Birthday present for the lovely kjb2609!


Chapter 1: The Smuggler

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Mrs. Lucas?"

Granny looked up to see a tall, dark haired, blue eyed, man standing in the middle of the diner, a duffel bag at his feet. He had a lilting accent and a roguish smile, along with a battered leather jacket and faded jeans. She could tell that this one was going to break hearts all over town. Oh well, the hell with it.

"That would be me, dear, but everyone calls me Granny," she said, as she left her spot behind the counter, drying her hands on a dishcloth before she extended one towards the man.

He reached out to shake her hand. "Killian Jones, milady. They told me you were able to offer assistance to a poor sod like me."

Granny smiled at him. "They told you right. I can offer room, board and a job here at the diner. The job won't pay much, but you are covered for rent and meals, and that would help you save some money. You can stay as long as you want, and leave whenever you want as well, provided that your probation officer knows about it. Does that sound good to you?"

"It sounds better than anything that has been offered to me in a long time." He reached to scratch behind his ear, and she noticed the thick scars over his left hand. He noticed her stare and ducked his head bashfully for a second, before meeting her eyes again. "A bad run in with my former associates," he said nervously.

She smiled softly at him, patting his arm with her hand. "That's ok, hun. We've all done things we are not proud of." She tilted her head, carefully examining him. "I think you'd make a fantastic waiter. Those looks of yours will surely get you good tips."

He chuckled and she smiled again. "Let me show you the room so you can get settled." She started to walk towards the back of the diner and Killian dutifully followed her.

"What were you in for?" Granny asked. "If you'd like to share it with me…"

Killian smiled. "I thought they told you before you agreed to take me in."

"I don't ask them. I've already told them what my limits are and I prefer hearing it from you and not the probation officers."

"Smuggling. Alcohol mostly. But as I said, I had a bad run in with my associates that left me with a scarred hand and jail time. I've done my time, got out on good behavior and I plan to stay on the good side of the law from now on," he said, as they climbed the stairs to the rooms.

Granny turned around. "You better keep those hands off my rum." She winked and offered him a key, "This is your room. Take your time, settle in and meet me downstairs when you are ready."

"Thank you, milady," he bowed at her and she rolled her eyes at him. Killian entered the room and shut the door quietly, dropping the duffel bag at this feet. The private room was quite spacious, clean, included a bathroom and had natural light coming from the window. It might not be much, but it felt more like home than anything had since he walked out of England so many years ago, chasing a mistake and leaving his brother behind. It was time for a new start.

After a quick shower and changing into dark jeans and a white button up shirt, he headed downstairs, running his hand through his damp hair. His eyes scanned the diner looking for Granny, but soon he stood frozen, gaping at the sight of a beautiful blonde standing by the counter. The light was casting an aura on her hair, and even from a distance he could make the green in her eyes. She seemed like a vision, like a drop of water coming to the aid of a thirsty man in the desert. He hadn't been with a woman since he got out of jail, but he hadn't felt the need or desire to do so either. He'd been focused on sorting out his life and moving forward; getting drunk in a bar while picking up a random stranger for the night had no longer been appealing.

But that beautiful woman was igniting something different in him and he couldn't help (even if he'd tried, which he didn't) the smirk that came to his face and the swagger with which he approached her.

"Hello, love," he said a low, sultry voice, "How can I help you?"

She turned around and gave him an unamused look. "I'm waiting to place my order and I'm having a bad day, so save it, buddy."

"What can I get you?"

Her green eyes squinted at him with a hint of annoyance. "Are you going to pretend you work here? That's your tactic? I come here almost everyday and I know you don't."

"As it so happens, I start today… so tell me, love, what do you want? I'm more than eager to fulfill your every desire, lass."

She rolled her eyes and scoffed. She was even more beautiful. "You didn't just say that."

He tilted his head, biting his lower lip and giving her a mischievous glint, "Come on, I'm new in town, I'm trying to have a fresh start, why don't you help a bloke out here, love?"

"Don't call me love," she spat, in a mildly irritated tone.

"You haven't told me your name. I'm Killian Jones, at your service." He extended her his hand and waited for her to shake it, but she just looked up and down at him. He gave her his most charming smirk. "I see, you're afraid to talk, to reveal yourself. But it's a small town, isn't it?" He took one more step, invading her personal space and lowering his voice. "We are bound to find each other again, darling, perhaps you should not fight fate." He cocked an eyebrow at her.

She snorted, shaking her head as she took a step backwards. "I don't have enough caffeine in my system to deal with this," she retorted, before turning around. "I'll just drop by later…"

"Come on!" he pleaded. "Tell me your name."

She stopped as she turned her head over her shoulder, giving him a flirty smile, "It's a small town, isn't it? I'm sure you'll soon find out who I am."

He watched her as she turned around and left the diner, his mouth slightly agape before he closed it and smiled softly to himself, running his hand through his hair.

"Was that Emma Swan leaving?" He turned around to see Granny coming out of the kitchen with a tray with a burger and fries. She placed the food on the counter and motioned him to sit down. "I have another of you coming soon and I thought I could run by the basics once he's here. In the meantime, eat, dear," she said.

Killian obeyed and sat on a stool, his mouth drooling from the smell of the food. "This smells delicious," he complimented.

"I know." Granny smirked.

"The blonde that just left," Killian started as he grabbed a fry and ate it. "Do you know her name? She wouldn't tell me. Where - where can I find her?" he asked eagerly.

Granny cocked an eyebrow at him, looking at him from behind her glasses, her hand resting on her hip.

"Were you flirting with her?"

Killian blushed slightly, reaching to scratch behind his ear. "Well , I - you know ... she's bloody beautiful," he finished with a flowery gesture of his hand before he reached to take a sip of the water Granny had served him.

"Yes, she is. And she's also the sheriff, loverboy," she finished in a whisper, and stood back to enjoy the sight of Killian coughing loudly as he choked on his drink.