NOTE: Apologies for the delay, I've been super busy lately, delivering lectures at a Univeristy (yay!) and trying to do my PhD. Here is another chapter. Reviews are appreciated and always helpful for inspiration. Peace out.

Disclaimer: Obviously I own no OUAT content. No infringement intended.

The mysterious bravado that had allowed Killian to flirt with Emma shamelessly lasted all of about five minutes after she had left Belle's shop and he had clambered back into his pickup truck. He sat in the driver's seat, eyes unseeing as he chewed the inside of his cheek and thought about what had just happened. He was flattered that a woman would take any interest in him, and she was beautiful, but that didn't change the fact that he was a broken, sorry excuse for a man and that no woman, no matter how beguiling could ever replace Milah or make him risk his sanity by placing his heart in the hands of another person who could just leave without warning. No, this would not do.

Killian's phone was burning a hole in his pocket, it felt heavier and almost scorching hot against his leg as he jiggled his knee nervously. He must have taken it out and stared at it at least five times, each time scrolling down to her number, hovering over it and then locking the phone again. He wasn't sure if he was trying to call her or delete the number. Suddenly Killian Jones was terrified.

'Oh good, you're still here…' Belle's interruption as she reached her hand into the car to brush his shoulder nearly sent Killian through the roof in surprise.

'Whoa there, buddy, we alright in here?' Belle asked, just as surprised as Killian.

'Oh, erm, yes, sorry love, I was a million miles away…' he apologised, blushing down his neck and feeling terrible for startling Belle.

'All good. Is something the matter?'

'NO.' he answered too quickly, 'just, um, mental grocery shopping, you know, before I head home…' Killian cringed inwardly at the stupid excuse, hoping she wouldn't pry.

'Wow, never seen anybody so visibly stressed over Cornflakes… Anyway I just got an order through, easier if I just tell you now, right?' Belle was looking at Killian like he was definitely hiding something. Knowing the shrewd woman, she already knew part of his thought process, although she wasn't letting on, knowing when to leave him to his own thoughts. After all their relationship was limited to weekly deliveries, he may as well be the kid that throws newspapers on her lawn. Well, almost he thought with an internal grimace.

'Yeah, sure what were you after?'

'Here you go, wrote it down on the post-it. Five sprays of orchids of various species and colours. 'Tropical paradise' was the brief. You're free to use other flowers and foliage as well if you want…'

'Belle, love…' Killian cut her off… 'this is an arranging thing, surely you can handle it, rather than giving the business to me… I'm happy to supply the orchids but…'

'That's the thing,' she interrupted, huffing. 'They didn't want ME to do it, they wanted you to deliver it. I figure it's easier if I just give the business to you directly and maybe you could throw a favour in the shape of a few blooms my way. Fair enough?' She was looking back at her shop now, making sure nobody had gone inside and was without assistance. 'Anyway, I gotta go Killian, business calls. Let me know if you need help with that but I figure this is easier, yeah? Take care of yourself.'

'You too love,' he responded kindly.

'Oh and Killian…' He turned his head back toward Belle as she was half-way through the door. 'You delete that phone number, mate and I will kill you myself… savvy?' Belle laughed as she went inside, not waiting for his answer and winking at him as a closing statement.

He shook his head as he started the engine and pulled away from the curb, not even looking at the post-it note, just stuffing it into his pocket. He could deal with that piece of weirdness later, he thought. As he started his drive home, his thoughts quickly returned to the blonde woman who had inspired some kind of temporary madness in him. As much as he wanted to end is misery and loneliness and bury himself in another person, giving himself completely to them and forgetting all his troubles, the reality was that Killian Jones thought of himself as unlovable.

It would take this Emma one date to see what a hopeless mess he was and then he'd be back at square one, chopping firewood and eating canned soup for dinner with nothing but his own miserable self and orchids for company. At least this way he could just continue as he was and save himself the disappointment. He resolved to delete Emma's number from his phone when he got home, keeping her from all his crap would be a kindness to her, and hopefully, she wouldn't call him.

...

As Emma hurried towards work, orchid tucked under her arm, she couldn't help but smile. She had finally mustered the courage- after weekly pep-talks from her work-colleague Ruby about the 'ridiculously hot flower guy'- to ask him out, in a round-about way. She had finally had an opening to give him her number and she took it, a bit surprised that he had agreed and seemed quite enthusiastic.

His cheeky flirting had surprised her, he always seemed so sad, but as soon as she had insinuated something his eyebrows had shot up and his blue eyes twinkled. It was almost like watching someone who has been asleep wake up again. For a second she saw a different man, and she liked him. She did have to ponder on his statement that he was likely to chicken out, that was a bit less than encouraging.

An idea occurred to Emma, and although it was pretty stupid and transparent she figured it couldn't hurt to give him a reason to see her again, away from the flower shop and so she grabbed her phone from her pocket, balancing that and the orchid as she dialled the Florist she had just come from

'Blooms by Belle, Belle speaking. How can I help you?' The bright florist's phone manner was just as energetic as she was in person.

'Yes,' Emma started, raising her voice a little bit in pitch to avoid Belle remembering her immediately, 'I would like to order a spray of orchids, but I would like it to come from your delivery man on Thursdays, if that's alright…'

...

'You're late' Ruby quipped, a grin already on her face as Emma plopped into her chair in the cubicle behind. 'How did you go?' Her dark eyes were sparkling in anticipation and she tipped her head in the direction of the orchid tucked under Emma's arm. 'Well, I hope…?'

Emma bit her lip to try and stop her smile, but it was a lost cause. 'Yes,' she replied coyly, 'very well actually. This was a gift.' She held up the orchid, thrusting it in Ruby's face.

'What?' Ruby was clearly confused. She was hoping Emma would have a phone number not another flower.

'From him. He gave it to me because I asked about it.' Ruby couldn't remember the last time she had seen Emma so happy. Her cheeks were dusted with pink, her eyes sparkled and her whole demeanour was so much more bubbly than usual. It was as if the last ten years had been lifted from her shoulders.

'He what?' Ruby asked, incredulous. 'You must be joking. That is ridiculously sweet. Please tell me you got something else out of it too, Ems.'

'Yep, his phone number.' Ruby couldn't contain the squeal that came forth from her mouth, slapping her hand over her mouth quickly as those around them looked disapprovingly in their direction.

'Good on you, girl!' Ruby was nearly jumping out of her seat with excitement for Emma, who was obviously smitten with this mystery guy. She decided she would have to come to the flower shop next week to see this man. Emma's description- tall, blue eyes, dark messy hair, scruffy short beard and an Irish accent- was just too tempting to resist just a little peek.

'There's one more thing-' Emma started. 'The floral displays for the conference on Monday… I kind of have that organised for you. A special delivery of orchids and other tropical flowers will arrive at 8am on Monday.' She looked purely mischievous in that moment, one eyebrow raised as she ran her tongue along her top teeth, waiting for Ruby to catch on.

'OH MY GOD YOU DIDN'T!' Ruby threw her head back and laughed. 'Does he know the order is for YOU?!'

'Nope, why would I order it in my name when they're for you? After all it's your job to do the flowers… I was just helping.' Emma's dimples were on full display and Ruby was having trouble reconciling this cheeky woman with her best friend of 10 years.

'Well I guess I don't have to wait until next week to see this cutie then, hey?' The whole turn of events was such a surprise to Ruby, but then again, when Emma Swan really wants something she usually gets it.

'So are you going to call him?'

'Well, it's funny I offered my number and he insisted I take his as well and said he's likely to chicken out. I figure I give him until Monday, and if he hasn't called and no sparks fly then, maybe he's not that into it and I can back off. At least I can give him a few days to make a move if he wants.' Emma seemed a bit unsure about this bit, not knowing if him not calling would indicate an excuse not to call and avoid the whole thing or if he was just as shy as he had seemed at first.

'Hmm. That is an unusual one. It might just be the truth though, Ems. You said he looks sad a lot, maybe he's had his heart broken and he's a bit unsure. Let old Ruby suss things out on Monday, eh?'

'Sure thing.' Emma's grin was back in place and as she turned back to her desk she paused and spoke over her shoulder to Ruby, 'By the way, his name is Killian Jones…'