Title: Dark Heart, Chapter One
Author: Pinkcat4569
Rating: T for mild adult language and situations. There will be some tense moments as Emma isn't too nice.
Pairing: Emma/Hook (Killian)
Spoilers: Through end of season 3 with major events mentioned
Description: Emma has changed.
Emma has changed. Her blossoming romance with Hook stops cold, as Emma seems to no longer feel the same affection for him. Then it starts to spread. Is this simply a change of heart, or is something else going on? Set after Season 3.
Disclaimer: I don't one Once Upon a Time or the characters. I write for fun.
Author's Note: This is an odd mix of angst, hurt/comfort, romance, and suspense.
It will be around 20,000 words or more total length. 1538 Words, this Chapter
Dark Heart, Chapter One
Emma stood in line at Granny's. She sighed, then yawned. She really needed her coffee this morning. She'd been up late. She chuckled as she thought of a certain cheeky pirate.
Henry had stayed the night with Regina, so Emma spent the evening with Killian, well, it started as evening. The time got away as they spent hours just talking. She giggled. OK, other things crept in between the talking. She wanted to take it slow and they were, but she couldn't deny the things he made her feel.
She yawned again cursing Killian Jones for being so charming. She blushed and smiled, probably like a lovesick teenager.
"That's a nice look," said a soft voice.
Emma woke up. She saw a nun looking at her. "Oh, hi."
"Hello," said the brunette woman, who was about her height and build. "I'm sorry if I woke you from a nice daydream."
Emma blushed again and gave an awkward smile. "No. I uh...I was just thinking of...someone."
"I can tell," said the nun with a grin. "Sorry, I don't mean to embarrass you."
"No, it's OK," said Emma. "It's just...new."
"Ah, new love. How exciting!" said the nun. She was in front of Emma, next in line. She ordered, as Emma gave yet another yawn. She excused herself sheepishly.
"Didn't get much sleep?" asked the nun.
Emma gave another self-conscious grin. "No. I stayed up...talking...longer than I should have."
"With the person you were thinking of?"
"Yeah," she replied, turning another shade of pink.
"Don't be embarrassed. It's wonderful, to have someone."
"Yeah, it is," Emma said, yawning again. The nun moved out of line. "Yes, I'm next. Coffee, please."
Ruby frowned, showing the empty coffee pot. "Sorry, Em."
"Naturally," said Emma, stifling another yawn. "On the day I really need it too."
"It'll only be a few minutes."
Emma sighed. "It is not my morning."
"Why don't you sit with me while you wait?" asked the nun. "I'd love the company."
Emma smiled and nodded, following her to a booth. "I'm sister Meg, by the way." They chatted while Emma waited for her coffee. When a certain patron walked into the diner, Emma couldn't help but break into a goofy smile and feel tingly all over.
He caught her eye, smiled back and made his move toward her. Damn if she didn't have goosebumps at the sight of him. "Good morning, Swan."
She grinned deeper, blushing. "Hi."
They smiled and stared. The nun sipped her juice and made a slight throat-clearing sound.
Emma looked at her. "Oh, sorry. Sister Meg, this is Killian Jones."
He nodded to the sister as she nodded back. Then his attention went promptly back to his Swan. "It's wonderful to see you, Emma."
"Yeah, long time no see," she said. They both grinned.
"I assure you, it has been far too long for me."
Emma shook her head, chuckling. "Wow. You can put it on this thick this early in the morning, huh?"
He smiled. "I would ask you if you were free for breakfast, but it seems you already have a charming companion."
Meg giggled.
"Oh, brother," said Emma, grinning. "Well, I wish I could join either of you...charming...companions but...I shouldn't even be waiting around for the coffee." She yawned. "Excuse me."
Killian chuckled. "What's wrong Swan, did you not sleep last night?" he asked with a cheeky smile. He leaned in. "Perhaps your mind was occupied? Were you dreaming of a devilishly handsome someone?"
She blushed and grinned a bit. "I'm just tired because I made the poor judgment call to stay up late with a person who can't shut up."
He smirked back. "He must have been a very intelligent and interesting conversationalist." His lips hovered just above hers. "Were you hanging on his every word?"
She actually shuddered. "If I was, I'd never tell him. The guy is an egomaniac."
Meg watched the two of them.
Emma's attention was too usurped by a certain pirate to notice. She barely heard the tingle of the diner's bell. Then she heard a voice that shook her wide awake. "Hey, Mom."
"Henry! Why aren't you on your way to school?"
"I was, but I saw your bug out front. Want to walk with me?"
Emma smiled. "Of course," she said, but her eyes lingered on the coffee pot that was still going.
"Have no fear, Swan, I shall accompany the lad to his place of education," said Killian grandly. He looked at Henry. "Your mother is terribly in need of her dark libation this morning." He winked at the boy's mother as he said, "Apparently she had a rather sleepless night."
She elbowed him.
"That's OK, Mom," her son said. "Come on Killian, you can tell me some more about your travels on the way."
"Uh...only the clean ones."
"Swan, I'm a pirate. I did not live cleanly, however, I shall make something up. Come along, my lad."
He and Henry began to walk out.
"Hold it," she said. She grabbed Henry for a hug and got a "mooom," and then she quickly kissed Killian. That earned her an "ew" from the boy.
Killian laughed and stole another kiss. "You'll change your mind about these sort of actions in time, my boy."
Henry shook his head and ran outside.
Killian lingered. "I don't suppose you'd be free later?"
"I dunno," she said with a grin. "Storybrooke can be a pretty dangerous place. I might be really busy with crooks later."
"If you are, you need merely to summon me and I shall come to your aid," he said.
"How? You still refuse to carry a cell phone."
"I do not trust this world's contraptions. I only ride in that small yellow vessel on occasion because I'm smitten with it's captain. " She shook her head and laughed. "What say you join me in this lovely establishment later for lunch?"
Emma smiled. "I suppose. We have to eat."
"Indeed."
She smiled, noticing Henry pacing. "You better go."
"I shall deliver the lad safely."
"I know. I trust you."
Killian smiled brightly at the words. "You humble me, Love."
"Nah. You've earned it. See you later."
He kissed her hand and joined Henry. Emma watched them leave, then sat back down with Sister Meg.
"I see why you are so tired."
Emma blushed.
Meg chuckled. "You are very sweet together."
"I...um, thanks."
A short time later, Ruby appeared. "Here you go, Emma. Sorry for the wait."
Emma took the coffee gratefully and handed Ruby the money for it. "No problem. I know you've got other customers. Some even want coffee, the greedy people." She chuckled. Thanks, Ruby."
"Sure," said the waitress. Someone then bellowed her name. She rolled her eyes. "I wish they were all as considerate as you. Coming, Leroy."
Emma took a sip and sighed happily. "That hits the spot."
Meg giggled. "So...that was Captain Hook, yes?"
Emma blushed. "Yeah."
Meg chuckled too. "He is very different from his stories."
Emma laughed. "Well, he has two sides."
Meg looked at her. "Don't we all. He seems to like you."
Emma laughed. "Yeah, he's a bit obvious."
"You like him too, I can tell."
Emma blushed.
"I'm sorry. I do not mean to embarrass you."
"No, it's fine." She was quiet for a moment then she said softly, "Yes, I like him." She sighed happily. "He's done a lot for me, given up a lot."
"Ah, acts of love."
Emma smiled. "Yeah, I guess." She blushed, looking out over Storybrooke. "He's one of the reasons this place feels like home. I never thought I could love a place or people so much."
Meg smiled. "That is nice."
"Yeah," said Emma, glancing at her watch. "Jeez. I really have to go. I'm sorry but I'm so late now. Thanks for keeping me company."
Sister Meg smiled and patted Emma on the hand briefly. "No problem. Perhaps we can do it again sometime?"
"Sure," said Emma. "I'll see you."
She walked out but didn't get far. "Where the heck are my keys? She fumbled through her pockets. She even squinted into the bug to make sure they weren't inside.
"Emma?"
She turned to see the sister.
"You forgot these," she said, dangling the keys in front of her.
Emma smiled. "Thank you." She yawned again. "I think the lack of sleep is going to my brain." She took the keys, brushing the nun's hand as she did. "It's a bad thing for the sheriff to be forgetful."
"You're just having an off morning," said Meg. "It will get better."
"I hope so."
Meg patted her shoulder, lightly pressing against Emma's neck as she pushed a strand of hair away. "It will." She smiled and walked back into Granny's.
Emma thought the nun was a bit touchy-feely, but well, she was a nun. Maybe it was her way of spreading love. She opened her car and went to the office.
End of Chapter One