swan slips into The Rabbit Hole alone and walks directly to the bar. Tonight she has a singular goal: drowning her sorrows. And she isn't letting anything get in her way. On any other night she would have scanned the bar and noticed the cerulean blue orbs that were focused on her from the instant she stepped in. On any other night she would not have been surprised by the man behind them.
"I'll have a dirty martini," she called out to the red headed bartender as she slid into a seat at the end of the bar.
Ruby turned around smiling at the sound of her friend's voice but her expression changed when she saw the look on Emma's face. She needs that drink ASAP tonight, she thought. She set to work and quickly finished preparing the familiar drink. "Alright what's going on?" she asked as she placed the cocktail glass just in front of Emma on the bar.
"It's Neal…" Emma choked out. Her mind flashed back to their encounter that evening.
*** Flashback ***
Henry was in his room packing his bags for his weekend with his dad. She was in the kitchen packing a couple bags of snacks for him to have on the drive, when her phone rang. His name flashed on the screen. She answered, expecting to work out the details of him picking Henry up.
Neal had started the conversation off in the ordinary way, letting her know the approximate time of his arrival in New York. She followed suit telling him to meet her and Henry at her favorite pastry shop. This was their routine. It had been their routine for the last nine years of her son's life. But then he broke their routine.
"Emma, I need to tell you something."
Her heart froze. He had never said something like that, and it couldn't be good. When Henry was two they had split up, deciding that they were better as friends. But if she was really brutally honest with herself, which she wasn't often, she had carried a torch for her first love ever since. This is why, her whole world collapsed when he proceeded to inform her that he had proposed to Tamara, his girlfriend for the past year, and was now planning to introduce her to Henry this weekend.
*** End Flashback ***
Emma didn't have a chance to elaborate though because Mr. Incredible Blue Eyes himself slipped up to the bar sliding his leg into the space between Emma's bar stool and the one beside it. "Another rum, miss?" he asked Ruby with a flirtatious smile and a wink. She knew exactly what he was doing; unlike Emma she had not missed the direction of his gaze. However, she was fairly sure that this cocky, handsome rouge was going to be way out of his depth with the blonde tonight. Emma is totally not in the mood for this, she thought as she turned to fill a glass for him. Unfortunately, she realized she was out of rum at the bar and would have to go back to the supply room. She stole one look at her friend and decided Emma could handle herself before she left.
Emma was feeling rather uncomfortable with the stranger in her personal space and that coupled with her emotional state drove her to down her martini in one giant gulp.
"You want another, love?" Killian asked the blonde with a smug smile. Tonight is definitely going to be a good night.
"I'm just here to drink. Not interested in company," Emma practically growled.
"Bad break up?" he pressed.
She paused. This guy was not taking the hint. Slowly and deliberately she turned to glare at him, hoping to reinforce her words. However, she was totally unprepared for the intensity of his bright blue gaze and the mirrored emotion she saw there. Without realizing what she was doing, she answered, "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
He gave her an empathetic look. "You don't deserve to drink alone, love. Let me buy you a drink or two. We can play darts. No talking."
That actually sounds pretty good, Emma found herself thinking. She hadn't intended to socialize with anyone tonight. But she also hadn't counted on receiving an offer of free drinks that would require no significant interaction. So she nods her assent.
His whole face lights up. Of course, Ruby is on her way back to them with his drink by now. "Another dirty martini for the lady," he adds with a smile and a wink.
Ruby's jaw nearly hits the floor. She can't believe that Emma is allowing this guy to talk to her much less buy her drinks. Since Neal and she broke up, Emma hasn't had much of a social life involving members of the opposite sex. Ruby is quite pleased that Emma is finally taking her advice and using her child-free weekends for some adult fun.
The drinks are handed over and Killian leads her over to the dart board with his palm resting on the small of her back. At first he holds to his promise of no talking, but it becomes very apparent very quickly that Emma sucks at darts. He tells himself it isn't fair to keep thoroughly defeating her without attempting to improve her abilities. That would be poor form. So he asks, "May I?" as she prepares to lob another dart at the target.
She hesitates but acquiesces because not even she can deny the fact that she sucks. And she is quite possibly the queen of denial.
As if he knows that she feels like a wild, wounded animal, he starts off gently by allowing her to hand him the dart. He shows her how to hold the dart then passes it back. She tries to throw and once more fails to hit the target.
He smiles and places a second dart in her hand. Then carefully, like she might bite, he takes her hand in his and folds her fingers into the precise grip he previously demonstrated, pinching the dart between thumb and the index and middle fingers. She tries again. This time she hits the outer ring of the target. She smiles in satisfaction. He grins back.
With the third dart, he moves to her side angling his body towards hers. She can feel her body beginning to hum from the proximity. He smiles at her reassuringly, as if he is trying to convince her that there is no danger in proximity. She forgets she knows better when he takes her hand holding a fourth dart and guides her throw, ensuring that the tip is angled slightly up. This lands the tip in the inner ring, much to her delight.
He loves seeing her smile that way. He takes another dart and places it her outstretched palm. She shows him that she has been paying attention by holding it exactly the way he has shown her. He covers her hand with his and slips behind her so his front is a hair's breadth from touching her back. Then he whispers softly at her right ear, "This next thing is the hardest part, love, but it's the most important." Her breath catches in her throat, so she merely nods. "You have to relax, love. Hold it like a lover, strong enough to know that you aren't going anywhere but loose enough to give the freedom to fly." Her whole body tingles as he guides her through the throw. She gasps in amazement when the tip sinks into the outer bulls-eye. He grins confidently. Works every time, he thinks.
Then he eases back. "Another game?" he asks. She can't resist, so she assents with a smile and a nod.
He collects their glasses. "Let me get us another round."
As he strolls off, she tries to count how many martinis this makes. Three or four, she decides. She attempts to convince herself that they have more to do with the enjoyment she feels than the devilishly handsome blue eyed stranger. He really is a stranger, she thinks noting she doesn't even know his name.
When he returns, drinks in hand, she finds herself unable to resist. "So, what's your name, stranger?" She blushes like a school girl, and he finds he quite enjoys that expression.
"I'll make you a deal, love. You win the next game, and I will tell you anything you want to know, name included. But if I win, you have to do the same for me."
His eyes glimmer wickedly. The alcohol buzzing through her veins makes her bold. "Deal."
He wins, easily. His cocky smirk has returned. She gasps as he guides her to a chair and takes her glass. "Don't run off, love. You owe me."
Her stomach does flip flops as he walks off. She knows she shouldn't be feeling this way about a stranger on this day of all days. But something about it all just feels so incredibly right. His presence is electrifying, and when she is honest with herself she knows even now that it is more than just the gin.
He returns sliding the drink onto the table from her side and leaning in close to tuck one wayward blonde curl behind her ear. "So love, let's have it. What's your name?"
His breath is warm against her neck and ear. His voice is husky but quiet, as though reserved for her and only her in a moment full of much more intimacy. She feels her body respond, becoming moist at his words alone. Her breathing and pulse quicken. But she is lost. She simply cannot pull away. She turns into him meeting those penetrating blue eyes.
They hold each other's gaze for a moment longer than necessary. His lips part and he licks his lower lip seductively. "Emma," she whispers.
He smiles like he's won the lottery. "Emma, love, its last call. How about we continue this somewhere slightly more private?" He winks.
She finds that she can't wait to say yes; he makes her feel alive in ways that she hasn't since Neal. But going home with a total stranger is so not her style. He'd have more luck with the redhead behind the bar. "I don't even know your name…." she whispers looking up at him from beneath hooded lashes.
He knows she feels it too, knows he has her then. "Killian," but she keeps looking at him like she wants more. But she'll just have to wait a minute because so does he. He slowly and deliberately leans in sliding his hand up to cup her cheek as he passionately presses his lips to hers. She gasps in shock which only affords his tongue the access he so desperately wants. Surprised by the intensity of the first kiss she finds herself running her fingers through his messy black hair pulling slightly, which has the effect of making him growl. She moans softly when he breaks the contact and eases back an inch. "Killian Jones."
"Well now that we know each other a little better. I think you should go settle our tab." Emma surprises herself with her boldness. She tells herself that Neal is probably with Tamara now, doing this and worse, and she deserves to have some fun for a change. It isn't like she wants to introduce Killian to Henry, right?
As he settles the tab, her nerves catch up with her. Is this a good idea? How could I possibly think this is a good idea? I literally just learned his name. Plus, it has been forever….
"Ready to go, love?" he whispers in her ear cutting her thoughts off and sending the electric shocks up and down her spine once more. His proximity both calmed and excited her nerves. She angled her face up to his and he willingly captured her lips once more, reassuringly promising her a much needed night of passion.