Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who favourited, followed or left a Review. You have no idea how much it means to me to know that not only did people read it, but actually liked my story. A special thank you to So Much Tea, Dreamtalker1, and Captainwiley for reading over my chapter(s).
Without further ado, please enjoy this next chapter!
Disclaimer: Characters not mine!
It's been two weeks since he last spoke to his savior. He hadn't been able to find the time to visit the pool again; his job as an artist taking up so much of his time, he often forgot to eat.
His days consisted of early morning high-pitched giggles as Liam slobbered his face with kisses followed by a soft-spoken "come on daddy, wake up!" with his little hands tugging at his hair. He then would spend the rest of the morning being unwillingly subjected to a few episodes of Jake and the Neverland Pirates – bloody torture.
The rest of his day would consist of long periods of completely immersing himself in his art, only punctuated by Liam's need for sustenance and attention. Otherwise it was a whorl of greens, yellows and reds; colors his muse seems to have taken a preference to lately.
However, despite his busy days and sleepless nights, the Swan girl was never far from his mind.
Emma's days as a lifeguard kept her pretty busy, being in charge of the safety of others was not a simple feat. However, she did notice her thoughts wandering to a certain proposition made by a certain striking man.
When she told him she'd think about it, she wasn't expecting him to up and leave the building. She'd already made up her mind, had done so within the first few minutes after he'd suggested it, she just didn't want him to mistake her acceptance for invitation.
But now, two weeks later, she was starting to wonder if all she'd done was cost herself another opportunity to metaphorically raise a couple of choice fingers to all the people who told her she'd never amount to anything, to everyone who'd berated her with her supposed lack of worth, to all the people who let her down.
She knew of course that what was really important was that the boy, Liam, kept safe around water, not her avenging her past self. But she reckoned it wasn't difficult to find someone who was able give a few swimming lessons, no, she believed – hoped – it was the universe's way of telling her it's on her side.
Unless of course this was all some cosmic joke, and him asking was just a fluke and she'll never get to see those blue eyes again – wait what. Liam, she was talking Liam. Definitely Liam.
Killian finally found the time to pass by the pool to see if Emma had made a decision yet. He was on his way back from delivering one of his paintings to a client.
The pool was a 10-minute walk from his house and Liam was being looked after by his friend, Tink – her parents were a bit too engrossed in the 'flower power' era – so he figured he could just make a quick detour.
Upon walking into the facility, he could hear the beep of a megaphone about to be spoken into. He prepared himself to hear the sweet, melodic voice of his savior, but as his eyes made a beeline for the lookout throne, they were met with a…hairy chest? And a deep accented voice booming through the megaphone speaker?
He looked up to find a man holding the coveted lifeguard megaphone scolding some children for being a bit too violent with their playing.
He walked over to the man in question, still puzzled by his presence.
"Good afternoon, mate. Killian Jones." He started
The man climbed down from his post to properly shake his hand.
"Graham Humbert at your service. What can I do for you?"
"Actually, I was hoping to speak with Swa- uh Emma. Do you know where I might find her?"
His "Swan" slip didn't go unnoticed by Graham though, who immediately straightened his spine, widened his legs, folded his arms and puffed out his chest; his defensive stance, he gathered. Who was this man to Emma?
"Sorry, you just missed her." He didn't seem very sorry if you asked Killian.
"Ah, right. Well, could you tell her I stopped by? We've got a bit of unfinished business, which I'd love to get on with."
He knew how that sounded. He couldn't help himself though. His words obviously having the intended effect as he took in the man's irate expression.
"Sure." Was all he got in response before the man climbed back up to his chair – what a ponce.
With that he decided he just might have to come again tomorrow; this git was obviously not breathing a word of any of this to Emma.
Emma went into work the next day convinced that the proposition was destined to remain unfulfilled, at least where she was concerned.
She had surrendered herself to the idea that she will forever remain at odds with the universe, never seeing eye to eye.
It wasn't until the better part of her shift was over that she caught wind of his presence. She didn't even see him herself at first; she just noticed how something seemed to have caught the attention of all the girls, young and old.
When she turned to him, she could see the glint of mischief in his eyes, even from across the room. Liam was nowhere in sight this time. What was this man playing at?
The first thing she wanted to do was go talk to him, but he didn't look like he was about to approach her, and she refused to break first. Emma has always been competitive by nature; it's part of what drove her to succeed. So this game she somehow got dragged into, though she didn't quite understand it, she planned on winning it.
Instead of coming to talk to her, the prick decided to make a show of taking off his shirt, and tossing it over his shoulder so casually, revealing the mop of unruly hair tousled over the plains of his chest. His abs just the right combination of toned and lean. His biceps bulging out like mountains outlining the scope of the seas. He was sculpted to perfection.
Likewise, she decided to make a show of "not noticing". All throughout his little spectacle, she made a point of focusing on everyone in the pool. And when she did eventually look back to his general vicinity, she made sure to keep her face a mask of indifference and apathy.
It drove him insane.
They played this little game for what seemed like hours. It wasn't until he mistook her bathroom break for the end of her shift that he raised the white flag.
Literally.
Not only did he break the silence, but he also walked over to her holding up a white towel in surrender.
She had to try really hard not to let the laugh bubbling up inside her escape the confines of her lips.
When he got close enough to her he said, "Ah, Swan! Fancy meeting you here!" With all the enthusiasm of a child about to have dessert for dinner. That earned him a smile she tried but failed to contain.
Bastard.
She tried to muster some form of impassiveness with her sarcastic, "Well, Einstein. I do work here," punctuated by an eye roll for good measure.
"Right," he deflated.
Although she did revel in her triumph, she found herself wishing she cut him some slack.
"I take it by your tone you chose to forgo from my proposition? It's okay I understa-"
Now she really wished she'd dropped the attitude earlier.
"No, no," she interrupted. "I've actually thought it over, and I think it's a great idea! I'd love to teach your son how to swim."
"Really? Well, that's a relief to hear, Swan. How would you like to go about this?"
After much deliberation, they decided that Sunday evenings around 5:30pm were the best option; the pool closes at 5pm to the public, so Liam could learn safely at his own pace, and it still left her one day in the week to completely relax and unwind from the week's work.
They were exchanging contact information when a quick flash blinded her eyes.
"I need a picture." He said, sheepishly holding up his phone by means of explanation.
He at least had the decency to look remorseful.
Soon after she took her picture of him, they said their goodbyes and he made his way out of the facility.
She left work that day knowing she had the privilege of helping out another child.
Yup, the universe was definitely on her side now.
