A/N: This AU is all fluff and sweetness with a bit of smut in upcoming chapters, and for those of you who have read my other stories before, you know there's nothing like angst in sight. Anyway, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!

Emma Swan could set her watch to the small town of Storybrooke, Maine. Everyday was just the same, her neighbors lived in a daily cycle that was very rarely tampered with and the comfort of such sameness was immense. For a girl who'd known a tumultuous start to life, mundane routine was a gift, one she never sent packing. Better to be safe than risk losing the good you already had.

It was this sort of thinking that left Emma smiling at the sight of Tiny, a very large man with an ironic nickname who lived nearby, with his small Chihuahua Teeny who yipped all the way down the block. It had her laughing at the troop of seven dwarves (their own designated squad name, for reasons unknown) as they headed off to work on the edge of town. It had her knowing that right behind them would be her best friend Mary Margaret carrying two cups of cocoa for her and Emma and hopefully a Danish from Granny's. The tinkling of the bell above the store's door signaled she'd been right.

"It's so much windier than I expected when I left the house today."

Mary Margaret removed her hat, leaving her pixie cut flying all over the place until she tamed it back with her fingers. Now she'd returned to her usual prim, proper self, looking like little birds had come to dress her at daybreak while singing sweetly. Yet this was another of those predictable things that Emma took comfort in.

"The last bite of winter. Enjoy the cocoa while you can, we'll need to make the switch to iced coffee before you know it." Mary Margaret nodded at that and hung her jacket and scarf up on the hook in the employee section just behind the main counter.

"Are you working on a new piece?"

Mary Margaret motioned towards the bracelet Emma had in front of her and Emma considered it again. She was trying to work on a new piece, but in all honesty, the muses were awful quiet this morning. Perhaps a little cinnamon would do the trick.

"Slowly but surely."

"Maybe we should talk about bringing in some more help for you. Since that feature in Closet Covet, demand has been so high online and in the store. I don't want you running yourself ragged."

Emma sighed. It was hard to argue with such a rational proposal. They'd been extremely blessed when their friend Belle sent her cousin Alana one of Emma's pieces for Christmas sparking a feature in the magazine on Emma's jewelry line. But everything was handmade or locally sourced at Three Fates; that was what they'd always agreed to, Mary Margaret, Emma and Ruby, the latter of whom was running even later than her usual five minutes. That was strange. What could be delaying her? The tinkling of the bell ten minutes later brought the answer to that front and center.

"Hot British guy!" Ruby was out of breath as she closed the glass door behind her and leaned against it.

"Come again?" Emma asked.

"There is an extremely sexy British guy currently talking to my grandmother about buying the old tavern. Says he wants to renovate it and open a bar. The world is a magical place. Accents and alcohol for everyone." Ruby fanned herself though the room was cool and Emma laughed at her dramatics.

"How did he end up in Storybrooke?" Mary Margaret asked and Ruby shrugged.

"No idea, but Granny is totally going to sell to him. She's been trying to unload that place for years. Thought you guys might want to know so you can throw your hat into the ring for the hot guy. Everyone deserves a fair shot."

"Assuming he's single." Emma replied. At this Ruby smirked.

"He doesn't wear a ring. Until then, never say never."

"I know at least one guy who won't like hearing you talk this way."

A flash of understanding flickered over Ruby's eyes but the brunette schooled her features quickly. Emma knew better though. Ruby Lucas and Graham Huntsman had been circling each other for years and for whatever reason, they were waiting to get together. Yet just as Emma knew that Monday was always meatloaf night at Granny's, she knew that Ruby and Graham were far too hung up on each other to ever end up with another person.

"Yeah David wouldn't like me filling Mary Margaret's head with the idea that things aren't serious until your married."

Ruby's deflection spoke volumes, but Emma let it slide. It wasn't exactly her place to force her friend into accepting her feelings. They were young and there was time. Besides, it was fun to still have some single friends and with Mary Margaret engaged to David Nolan, she really only had Ruby and Belle left.

"Is he moving into town too?"

"Yeah, he's already bought the Miller House."

Emma froze at the easy statement from Ruby. The Miller House was her favorite house in all of Storybrooke. It had the perfect location with a view of the harbor while still being in town. It was approximately two minutes walk from the store, which was critical especially in the winter, and it was spacious, like it could hold a big happy family, something Emma dreamed of having one day.

Emma always thought that someday she'd live there herself. She had envisioned that eventuality since her earliest days in this town as a teen and she felt a pang in her gut at the news that maybe now that wouldn't come to pass. Maybe she'd grown too complacent in the ordinary day to day of her life. Maybe she'd let fear of change keep her from something that would have made her happy. The thought was hard to swallow down.

"Oh."

Emma knew from the flat tone, that Mary Margaret was probably looking at her, but Emma kept her eyes down on the bangle before her, trying to will inspiration to come if only to keep from thinking about the house. She knew that if she looked up there would be talking and the last thing she needed when feeling so much was a pep talk. When enough seconds passed Mary Margaret eventually steered the conversation away from the house.

"Well that's a lot of surprise for one Monday. I say we throw ourselves into work, put a good playlist on, and take some time to digest."

They did just that and when the shop opened twenty minutes later, Emma felt herself weaving back into the ebb and flow of her normal day. She interacted with some of her regulars but mostly she sketched and brainstormed materials and images she wanted to incorporate somehow into her work. Things remained that way, ordinary and unremarkable, for a few hours until a sudden shrieking from Ruby startled her.

"There he is, that's him! Come look!" Ruby dragged both Emma and Mary Margaret to the big glass windows and when she saw the man in question Emma gasped.

No, Emma, think rationally. It can't be him. There's no way.

And then he looked into the window from across the street, and the smile he shot her way coupled with the glint of recognition in his blue eyes set her heart pounding in her ears. Killian Jones was here, in Storybrooke, and now he was crossing the street to the store. She moved quickly back to the jewelry case and felt herself shaking with anticipation.

What the actual hell is happening?

"Oh he's coming in! Act casual." Ruby's command fell on deaf ears and it was all Emma could do to keep from running out of the room. The chime of the bell on the door had her eyes flying to her feet. She closed them, took a deep breath and then heard his voice, just the same as it had been years ago.

"Good Morning, ladies."

"Good morning!"

Mary Margaret, Ruby, and even Mrs. Hubbard, a local who had been browsing, were all too eager to wish him a good morning, but Emma was still trying to summon the courage to look at him. She felt his presence though and when she finally looked up, she was so caught in his genuine smile, she couldn't help but smile back.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is the name of our newest addition to Storybrooke?" Ruby's question caused a hint of laughter and an arched brow from Killian to Emma but he turned back to Ruby and answered in that charmingly easygoing way of his.

"Killian Jones at your service. And I recognize from the pictures at your grandmother's that you are Ruby Lucas." Ruby smiled at that.

"Observant, aren't you. Well these are my best friends and co owners of this store, Mary Margaret Blanchard and Emma Swan." Killian's eyes remained on Emma again.

"It's a pleasure."

"Why did you move here?" It was the first thing Emma had said to him and she nearly slapped a hand over her mouth after the words spilled past her lips. She was so embarrassed, but it was too late now. He chuckled softly.

"I knew a girl once. Truth be told, she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. She was on holiday and spoke so highly of the coast of Maine that it never left my mind. So, now, looking for a change in my life and a fresh start, I thought that perhaps this may just be the place."

Emma could hardly breathe; this feeling of desperation and confusion clung to her so close she could practically feel it against her skin. She wanted a moment alone with him, wanted to understand why, after all this time he'd moved here. No letter, no call. Just packed up and crossed the ocean to invade her small little bubble.

"And now you're buying a bar." Ruby mused. "How mysterious your mind is, Mr. Jones." Killian laughed at that.

"Not really, love. But I should be off, a few things yet to do."

"Nice meeting you." Both Ruby and Mary Margaret waved goodbye and Emma watched as Killian left, feeling like there was so much more that needed to be said.

Suddenly she was angry, incredibly frustrated that he'd walked back into her life like this. This morning he was just that guy she'd met at a bar in London. The guy whose kiss still haunted her, whose person had entered many of her late night fantasies, and if she was honest, the man that most of her dates since had been unconsciously compared to. Now he was back and she just couldn't understand it. It was like seeing a ghost only in the back of her mind she felt something strangely similar to joy at him being here. Like something long missing was clicking into place.

"I forgot I have to grab something. I'll be back soon."

"Wait what?" Mary Margaret was confused but Emma shot her a pleading look as she threw on her red jacket and scarf to brave the windy day.

"Soon, I promise."

Emma heard Ruby ask 'what the fuck is going on?' as the door closed behind her and Emma didn't plan to return until she had a better grasp on that answer. She set down the road in the direction that Killian had headed and as she moved along, it dawned on her that she had no idea where he'd go.

"Looking for someone, Swan?"

Killian's voice came from the small park a few buildings down from the shop. Emma looked at him and again was struck by the same sense of yearning that she had moments ago. Time hadn't diminished her attraction to him at all. If anything his dark hair and entrancing eyes with that shadow of a beard called to her more than it ever had.

She'd spent years wondering if she didn't just build him up in her head. Now she knew she hadn't. Killian was more than handsome. He called to her like no one ever had and she stood there frozen from his words and the easy way he called her by her last name. It felt like a dream and she stood there trying to wake up as Killian walked towards her and came so close she thought he might kiss her. He stopped half a step away little more than a whisper remaining between them.

"I don't understand. Why are you here?"

"Not buying my sudden change of heart, love?" She shook her head in response. "I didn't think you would."

"So you knew I was here. You thought about how I'd respond. What are you playing at?"

"Have you ever had a moment in your life when you looked at the world around you and you realized you'd confused comfort with happiness? A flash of understanding that the quiet little life you'd carved out for yourself, nice as it may seem, isn't all you'd hoped?"

Emma knew that she had, knew that even that morning she'd been reflecting on the quiet contentment she had here, that while tranquil still lacked some basic element to make her really happy.

"Yes."

The word came out so softly she didn't know if he could hear it but the look in his eyes at her affirmation had her heart pounding again. The sincerity was so striking. She wondered how she'd gone nearly five years without looking at them. Then his hand was coming up to brush a strand of her hair that was whipping in the wind behind her ear. She felt the soft brush of his fingertips against her skin and felt like she'd been shocked with raw energy.

"Five years ago, when we met, I nearly followed you back to Maine. One night was all it took for me to fall for you, Emma, but life got in the way." Emma swallowed to keep from asking what 'life' entailed but she didn't want to push.

"You fell for me, huh?" His smile quirked back up to the side and he ran a hand through his hair.

"Aye, love, I did."

"And now you're back to…."

"Do my best to make you mine and show you that I think we could be everything together."

"There's a flaw in your plan." His eyebrow rose in question.

"Is there?"

"What if I'm taken?" He looked like she'd kicked him.

"Are you?" She let him sweat for a minute before replying.

"No. But still! Moving across the world, five years after we share one night together. You have to see how crazy that is." She didn't expect him to smile, but he did and that smile was her undoing. It made her heart dance around in her chest, her hope surging in the face of his own certainty.

"You think I'm crazy?"

"It's a possibility, yes."

"I can work with that." She sputtered at his confidence.

"I'm sorry?"

"No need to be, love. You find my faith in us crazy. I intend to prove you wrong. Go to dinner with me."

"Okay." They were both surprised at her quick response and she watched that look of genuine happiness in his eyes. The next thing she knew, she was pulling him down by the collar of his leather jacket for a kiss.

Killian had said that there were moments where things clicked, where a flash of understand gripped at you so hard that you couldn't shake it. This kiss was one of them. Emma couldn't remember ever feeling more alive and more intoxicated with pleasure. She wanted him; she'd always wanted him. Now he was here, now she was kissing the one guy that had gotten away.

When she pulled back, she watched how affected he was and smiled, stepping away before he could turn the tables back on her again with his charm and looks.

"I'm free Friday night."

With that Emma turned and started walking back to the shop, and she didn't need to glance back around to know that Killian was watching her walk away a little awestruck and very happily surprised. She knew she hadn't given him a time, but now the ball was in his court, and that was a guarantee that she'd see him in the next few days.