A/N: Here is my CSSS gift to leiandcharles. I had a blast getting to know her and I hope she enjoys her good old Fake Dating AU with the addition of some angst (maybe a little more than she bargained for don't hate me please) This is part 1 of 5 and the rest will be posted over the next few weeks. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
"Emma, over here." He waves at her. She's looking radiant and flashes her teeth in a bewitching smile.
"Hey." She zips her leather jacket open and hangs it over the chair. Killian waits until she sits down before sitting down himself.
"Have you been here long?" He says when the sound of their chairs being shoved under the table is gone.
"No, only ten minutes." He hands her a menu. "Graham stood us up. He said he wasn't finished with work yet, but seeing that you're here, I think that the female voice in the background might have something to do with that."
Emma chuckles.
"So, it's just us then."
"What about Mary Margaret and David?"
Emma shakes her head and her long, blond locks copy the movement.
"Theo is sick and they didn't want to put the babysitter through his constant and demanding cries."
"Understandable, we'll have to make it a great evening with us two." He had already ordered 3 glasses of wine and a water (Mary Margaret can't drink yet) so he hands her one, takes the other and clinks them together.
Emma Swan and he have been friends since university. She studied criminology, he studied psychology and they met because his mate David fell in love with Mary Margaret, Emma's friend. To say that they didn't connect at first is an understatement. There was an incident with hot coffee and a white sweater that Killian will never forget. Or let's say that Emma will never let him forget. After being forced to spend time with each other by the true love couple, they discovered some common interest and the rest is history. There is also the fact that he's madly in love with her but that's at most mildly significant.
They keep talking until long after their food is devoured.
"Wait? She comes to school in fur?"
"Yes! And I'm quite sure it isn't faux."
Killian started a new job last month. He is now the school counselor of Storybrooke High. The work he does with the children is so fulfilling. When he actually helps one of the students and they thank him, he's reminded that this is the job for him.
"I think I, for one, am going to stick with leather"
Killian smiles.
"Please do, it looks good on you." A wink is thrown at her and she makes a hissing sound.
"Watch it, buddy" Emma can be one of the most scary people he has ever met, but now the amusing look on her face only warms his heart. He raises his hands in defense.
"Sorry, lass, but I was merely stating a fact." Killian doesn't miss the little blush that forms on her cheeks. She stands up and he follows towards the exit. The evening sky is colored by little lightbulbs hung everywhere. Orange mixed with pink and just an odd purple one. The colors of a perfect sunset.
"It's gorgeous." The colors are softly reflected on Emma's hair. He replies.
"Aye, that it is. Care for a walk home?"
"I'm not saying no to that." They walk alongside each other in a comfortable silence when a voice shouts:
"Darling!" Talk about the devil. Killian doesn't even have to think for a second before knowing who is calling him. Her perfume can be smelled from a mile afar and, even through to the distance, overwhelms Killian. Emma looks at him and raises her eyebrows. He nods to confirm her silent question.
"Principal DeVil, I am delighted to see you."
"Oh, call me Cruella. We are not in school." How much fur can a woman wear? "And who might this be?" His boss turns to Emma, who's standing next to him.
"This is Emma. Emma, this is the principal of Storybrooke High." A gloved hand stretches out and stops right before Emma. She grabs it with caution and shortly shakes it.
"Nice to meet you." They all stand there for some time, while Cruella keeps talking about Dalmatians and how they are the most noble breed of dog. Emma looks at him and he nearly bursts out in laughter. He uses a cough to disguise his slip.
"Oh, Killian. Would you look at the time. I have to get home, I have the early shift tomorrow. It was good meeting you, but I'm afraid we need to go." Emma throws a quick smile at the woman and turns around.
"See you on Monday." Killian adds and he follows. After they turn the corner they both start laughing uncontrollably. In between giggles Emma asks:
"That's your boss?"
"The one and only." The laughter continues.
"Oh god, my side hurts." She puts her hand just below her ribs. The hilarity quiets down "But I do have the early shift tomorrow, so I'm gonna go. Thanks for walking me almost home."
"You are welcome, lass. I'll see you next week?"
"Yes, hopefully in company of the others. Good night, Killian."
"Night, Emma. Get home safely." They part ways. Killian doesn't want to admit it but he actually does want their friends to cancel next week. This was an amazing night and he'd not be against spending more like this.
Killian is eating lunch in the teachers' lounge and chatting with Belle, the English teacher, about the effect literature can have on an adolescent's life.
"Darling." Killian sighs internally. Not again. He only wants to eat his lunch in peace. "Can I see you in my office?" Belle looks curiously at him.
"I'll tell you later." he says while standing up. He follows the, quite frankly, terrible hairdo and takes a seat in her black, white and red office.
"I was so glad to encounter you yesterday that I have decided to invite you and the blonde to dinner at my house. I'd like to get to know you properly." Cruella directly goes to the point, she isn't one for beating around the bush.
"Emma?" He's confused. Why would she want to see Emma?
"Yes, her. I want to get acquainted with your sweetheart." Oh no. This isn't good.
"Sorry, but-" he wants to explain. She interrupts him with a stare. A frightening one.
"No buts. I'm expecting you two at my house Friday at 7. I'll mail you the address and don't be late."
"Alright" he answers automatically. He freezes on his chair and by the time he tries to rectify his mistake, it's too late. Principal DeVil has already left her office. Bloody hell. Emma is going to kill him.
"Wait what? You said we were dating?"
"Well, she said it. I just didn't deny it." Her eyes widen as soon as he admits it. He feels her angry glare. "But look, she was sounding so regal and made me feel really uneasy, and she's my boss, and I panicked and she wants us to come dine with her." The speed of his words has become even faster than usual. His attempt at self defense doesn't work on her.
"Killian!" she exclaims astounded. "I-we can't- No! You have to tell her that it's not true." Killian scrunches his face.
"DeVil already invited us. She's the principal, Swan. It wouldn't really make that great of an impression if I lied."
"You didn't lie. Not in theory. Besides you actually want to pretend that we're dating?" He takes a sip of his drink. They are at Emma's apartment. Killian had come barging in right after the school day was finished to inform her of the recent events.
"Swan, I am begging you here. I'll even go on my knees. It's only for one dinner. She doesn't have to see you any other time." He pouts his lips and uses his puppy eyes. Emma sighs.
"Alright. I'm doing this once." Killian nods. This must be a record time for the trick to work."And you are buying me dinner for the next two months."
A dazzling smile appears on his face.
"It's a fair trade. Thank you, Swan. You are a true savior."
She rolls her eyes.
"Yeah, sure."
Emma is going through her wardrobe. What should she wear to dinner with a very special woman? She has been wondering why she even agreed to this in the first place. It is not necessary to speculate, she already knows the answer. Killian. If anyone had told her 6 years ago that she would go out on a date with the guy that spilled warm coffee over her beautiful and favorite sweater, she would laugh right in their face. Would you look at her now. She has to remind herself that it isn't an actual date. It's a onetime thing and after this, they'll go right back to being friends or whatever they are. There is a little too much sexual tension for them to be just that, according to her. Her ringtone goes off. She glances at the screen and sees the black pixie cut. Just the person she needs.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Emma. How are you?"
"I'm good, Mary Margaret. How are you guys? Is Theo feeling better?" The Nolan baby is the cutest baby Emma has ever seen and that means something because Emma generally doesn't find babies that appealing. Theo has these big green eyes and blond fuzzy hair on his crane. He is too precious.
"We are all great. Theo is fully recovered."
"Great! Listen, I have a question for you."
Mary Margaret replies in an instant.
"Shoot."
"You know what I have in my closet, right?" She hears a confirming hum on the other end of the line.
"More or less."
"Okay what should I wear to a casual, but not so casual dinner?"
"The dark green dress." Her friend says without missing a beat. "You should also put your hair up. It makes you look graceful." Emma clenches the phone between her shoulder and head and her hands sort through the hangers.
"Found it! Thanks, Mary Margaret." There is no reply. Did their call end? No, Emma can still hear David's voice babbling to Theo in the background. She's still there. "What?"
"Aren't you going to tell me with whom you're going out?"
"No one."
"Emma." There it is. The mom voice. They have the same age but Mary Margaret always likes to be the mother hen and she sometimes pretends that Emma is the little chick (or duckling in this case). Emma has grown used to it.
"Mary Margaret..."
"Come on."
"It's Killian."
"You're going on a date with Killian?!" Mary Margaret's surprise is so big that she almost yells. Emma startles and nearly drops her phone.
"She's what?" A heavy voice joins the conversation.
"She's going on a date with Killian." Mary Margaret says while putting her hand on the microphone. It doesn't work because Emma can still hear David's reply:
"Doesn't surprise me that much."
She has to put a stop to this.
"Guys, it's not an actual date. His boss thinks we're together and he didn't want to disappoint her." Theo's sounds are the only thing Emma hears.
"Emma, do you really think that's such a good idea?" David finally says.
"Why not? I'm just helping Killian out." The happy noises the baby was making, have turned into cries. Mary Margaret shushes.
"Easy, Theo. Mommy is coming." She addresses Emma again. "We need to go. Emma, just be careful, okay?"
"I will. Bye." She taps the red phone.
What could they mean by be careful? It's only Killian. What could go wrong?
After having a real struggle with the zipper of her dress, Emma slips into her shoes, searches for a necklace and is ready to leave. Killian said he would come and pick her up at 6:40pm, so he should be here soon. She suddenly remembers Mary Margaret's guideline and walks back to her mirror. She should have a pin in here somewhere. Aha, gotcha. She grabs her hair and puts it up. The bell rings and she takes the last loose lock and puts it in place. She's happy with the way she looks. It's classy but at ease. Right? Her hands get clammy. Why is she nervous? She takes a calming breath before opening the door. Emma is greeted by a grin. The leather has disappeared and instead he is wearing a costume jacket.
"Swan, you look stunning."
"You look..."
He smirks
"I know." A rose appears from behind his back. Before Emma can comment on it, he elaborates. "It's not every day that I get to take my fake girlfriend to a dinner." He offers it and she accepts.
"Thank you."
"We better get going, milady. If you care to join me?" His hand is waiting on hers.
"We're not there yet, keep the act for the dinner." Emma walks past him.
The entire drive is quiet. Emma toys with the small, green pendant around her neck like the drop will provide a distraction. The silence is broken when he asks her some questions to ease the tension, but her answers are always short. They pull up on the driveway and Killian turns to her.
"Emma, are you sure that you're alright with this? We can just go back home." She shakes her head.
"No, I got in a dress and wore heels for this. We're doing it." The light illuminates when she opens the car door. The first thing she notices is the enormous house. It is so much more than a house. She should call it a mansion. How can a school principal afford this? The second thing she notices: other cars. Not two or three, like you would expect the owner of this mansion to have, but at least fifteen vehicles are parked on the small stones. She hears Killian join her.
"Wasn't it supposed to be just dinner?"
"That's what she said." Killian seems to be as lost as she is. She carefully walks towards the door. It's a living hell on her heels with this ground, but she somehow reaches the front.
"You ready?" Killian asks her.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
Killian pulls the bell and Emma notices his silver thumb ring. He has taken of his necklace, but his ring remains. She has never seen him without it and, if she remembers right, he even sleeps with it. Is there a story connected that he hasn't told? Loud music suddenly starts and when Emma looks back at the front door, the eccentric (let's call her that) woman is welcoming them.
"Darlings, I am so happy you could make it." The woman gives them both air kisses. "Emma was it?" Emma nods, a bit taken aback by all the grandness and excess of the room before her. Cruella takes a step back to look them over. "I adore your outfit. The only thing missing is a bit of pelt." She exhales cigarette smoke. "And my dear Mr. Jones. I must confess that you look dashing." Killian smiles at her.
"Thank you, Cruella. I did think this was only a dinner?"
"Oh, it is. I invited some friends over for a small party." Emma looks around and sees no sign of a "small party." She counts 30 people only from her spot at the entrance. There is a live band playing the most jazzy songs, that go back all the way to the roaring twenties. The room is partially dimmed and there are yellow lights hanging in every corner of the room. There is an actual fountain standing in the middle of the room with rose petals drifting in the water. In black and white dressed waiters are circling the room with trays filled with champagne.
"Enter and enjoy yourselves!" Cruella vanishes again and they walk in.
"Wow." Killian mutters and Emma agrees.
"This is amazing. I was wondering before: do school principals earn this much? Because otherwise I think I need to consider a career switch." He chuckles.
"No, they most definitely don't. I had the same exact thought when I received the address so I did some research. I discovered some very interesting things." Emma is curious and wants to know more about this Cruella DeVil figure.
"Like?" She insists. Killian's mouth curls.
"Apparently she married an author called Isaac Heller a couple of years ago. He was very successful, wrote some novels and even got some recognition. I asked Belle about him and she did indeed know his work. So one day, Isaac came home with an advance for his new book and full of joy, he got inebriated and tumbled down the stairs. He never wrote another word because he died at once." She looks at the stairs with a panicked gaze. "I haven't even told you the scary part. A month before he was no more, Cruella applied for a life insurance for her dear husband and now she has the funds to last a lifetime." Emma shivers. Why did Killian take her here if he knows all of this? She glances over to the hostess. "Swan, it's just a rumor." Killian smiles. She hits him in the shoulder and he yelps.
"A rumor you didn't need to tell me!"
"Swan, you really hurt me."
"Oh stop whining." Emma isn't having it. He dragged her here.
"Is there trouble in paradise?" A woman joins them. She has been standing not far from them for a while and has followed the little display. As the lady's white dress catches the light, the complicated design becomes visible. Small, individual crystals are embedded into the fabric and shimmer whenever the woman moves. Emma wants to reply that it isn't what it looks. They're not actually together. Until she remembers. The point is to convince these people and Cruella that they are.
"He was being an idiot." Emma puts on her nice face and responds to the woman's remark. The light haired woman laughs.
"Oh, if you'd be so kind. I think there are some more of those running around in here. You have my approval." The forced smile on Emma's face becomes authentic.
"I'm the only idiot she gets to punch sadly enough." Killian lays his hand on her back and she nearly punches him again. But she can't because they are in love, remember? "Pleased to meet you. I'm Killian and this is Emma." Her name quickly gets an apposition assigned to it. "My girlfriend." It's the first time that she has ever heard Killian say the word girlfriend in the possessive form. She knows that he has had relationships in the past six years but somehow, they haven't talked about them. She has only had failed relationship after failed relationship in those years. Most of them didn't even deserve the name relationship. They nearly always consisted of a one night stand and an awkward breakfast, if it even got that far. There was also Walsh, the furniture maker. She was about to accept his proposal when she found out that he was employed by one of the biggest criminals in town. Not to mention the criminal that Emma put in jail: Zelena. Emma didn't have to think a second before locking him up as well.
"I'm Ingrid. So what are you two doing here? I would think you would prefer a quiet evening at home instead of all of this." Her hand gestures to the women in sparkly dresses and men in fine tailored suits chatting away, probably about the things they've recently done with all the money they have.
"You are right, but you see, Cruella is my boss and she invited me. I couldn't really say no, could I?"
"Really? Are you a teacher?" Killian shakes his head.
"School counselor." He looks proud. He had struggled for a long time before he knew what he wanted to do. Emma is happy that he found something that he loves doing this much. Ingrid turns to Emma.
"Do you also work in the school?"
"No, I don't. I do something completely different. I'm a sheriff's deputy."
"And a bloody brilliant one, might I add." The blush creeps up on her cheeks. She wants to put her hands on her warm face to cool it off a bit, but that would be too obvious.
"You, shush." She insist by looking at him.
"Emma, I'm your boyfriend. I should be allowed to compliment you." She's been here 20 minutes and this is already too much.
"Yeah, yeah."
Ingrid is clearly amused, but before she can make another comment, Killian is called.
"Killian, darling. I want to introduce you to some people." How does this woman slip darling in every sentence she says?
"Swan, are you coming with?" Ha, like she's doing that.
"Oh no, but she wants you, darling." She uses Cruella's accent to pronounce the last word. His face becomes alarmed.
"Emma..."
"See you soon." She waves her hand in goodbye and smiles victoriously.
"Karma is a bitch." she says to herself.
Ingrid laughs out loud with her comment and Emma joins her.
"Poor him. Cruella is going to eat him alive."
"He deserves it." Suddenly, she smells food. It has been nearly 7 hours since she has eaten and her stomach is claiming attention.
"You want to grab something to eat?" Ingrid reads her mind and Emma nods.
"Yes, please." There is a huge buffet with cooks lined behind. What does she want? There is so much choice. After another 10 minutes of doubt, she finally chooses her meal and walks towards the stretched table. The chairs are made from a nearly black kind of wood and have a soft, red pillow in the middle. She takes a seat next to Ingrid.
Her look searches for Killian but there still isn't any sign of him when her food is nearly finished.
"Don't worry. I'm sure he'll return shortly."
"Of course."
"Are you the only deputy here?" Ingrid attempts to make some small talk.
"Yes, it's only me. And my boss Graham, who's the sheriff, of course. We have a great time working together and we're also good friends outside of work."
"That's nice. I'm not from here, so I don't really know how everything happens in Storybrooke."
"Where are you from?"
"I live a bit more remote. In the mountains." Emma is pleasantly surprised. Who would expect someone that comes to these parties to live in the middle of nature.
"And you came all the way here?"
"Cruella and I go far back and I have turned down her invitations so many times that I had to accept one. This way I'm good for at least another year, or maybe even two, of declining."
"You're not a partygoer either, are you?"
Ingrid shows that Emma's right.
"Definitely not. I prefer solitude and nature over this any day."
"I'm exactly the same. Killian partially forced me to come here tonight, so I did, but this all is a bit too much for me." The lady sitting next to her and Emma have a lot in common, it seems.
"You two are a cute couple." There is the blush again. "How did you meet?"
"College. Friends of us became a couple and introduced us." This part is easy. She only has to tell the truth.
"So it's because of them you're together?"
"Not really." She starts telling the story of the coffee and the sweater. Of how she hated him for the first few months and that the feeling was mutual.
"And then?" Ingrid is fascinated by Emma's story.
"Nothing."
Ingrid's shocked.
"What?"
"We became friends but nothing happened." Okay, now she has to create a story of how they both fell in love. How is she going to do that? She pauses while trying to make up something when she feels two hands on her shoulders. Killian's face appears above her head.
"I'll tell her. I've always been the narrator of us two." The chair next to Emma is still empty and Killian takes a seat there. He smoothly takes over. "About two years after the incident, I am certain Emma told you all about it, I saw her again in the same coffeehouse but with a guy next to her and I felt so jealous. At first I couldn't comprehend why that was. We were friends but nothing more than that. Then it became clear. He was the one who stole her heart and I wanted to be that person. I never knew I felt that way, but she was with someone else so I buried it under everything I could possibly do." Two years later… That meant that the man she was with then was Walsh. Yes, it was maybe one of their first dates. "He eventually broke her heart and I felt livid. He had it and he tore it apart. The next month or so I tried to support Emma, to be her foundation and one day we both got intoxicated. We sang and we watched movies together and it was an amazing evening. She fell asleep on my shoulder and I tucked her in and went to sleep on the couch. The next morning she woke up, radiant as ever and made breakfast. She was telling me how she didn't know how she managed to reach her bed. I told her. She walked over and kissed me. I can't even express how happy I was in that moment. The woman I loved was in my arms and it was everything I ever needed." He looks over to her, but she is focused on the pasta leftovers on her plate.
"Wow, I mean. You made me tear up, Killian. That is a beautiful story." Ingrid takes the white napkin, that is lying on the table, and uses it to dab just below her eyelids.
"Excuse me." Emma abruptly stands up and walks away. She needs some air. There is a long hallway before her and after glancing behind her, she enters a room. Red curtains are drifting with a soft movement and she goes towards them. A balcony. The crisp air hits her skin and she takes a deep breath. Why is she freaking out? It was only a story, made up to fool everyone. She knows what's bothering her. The first part of what Killian told was true. They went out and drank lots and lots of rum. They ended up at her apartment and watched Tangled and that's where the memory stops for her. The next morning she woke up in her bed, not knowing how she got there. When she got out, Killian was gone. She just figured that he walked home that same night and that she somehow reached her bedroom on her own, but now that Killian told his story, her mind is blurred. Emma has cooled off and goosebumps appear on her arms. She rubs them, an attempt to heat them up.
"I thought you quit smoking." He has found her.
"I did."
"Why are you here, then?" He steps on the balcony. Emma raises her shoulders.
"I was a bit overwhelmed by the music and the lights and everything here."
"Comprehensible, it's quite a happening. These people pretend like this is prevalent but it really isn't. Well everyone with the exception of Ingrid. She's more grounded like us." He smiles. Emma runs her thumb over the smooth surface of the necklace on her neck. The wind is loosening her hair and she grabs a lock. Her hand leaves her pendant and rearranges a hairpin. Emma doesn't answer.
"Do you want to return home?" To be honest, she did. This evening has resurfaced a lot and this is really not the time for suppressed feelings. Admitting that she wants to go home will raise suspicions with Killian and that's the last thing she wants.
"No, I'm already feeling better." She turns around and Killian moves the curtain away so that they can pass. "What did Cruella do to keep you so long?"
"She introduced me to all of her single, rich friends as "the most prized of her employees" and of course they all had to know everything about my work with the children and my life. I'm happy that we're doing this because now I could just tell them I am in a relationship. The fondness swiftly stopped, for some part." Cruella using Killian as her boy toy, that is something that doesn't surprise Emma at all. They reach the long table again and Ingrid is still sitting there.
"Everything alright?" Emma smiles with reassurance and Ingrid is relieved. They sit back down.
"So you live in the mountains, Emma told me." Killian gets the conversation going again.
"I do. I have my residence there. It's a bit more... humble than this place but it is more than I need." Ingrid tells about how it is to live in the middle of nature and how she copes with the cold. Emma is having fun and even when Ingrid says something and Killian kisses his fake girlfriend on the cheek as a reply, she manages to pretend like she is okay with it all and that she is in love with Killian. It doesn't take much effort to achieve that last thing.
