"Been losing grip on sinking ships, you showed up just in time…"

Killian had been sneaking glances at her ever since she walked in; all green eyes and dimpled chin, completely oblivious to him standing behind the bar with his mouth hanging open, half in love with her already. He kept trying to concentrate on the task at hand, but his body betrayed him, eyes darting in her direction, ears straining to pick out her voice over the music and the people. Distracted, Killian almost dropped the glass he just finished drying by missing the counter.

"Bloody hell," he growled.

"What's with you tonight, Jones? If you're going to start breaking stuff, I'd rather you out from behind my bar," Granny warned.

She might look like someone's sweet grandmother, but she was tough as nails and Killian's best bartender. He relented and sat and waited for Robin with a glass of rum. Swirling the amber liquid around, Killian downed it in one gulp, pretending it wasn't to get the nerve to go over there and say something to her.

Ruby and Victor were fighting. Again.

It was never serious - hell, they even seemed to enjoy it - but it left Emma sitting all by herself at their table. Mary Margaret and David had left early because the babysitter thought their son might have a fever - but not before Mary Margaret instructed Emma to "stay" and gave her a look that was not to be argued with. Sighing, she sipped her drink and took in her surroundings. They were at The Drunken Sailor, one of those places with craft beer, old-fashioned cocktails, and bar fare for the more sophisticated palate. It was cozy and immaculate, with rustic yet tasteful nautical décor. Ruby's grandmother worked here - only Ruby would have a bartender for a grandmother - and she had been kind enough to come by with a free round when they first sat down. Unfortunately, it wasn't long after that the night began to unravel.

Bored, Emma checked to make sure Ruby was still occupied with Victor, then slyly pulled out her phone and opened the iReader app. With the day off and Henry at Neal's, she had spent the afternoon re-reading Jane Eyre and was almost at the best part when Mary Margaret and Ruby coaxed her to come out with numerous calls and texts. Ruby promised she wouldn't feel like a fifth wheel while Mary Margaret reminded her that she never knew when she might find her true love. How Mary Margaret didn't realize that that would be incentive for Emmanot to go out was beyond her. In her experience, books were the only safe place for love. And thankfully because Jane Eyre was a favorite of hers, she had it downloaded and could pick up right where she left off.

"You could have anything here, and still you choose rum," Robin said in lieu of a greeting.

"I'm not quite as fancy as all this," Killian explained, waving a hand absently around.

Robin raised an eyebrow, knowing full well how particular he had been about what color to paint the walls, but let it slide. Killian was the first friend he made after he arrived in Boston from England. Robin had heard his familiar accent ordering a drink from across a bar one lonely evening in the new city, so he went over and introduced himself. They'd been mates ever since.

Leaning on the counter, Robin ordered a beer from Granny and changed the subject. He thought Killian would get a kick out of one of Regina's co-workers almost walking in on them when he stopped by her office for lunch today, but after a few noncommittal grunts, Robin could tell he wasn't really listening. Killian's eyes kept shifting every so often to something behind Robin's head until Robin became fed up and waved a hand in front of his face.

"Oi!" Killian protested, knocking his hand out of the way.

"You really know how to make a man feel important, mate."

Killian rolled his eyes. "Sorry, but your sex life with Regina doesn't really interest me much."

"It wasn't so long ago when I had to hear all about you and Milah. And before that, you and everyone else. Just because you're not getting any now…"

"Ah, here they bloody are," Killian pointed to Belle and Will coming through the door.

"I see you boys started without us," Belle said as she took the seat next to Killian.

"You know you can't keep this man away from his rum," Will reminded her, clapping Killian on the back.

While Will waited for their drinks, he started talking to Robin about some football match Killian couldn't care less about. His eyes automatically went searching for her golden hair, shining like a beacon in the dimly lit bar. She was sitting alone, intently reading something on her phone, a small frown forming on her face. He imagined himself going over there and asking what he could do for the chance to see her smile, when suddenly she did. A face splitting grin that she then tried to hide by biting her lower lip. Killian felt a warmth spread through him at the sight - but then something dawned on him. She was probably texting her boyfriend. Or worse, her husband. He remembered the two other couples she had been with earlier. She was clearly one half of the third couple, but something had kept her significant other from being able to meet them tonight. And now he was texting her and asking if she missed him. The jealously Killian felt surprised him. For Christ's sake, he hadn't even spoken to the woman.

"So, who is she?" Belle interrupted his embarrassing inner monologue.

Killian blushed and scratched behind his ear. "What do you mean, lass?"

"Don't 'lass' me. You look all moony."

"Can't keep your eyes off me devilishly handsome face, can you? I'll have to tell Will, now that he's my mate too and all."

"Will you stop! You know I'll just pester you till you spill."

Killian sighed. It was true. Belle had become like a sister to him ever since they met at their book club, and she made sure to live up to the title. Belle was either annoying the bloody hell out of him one minute or bestowing wisdom he knew he'd never get from Robin or Will the next.

"Don't I know it. Too bad I have nothing to spill," he said as he got up, "I'm going to go check on the kitchen."

The hallway to the kitchen was conveniently located by her table. Why Killian wanted to torture himself, he didn't know, but the need to see if her eyes were really that green or just a figment of his clearly overactive imagination pushed him forward.

"Really?"

Emma put her phone down to find Ruby standing in front of her with her hands on her hips.

"I - I, you" she threw her hands up, "you were off fighting with Victor!"

"Emma," Ruby sighed, eyes softening into something Emma hated - pity, "you're never going to find someone if you end up reading on your phone whenever you go out."

"Yeah, well, maybe I don't want to find someone! Maybe that is exactly what I want!" Emma felt her eyes prickling with tears, her anger dying as quickly as it had come, "Maybe I don't want to be left again, or have someone die in my arms, or be taken advantage of."

Ruby sat down next to her and squeezed her shoulder.

"Okay, Emma, okay. I'll go get Victor. He was going to get some more drinks from Granny, but we can just go."

Emma simply nodded.

Killian had paused inside the hallway when he heard the brunette chastising the blonde for reading. Reading! So she wasn't texting her boyfriend. Well, she could still have a boyfriend. But it was beyond that now. He had hope. Killian couldn't help but walk back to the kitchen with a little extra swagger.

Emma leaned against the wall in a daze while she waited for Ruby and Victor to return. She normally kept her emotions under lock and key, but something about the way Ruby looked at her…

"What was it that you were reading?"

Emma quickly prayed that accent wasn't attached to an even slightly decent looking man or else she was screwed. Against her better judgement, she looked up from the floor.

Damnit.

What stood before her was much more than decent looking. More like illegal. His disheveled dark hair probably started out that morning perfectly coifed but looked like he had spent the day running his hands through it. Mischievous blue eyes stared at her from under thick, expressive brows and a perfectly straight nose led to full lips and enough scruff to make Emma briefly wonder what it'd feel like against her ear and down her neck. He was wearing a plaid shirt over a henley with the sleeves scrunched up, dark jeans, and sturdy leather boots. And a lot of jewelry; a silver necklace with charms that lay against the chest hair she couldn't help but notice, as well as a couple rings and a leather bracelet. Normally she had a rule about men who wore more jewelry than she did, but that accent let him get away with it. Yep, she confirmed, completely and totally screwed. Blinking rapidly, she found her voice.

"Excuse me?"

He smiled wide, like he knew the effect he was having on her.

"What were you reading on your phone, love?"

Emma narrowed her eyes.

"Were you eavesdropping or something?" She felt some weird sense of relief at the thought of him being a creep, that way she would have no problem brushing him off.

"I was merely walking back to the kitchen and overheard," he motioned behind him.

"So you work here?" Emma crossed her arms, not sure if she believed him.

"Well, yes. I own the place."

"Oh. Sorry if I was 'messing with the vibe' or something."

"You, love, can do whatever you want in my bar," he said as he moved closer, leading with his hips.

"Jane Eyre." The words came out more forceful than she intended, as if they could block his advance.

He tilted his head in amusement, then brought his hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will," he took away his hand, eyes twinkling, "why does that seem rather fitting?"

Emma snorted, trying desperately not to seem impressed. "You're something else, you know."

"As are you."

"Please, you couldn't handle it," Emma muttered, rolling her eyes for good measure.

"Perhaps you're the one who couldn't handle it," he shot back, popping the "t" at the end and moving closer still.

His eyes fixed her to the spot, her body torn between jumping on top of him and running in the other direction. After a beat, he glanced down to her lips, and that made the decision for her. Emma grabbed his shirt with both hands and hauled him to her. His lips were warm and soft, the kiss needy and insistent, that scruff of his creating a lovely friction as he opened her mouth further to lightly flick his tongue against hers. Their hands gripped each other's hair, deepening the kiss till Emma could scarcely breathe. When they eventually broke apart, she had to hold onto his shirt to keep from swaying forward, the ground not quite solid beneath her. Slowly the music and hoots and hollers of everyone around them filtered back in. Emma saw Ruby over his shoulder, gaping.

"That was…" he breathed hot across her face, grabbing her attention again.

"A one time thing," she finished, pushing him away. Emma turned quickly, telling him not to follow her. The last thing she heard before she was too far away to hear anything but her own riotous thoughts was a soft, "as you wish".

Killian was too stunned to run after her and he reckoned it wouldn't help his cause much if he did. He brought his hand to his tingling lips and exhaled deeply, not really believing what just happened. He had been hoping for a name, if he was lucky, maybe even a number, but not that. Killian made his way back to the bar to see Belle with that smug look she got whenever she was right about something and Robin and Will wiggling their eyebrows. Ducking his head to scratch behind his ear, Killian shrugged, and ordered another round.

Thankfully the hallway that lead to the kitchen and bathroom also had an exit that took Emma to an alleyway. She could grab a cab and text Ruby on her way back to her apartment.

"Emma, wait!"

She groaned and turned on her heel.

"Ruby, I'm just going to go home and -"

"Are you really going to pretend that didn't just happen?"

"I'm drunk, it was a joke -"

"You've had two drinks and you were reading Jane Eyre. You're not drunk. And he seems too smitten for it to have been a joke. I wish you could've seen his face after you left."

Emma shrugged and started walking backwards, "I'm sorry, Ruby. Tonight was a mistake. I'll text you when I'm home."

Then she practically ran in the other direction.

"Emma!"