Title: CS Secret Santa AU
Rating: T for innuendos
Pairing/Characters: Emma/Killian (Hook), Ruby
Description: Emma Swan is not in the Christmas mood. Worse, she's paired with the worst person she could imagine for the office Secret Santa: smooth, lady lover Killian Jones. If she could just get him and Christmas a chance, maybe she'd be pleasantly surprised. AU modern office setting, Killian doesn't have a hook, no magic.
Author's Note: Word count 4069, in two parts
Part One
Emma Swan sat, drumming her pen forcefully on her desk. She sighed loudly.
"Someone's grumpy," said a brunette in a tight red pencil skirt. Her dark eyes twinkled as she smiled at Emma. "I guess you heard?"
Emma's eyes narrowed. "Yes i heard, Ruby," she snapped. "Do we have to do it again this year?"
Ruby shrugged. "It was a direct command from the big boss."
Emma shook her head. "Why does the Evil Queen care if we celebrate the stupid holiday anyway?"
Ruby laughed. "I'd watch using our affectionate nickname for the next few days," she said. "She's actually in a fairly good mood."
Emma snickered. "I don't buy it. The only reason a ruthless executive celebrates the holidays is because she thinks encouraging good will to men for thirty days will erase an entire year's worth of corporate takeovers, downsizing, layoffs, and firings."
"Sheesh I'm, the Grinch could take lessons from you.
Emma sighed. "I don't hate Christmas."
"Could have fooled me."
Emma looked at her friend's smiling face. "Ok, maybe me and holidays haven't always gotten along so well. You know about my crappy childhood."
Ruby dropped her smile. "I guess it's tough celebrating in the foster care system."
Emma nodded. "It was hard pretending all was well and I had a happy future to look forward to." She sat silently for a minute. ""That was then, things are better."
"You found your parents."
Emma smiled shyly. "Yeah, and...it's been good, I guess. They say they want me in their lives."
"Do you believe them?"
Emma shrugged. "I don't know."
"It's what you wanted right?" asked Ruby. "You looked for them for a reason."
Emma sighed. "I guess I wasn't expecting them to be decent people, to welcome me."
"They have," said Ruby.
Emma nodded. "I guess."
Ruby laughed. "Jeez, Emma, you always think the worst."
"I can't help it. For so many years, thinking the best only got me disappointed."
"Emma, it's in the past. Let it go."
"I know, I know," said Emma. She gave Ruby a wary look. "They asked me to their house for Christmas."
"Your parents?"
Emma nodded.
Ruby put her hands on her hips. "Are you going?"
Emma grimaced. "I don't know."
Ruby chuckled. "Sometimes you are your own worst enemy, Emma Swan."
Emma sighed. "Yeah."
"Maybe the Secret Santa thing will get you in the mood."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Right, some forced tradition, making us shop for someone we don't even know and buy stupid presents they'll just throw away?"
"Maybe you're doing it wrong, Love," said a new voice.
Ruby's smile lit up as she eyed Emma's reaction to the newcomer. First Emma's face betrayed her. She turned pink, for a moment, and her eyes lingered on the figure. Then frosty coldness took over and her face turned to a stone mask. "Mr. Jones," she said flatly.
The tall, dark-haired man shook his head. His blue eyes were light and dancing. He had a smirk between his mustache and light stubble beard. "Love, how many times must I tell you? Call me Killian."
"I think 'Mr. Jones' will do," she said.
He sighed. "Swan, what can I do to make you warm up to me?"
Ruby bit her lip, trying not to chuckle.
Emma stayed cold. "I don't wish to warm up to you, Mr. Jones." She turned her head away and muttered, "I think you've warmed up plenty of women in this office as it is."
Ruby's mouth dropped open and she smirked at Jones.
"Perhaps I have. I'm very friendly," he said, bending down slightly. "I dare say you could do with some warmth, Emma."
"It's Miss Swan, if you don't mind. I'm plenty warm, besides that's what coats, scarves, mittens and coffee are for," she said, smiling smugly, picking up her Starbucks and taking a sip.
Jones sighed and straightened up. "Have it your way, Love." He moved away a few steps, then turned. "Don't think I'm giving up." He smirked at her. "Who knows, perhaps this Christmas I'll change your mind." He winked at Ruby then walked away.
Ruby licked her lips as she watched him walk. "How can you be so cool when that hottie is around?"
"I don't like him."
"Are you crazy?"
"Ruby, looks aren't everything."
Ruby laughed. "So you admit he's hot."
Emma sighed. "Everyone knows he's a looker. He certainly does." she shook her head. "I know the type: shallow and arrogant. He thinks he's a gift to women. He pursues one after another. We're nothing to him."
"You sure?"
"Yes." she looked up. Ruby was staring at her. "What?"
"I dunno. Maybe there's more to him."
"There isn't trust me," grumbled Emma.
"You know," said Ruby, with a grin, "maybe you'll get him for the secret santa drawing and then maybe you'll get to know him and..."
"Don't you dare!"
Ruby looked shocked. "What? Are you saying I would rig the drawing?" she asked with way too much drama.
"Ruby, everyone knows you fix this stupid Secret Santa.."
"You think?" she asked with a smirk, then walked away.
Emma shook her head. She hated the office Christmas party. People got drunk off the spiked punch, the gifts were dumb, and she hated the forced good cheer.
"Maybe I do hate Christmas," she muttered.
"If that is true," said a smooth voice, "that is a shame…" Killian paused flashed his cocky smile as he sat beside her.
"Great," she mumbled.
He just smiled wider. "Perhaps after you receive your gift, you will have a change of heart."
She rolled her eyes. "Right. Look, I know Ruby paired us."
He smirked and raised an eyebrow.
"As Secret Santas, Jerk," she growled, shaking her head. "Nothing earth shattering is going to happen, so get over yourself."
He continued to smile. "We shall see."
"What is with you?" she asked. "I've told you I'm not interested. Just get over the fact that there is one woman who sees through you and move on."
"Ooh, you are quite cranky, aren't you?'
She rolled her eyes. "You think you're so hot."
He shook his head. "Perhaps, Emma Swan, you do not know me as well as you think."
She scoffed.
They exchanged the gifts. She smirked evilly as he opened his present.
His eyebrow went up. It was a bottle shaped like a naked male torso. The ugly label was another male chest with the big black words, "Man Musk."
She couldn't help but giggle. "I thought it went well with your oh, so perfect sex appeal."
He opened the lid and winced, then coughed. 'Ugh, I hope you don't think I smell this bad."
She grimaced at him. Actually, he always smelled really good. She hated that about him, that and the fact that he liked to hover over her.
"Well, thank you," he said genuinely.
It caught her off guard. She was expecting some cheeky reply or even that he'd like the horrible gift. "Whatever. I was forced. So...where's my cheap perfume or provocative seductive gift?"
He laughed. "I really had hoped we could chat before hand, so I'd know just what to give you, but since you felt the need to keep me at arm's distance…"
"Come on, Jones."
"Yeah, let's see what you got her," said Ruby. "I hope it's better than that stink bomb she gave you."
Emma scowled at her.
Her friend just laughed. "It was awful, Ems, and you know it."
The rest of the office laughed, not meanly, but apparently in agreement. Emma when red. SHe hated this party before he embarrassed her.
"Here, you go, Swan," he said. He handed her a square envelope.
She opened it to find a CD. It was obviously homemade since it had lovely cursive writing that said "to Emma from Killian."
"How original. Let me guess. A mix tape."
He shrugged. "You'll have to listen to find out."
Emma didn't even bother to thank him. She folded her arms, sitting with her knee shaking anxiously across the other leg, waiting to leave this pathetic charade.
"OK, moving on, next gift," said Ruby. "Is Victor." She smiled warmly. "I got your name."
"Big surprise," mumbled Emma. She rolled her eyes as Victor got a very nice mug, biscuit and coffee set.
"My favorites, Ruby!" he cried. She giggled and hugged him. "You did really well," he told her.
Of course he did, she was dating him. She cared about making him happy, thought Emma.
Finally the last gifts were given and she bolted.
"Emma!"
She muttered. Darn if Killian wasn't following her. He kept pursuing even to her car. She spun around. "I've got mace, pal!"
He stared at her, then laughed. "Emma. Please. I'm not stalking you."
"Could have fooled me."
"Wow, someone really did a number on you, didn't they?"
"Excuse me?"
"Come on, Emma, no one hates Christmas this much without a reason."
"I've got reasons and they're mine."
He leaned slightly closer. "You know, you don't have to share that burden alone."
She scoffed. "Right. Like I said before, I know you're type."
He looked seriously at her, no smirk, no wink. "Are you sure?'
She faltered for a moment. His look was sincere. She even saw a familiar gleam of pain in his eyes. She turned to her car without another remark.
"Do something for me?"
"Ha. Why should I?"
"I don't know, because it's Christmas?"
She got in the driver's seat and gave a sarcastic laugh. "Right."
"Come on, Emma, after the crappy gift you gave me, do me one favor."
"No. I'm not going with you for a drink or a 'bite," she said with air parentheses around the last word.
He gave a sad chuckle. "I was just going to ask you to listen to the CD. I made it for you. It took some work, Emma."
She scoffed for like the billionth time. "Listen to cheesy love songs?"
He shook his head. "Give it a listen, you might be surprised."
"I don't think I'd like your surprises," she snarled, grabbing her door to shut it.
He prevented that. He leaned down, "Try something new, Love. It's called trust." He let the door go. He then walked away without looking back.
End of Part One