I looked at my talking phone for the fifth time in ten minutes as I sat on a bench at the docks, staring out into the harbor. Should I call Emma? I'd pondered that question scores of times in the past few weeks. She'd been busy trying to rid Storybrooke of the Snow Queen, which I knew had kept her occupied. I'd also had my fair share of problems, what with Rumpelstiltskin taking my heart and controlling me, allowing very little time with Emma. We'd seen each other in passing, stolen a few kisses even, but I couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong. She'd never truly answered me when I asked her if she would go out with me again. Emma liked the upper hand; I knew that, but was that really our biggest obstacle anymore? Romance hadn't really worked out for her before, at least not in the sense that she could look back on those relationships with much fondness. It appeared that Neal was the only one who'd made a lasting impression on her heart, and even now, I could see the sadness in her eyes whenever his name came up in conversation. Her love for him made jealously beat wildly through me. I understood that Neal was Henry's father and that would never change. However, I wasn't going to let the shadow of a man force me to give up. Killian Jones was a man who fought for what he wanted, and Emma Swan was the woman I'd sworn to follow to the ends of the world.
With a heavy sigh, I hit the Emma button and held the device to my ear, listening as the music tones droned. After a few moments, I heard her assertive voice, "Hook. What is it?"
What was it with everyone and that ridiculous moniker? I didn't quite understand why it had stuck. "When are you going to break down and start calling me Killian, Swan?"
"Maybe when you stop calling me Swan," she answered defensively. "No, actually, that isn't true. I'd probably still call you Hook even then."
I rolled my eyes. "The part about me calling you Swan was a fair point, love. I hadn't thought of that."
"Of course you hadn't. However, I sense that you didn't call me just to scold me with the name game."
"No, you're right. I didn't," I answered, swallowing hard. I didn't know why it was so difficult with Emma. Maybe it was because I actually cared what she thought of me. I always had, ever since our first adventure together in the Enchanted Forest.
"O-okay. What is it, then?" she asked again, her voice dripping with curiosity.
I let out a deep breath again. "You never answered my question that night, Emma. You never told me if you would go out with me again. So, I've decided to ask you again. Will you go out with me a second time?"
There was a short period of silence before Emma answered me, "Look, I'm sorry about the past few weeks. It's just been kind of overwhelming with the Snow Witch icing everything over and then trying to help Elsa find Anna."
"I know that. You've been bombarded, and I completely understand that. I just wanted to make sure that lovely evening we shared wasn't a one-time thing."
She replied, "I'm still scared, Killian. I know you're probably not used to a woman wanting to take things slow, but that's what I need."
"I'm not trying to push you. I'd never do that. I know you're scared. So am I, quite frankly. It's been a bloody long time since I've fancied a woman this much. All I'm asking for is another night just like that one we shared before: a little dinner, some wine, time to talk. Nothing extravagant."
I heard her let out a long sigh over the phone, and I knew she was thinking. That was one of Emma's problems. She overthought things far too much rather than simply living for the moment.
"I mean, I know we're sort of, you know, together, but I just want to remind you of what you're getting into. I'm not a woman who's going to fall at your feet."
I smiled. That was my Emma, always blunt and unafraid to express just how she was feeling. "It wouldn't be much fun if you did, Emma. I like a challenge."
"Is that all you pirates are after? The danger, the edge?"
"Well, what is life without a little uncertainty?" I answered.
I could almost see her just rolling her eyes at me. "Do I get to plan the evening this time since you did when I asked you?"
"Why? Didn't you like my plans when we went out last time?" I scoffed. I had spent quite the time trying to make everything perfect for Emma, romantic yet comfortable.
"You know I did. I just thought, you know, maybe you could let me do the work for once."
Trademark Emma, wanting control. This time, though, she wasn't going to get it. Despite living in this modern world, I was still an old-fashioned man, accustomed to ways that had been in practice hundreds of years ago. "I'm courting you, Emma. The woman is supposed to just sit back and let the man woo her."
"Yeah, no, not happening. You're like three-hundred. When you were 'courting,' women couldn't do anything but sit back and let the men make fools of themselves."
"Actually, I never did too much courting. Too formal for me. Besides, that wasn't what I was really looking for, as you can imagine."
"No, I don't imagine you can do too much 'courting' on a pirate ship."
"That is true."
"Can we compromise on something?"
Emma softening? Wow. I would have to take advantage of that. "I might consider it."
"What if we didn't go out, at least not somewhere formal? I could bring the food or something and you could pick the place."
I nodded. Not a bad idea. "I like that. However, you have to let me bring something, Emma. I certainly don't want you to do all the work."
"Alright, you can bring the wine," she answered, the sarcasm evident in her tone.
"You would say that," I answered.
"Fine. Can you handle a dessert or something like that?"
"Yes," I answered before I'd even given much thought to it. I had no idea how I was going to pull something like that together, but I'd manage.
"So, does tonight work for you?"
Tonight? How in the hell could she possibly have everything ready by tonight whilst trying to keep Storybrooke in order? I was always left amazed by just how much she could accomplish at a time.
"Tonight…yes, of course."
"Hook, are you sure you're okay with this? You sound hesitant."
"Sorry, love. I was just thinking. Don't worry about me. I've got everything under control."
"Okay, well, then, I guess I'll see you tonight then?"
"Yes. I'll pick you up at…half past six?" I asked.
"Sounds great. I'll see you tonight, Killian."
I laughed. "Yes, I'll see you tonight."
As I hung up, I looked out at the water. How in bloody hell was I going to make tonight special for Emma? We weren't going out, so our evening would literally consist of her and me. Baking certainly wasn't on my list of talents. Finding access to a nice bottle of Chardonnay would be the easy part. Also, where the world could we have dinner in this town that would be peaceful and romantic and suitable for a date?
The Charmings. I bet they'd help me out, or at least Mary-Margaret would. She liked me, or at least tolerated me for Emma's sake. David, well, he wasn't too fond of me. There still seemed to be some skepticism in him about me, not that I truly blamed him for that. He'd first seen me as a pirate, and he probably would always think of me that way no matter how much I'd changed.
First on my agenda: visit the Charmings. It had been a while since I'd seen the little royal, anyway.
I grabbed my leather jacket from the bench beside me and shrugged into it. Well, I might as well pay them that visit now. I needed to be prepared and not look like I'd simply thrown everything together.
The walk to the Charmings' apartment was a brief one from the docks, maybe ten minutes at the most. As I knocked on the door, my stomach trembled a bit, something that happened none too often. I heard the lock unlatch and soon saw Mary-Margaret standing on the other side, baby Neal cuddled against her.
"Hook. What are you doing here?" she asked, her eyes bright and wide with shock.
"I came here to ask for your help, actually. I know that sounds a bit strange, but it will all make sense once I explain it to you," I said quickly, hearing the panic in my voice.
"Okay. Come on in," she said as she stepped aside, allowing me through the threshold. "What's going on?"
"I've got a date with Emma tonight."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"Of course it is. My problem is that she wants me to pick a place for us to have dinner and for me to bring the wine and a dessert. The wine part I've got covered. I have no trouble selecting that. The location and the dessert are where my issues come in. I've got no clue what to do, and you were the first person I could think of who might be able to help me."
Mary-Margaret smiled. "Well, I'm glad I was. I think I can help you, but you're going to have to trust me with some of this. Can you handle that?"
I shrugged. "You're her mother. Why shouldn't I?"
"Well, here's my idea. I can help you with the dessert. That I can whip up in no time at all. The location, though, that's got to be you. Is there somewhere that's maybe special to the both of you, or, at the very least, somewhere you find to be relaxing or peaceful?"
I thought about it for a moment. For some reason, the only place I kept picturing in my mind was the docks. It was particularly beautiful at night, with the minimal light and the soft sound of the waves crashing against the dock. "The docks, I suppose," I answered. "Maybe it's just because I spend a lot of time there, but it really is a spectacular place to be, especially at night."
"Then take her there," Mary-Margaret answered, the smile on her face growing. "It doesn't have to be fancy. Emma's not really the kind for pomp and circumstance, anyway. If that's the place you think of, then go for it. I'll even give you a tablecloth or something to throw over one of the tables down there to dress it up a little. Oh, and wine glasses. You don't want to forget those. Could you hold Neal for a minute while I grab that for you?"
Before I could even answer, Mary Margaret was placing the baby in my arms. I had to adjust so my hook didn't catch little Neal, but once I figured out a comfortable position for him and for me, it was fine. Nice, even. It was hard to believe that he was Emma's little brother. His wide eyes peered up at me in question, much like his father did every time he saw me. Children, especially little ones like Neal, were usually only viewed by me at a distance. The idea of them was nice, but they just didn't exactly run in the same circles as pirates. Now, though, in a town like Storybrooke, where everyone knew everyone and people were falling in love, getting married, and having children all the time, I'd become accustomed to the little tykes. Maybe someday…
Never mind. I was thinking too far ahead. What was I becoming? I'd gone from a pirate who lived in the moment to a man constantly looking to the future. It made little sense, least of all to me.
After a few moments of rocking Neal against my chest and listening to some shuffling presumably by Mary-Margaret, she emerged with an entire basket of items. "Okay, Hook, here's what I've got for you," she announced, setting the basket down on the table and opening it to show me what she'd so generously lent me. "I found that tablecloth I told you about, red plaid, wine glasses, some candles, and a lighter. Now, if you're really looking to set the scene, get some flowers and I'll give you a vase. You could even spread the petals on the table if you want to get really fancy. Does that kind of give you some ideas?"
I nodded, amazed that Mary-Margaret could come up with all of those ideas on such short notice. It certainly would set the stage for a romantic yet simple evening, just the kind of thing that Emma would appreciate. "It's perfect, Mary-Margaret. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Look, I didn't get the chance to see my daughter grow up, so the only thing I can experience is what she's going through now, and that's what's happening between the two of you. Seeing the two of you together…well, it's a lot to take in. I want Emma to be happy, and that's going to take someone who can be her equal in every way that matters. In the little time I've known her, the only person who can truly match her in determination is you, and that's saying a lot. Still, as much as the two of you bickered, especially in the beginning, I've never seen her happier than when she came home from that first date with you. Just…be careful, okay? If you're the man who can make her the happiest, it means you're also the one that can hurt her the most."
I shifted my eyes to the floor. "This is all new to me, or at least it might as well be. I care for Emma, and the last thing I ever want to do is hurt her."
She smiled. "I know."
For a moment, I just stood there and thought about some of the things I'd done. Many of them were things I wasn't proud of. Most of what came to mind surrounded that first date I'd shared with Emma, how I'd gone to Rumpelstiltskin to retrieve the hand I'd lost to him centuries ago and made a deal with the devil to do so. He'd tricked me, playing with my head, trying to convince me I wasn't a changed man when I knew I was. Still, it made me doubt myself from time to time. I wanted to be a better man for Emma, and in some instances, I knew I'd failed. That didn't mean I'd stop from trying, though.
"I can only promise you that I will do my very best to make Emma happy."
"That's the only thing David and I want to hear, Hook. The rest of the stuff…well, it's just that. The actions are what really shows, and so far, you've more than proven yourself."
"Thank you. That means a lot. I'm not sure your husband would agree with that, though," I answered jokingly.
"He's just being protective. Emma just rolls her eyes at him, anyway. She's grown up and more than capable of making her own decisions. You saw him that night you first took her out. He tried to give you the overprotective dad speech. She got you out of there before he could even try. She respects our opinion, but even more than that, she embraces her independence. You've given her that while also challenging her to let you in. That takes someone special."
"Well, I'm not really special, Mary-Margaret, although I've often had the tendency to think so. Emma and I just have a lot of similarities. We've both lost people who were very important to us and closed ourselves off to feeling because of it. She's taught me a lot."
Mary-Margaret smiled and took a step closer to me, stretching her arms out. "Emma can have that effect on people. Here, I'll take Neal from you."
I placed the baby back in her arms. "So, you said you can cover this dessert thing?"
"Oh, yeah. I've already got an idea in mind. Are you picking Emma up?"
"I am at half-past six," I answered.
"Perfect. Is it alright if I give it to you then?"
"Of course. I have no trouble admitting that I needed your help on this one," I replied, smiling. "Thank you again. I do appreciate it."
"Anytime, Hook…or should I start calling you Killian now? I mean, you are dating my daughter."
I chuckled. I still didn't quite understand why anyone felt hesitation to use my given name. I'd always introduced myself that way first, the Hook thing typically an afterthought. "Killian is fine."
"Well, then, Killian, I suppose I should get started on that dessert for you and Emma."
"I better head out and pick out the wine, then," I said, retrieving the basket from the table. "Thank you so much, Mary Margaret."
"You're welcome. Have fun."
I had no doubt that I would. After all, it was going to be just Emma and me in my favorite place in Storybrooke. Could there be anything much better than that?
