Chapter Two:
Emma didn't collect her basket straight away. Unlike the other women, she wasn't as eager to get on her "date". Belle was beside her, looking happily in her basket. Belle had won a date with Robert Gold, and the brunette was clearly thrilled with it.
"So, are you going to collect your basket?" Belle asked after a few moments.
Emma sighed. "I guess I have to."
Emma finally made her way up to the podium to grab her basket, when she was intercepted by her mother.
"Emma Swan, you make sure you behave on that date." Mary Margaret scolded as though she was six.
"I'm twenty-one." Emma snapped, not realizing her vicious tone. "I'm sure I can handle a couple of hours of Killian Jones' attention."
Mary Margaret sighed. "I know, Emma. Please just keep civil. His family have a high position here in Storybrooke, and I don't want your pointless arguing with their son to cause a rift between your father and I's friendship with his parent's."
Emma chuckled. "Trust me, mom, if our arguing was going to cause a rift, it would have done years ago. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a "date" with the devil himself."
Mary Margaret smiled as she watched Emma head up to podium, before her husband, David joined her side.
"It's funny isn't it…" David said. "That Killian's basket is exactly Emma's tastes."
Mary Margaret shrugged. "It happens. Trust me, it wasn't on purpose. Now how about we go grab Neal from the playpen, and go get some lunch."
Emma glared at the basket as she picked if off the podium where it stood solo. She was surprised to see that it was Cadburys' Chocolate mix, her favourite, and that the cinnamon was in a jar, with a handmade lid.
"Geez." Emma whispered as she examined the wine bottle label. "This stuff's almost a hundred dollars a bottle."
"I know."
Emma jumped at Killian's voice as he came up behind her.
"You clearly weren't intending for me to bid on the basket then." Emma said, as she carried it back down to the grass.
"No. My mother put it together." Killian said. "I just went along with it. Now, how about we get on with our date."
Emma rolled her eyes as Killian wiggled his eyebrows, before the two of them headed over to his old Ute. They passed some shocked looking girls as the two people that the entire town thought to hate one another, were heading off together, without ripping each other's throats out.
Once at his Ute, Emma raised an eye-brow at him, as he walked right past her door and got in. Emma glared at him as she struggled to open the door, and once she did, she awkwardly manoeuvred herself into the Ute, the basket in her lap.
"You couldn't even open the door for me?" Emma snapped as she finally got her seatbelt on.
"I could have, but you see this button here." He said, pointing to a small black knob to the right.
"The door wouldn't open unless I pushed it."
Emma glared at him, before looking out the window as Killian pulled out onto Main Street. Sure enough the car ride was silent, apart from the occasional drumming of Killian's fingers on the steering wheel in time to the 80's pop ballad that was playing over the radio.
"So…" Emma prodded. "You got forced into making the basket."
"I wouldn't say forced lass. I was more than happy to take a woman out and have a good flirt, just didn't intend for it to be you." Killian replied, as he finally pulled up at the beach.
Emma went to give a snarky reply when Killian got out of the Ute, shutting the door, before making his way around to hers and opening it. Emma looked at him in surprise.
"Well, considering this is supposed to be a date, how about we just put aside our differences and at least try to get on." Killian said, as he took the basket from her.
"Oh…" Emma said, taken by surprise. "I'm sure we can try that."
Killian nodded as she shut the car door, before reaching down and removing her heels. Emma suddenly realized that she wasn't exactly dressed for the beach. A summer dress was not going to cut in the chilly sea breeze.
"You know…" Emma prodded, as she followed Killian on a path along the beach. "I think your mother purposely put that basket together. Everything was my taste."
Killian didn't respond and Emma sighed.
"I think our parents just want us to put away our childhood arguments." Emma continued.
"Do you ever stop talking?" Killian interrupted, immediately causing Emma to silence. "But yes, I agree."
Emma went to respond when Killian placed the basket down, before pulling out a red silk blindfold.
"What…" Emma asked, realizing what he was going to do. "No, you might try to kill me or throw me in the ocean."
Killian stepped closer and offered her a genuine look. "Try something new, darling. It's called trust."
Emma sighed, and very slowly shut her eyes, before Killian gently tied the silk over eyes, making a dainty bow to fasten it together.
"Just hold onto the back of my jacket." Killian said, as he bent down to pick the basket back up.
Emma immediately reached out, and she knew that when her hand made contact with him, it wasn't his jacket. Emma was fairly certain she had just grasped Killian Jones' firm behind, and her blush matched the colour of the silk tie.
"Slow down." Killian chuckled.
It wasn't until Emma grabbed his jacket that she realized he hadn't taken mickey out of her.
A few minutes later, Killian finally came to a halt and Emma let go of his jacket.
"Okay, don't mock me…" Killian said, as he slowly pulled the bow undone, allowing for Emma to blink.
Emma couldn't help but gasp in surprise at what was in front of her. A picnic rug was set out, and candles already lit under glass domes, red rose petals were scattered around, even though Emma was sure some had blown away and these would to, and another basket with some sweet smelling crackling pork in sat there.
"Wow." Emma said, as she glanced at Killian. "The girl you did this for would have been amazed."
So much for making this the worst date ever. She thought to herself.
Killian shrugged. "Yeah I guess."
Emma couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was off.
Emma and Killian took seats at opposite ends of the picnic rug, and Emma watched as Killian dug into the hamper and pulled out a couple of wine glasses, before opening the merlot and pouring them generous amounts. Emma accepted the glass off Killian and smiled a little, before clinking it against his outstretched one.
"Cheers I guess." Emma said, before taking a sip.
"Cheers." Killian copied. "Are you hungry?"
"Starved." Emma answered honestly, as Killian re-reached into the hamper, pulling out a couple of plates before dishing up their food.
Just like Emma guessed, it was crackling pork and it was still hot, so clearly someone had put together the hamper and placed it there just before they arrived. There were also some baked potatoes and they too looked appetizing.
"This smells amazing." Emma said, continuing the agreed civility.
"It is."
They ate in silence, and midway through the meal, Killian poured them both another glass of wine. Once Emma finished eating, she finally felt herself beginning to feel cold, especially now that there was no food to warm her up. Emma gently rubbed her arms, trying to get rid of the goose bumps.
"Are you cold?" Killian asked, as he packed away the plates.
"Yes." Emma replied honestly. "I'm not exactly dressed for the beach."
Killian quickly shoved off his jacket, before holding it out to her. "Don't argue, lass."
Emma took it from him and smiled. "You know, you're being really kind all of the sudden, and taking this date a little too seriously."
Killian took a deep breath. "Because I am trying to make it up to you."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "What? Make what up to me."
"I've been the biggest jackass…" Killian chuckled. "A terrible one. Our parents where friends, and I should have been yours, but I wasn't. I was mean. I was a bully. I thought I was being cool. When you went to New York, I had a serious thinking session about my actions, and I realized the reason why I had always tried to brush you off, it was because I liked you. I was attracted to you."
Emma's eyes widened, as she stared at Killian in shock.
"Truth is, you have become an amazing, a beautiful and a very smart woman. It's taken me a long time to realize this. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for how I treated you. I am sorry for my cocky behaviour, my arrogant smirks, my suggestive comments, my teasing and more importantly, I'm sorry for not being a nice person. It took losing my brother last year to remind me to always be the best person I can be."
"Killian, what are you saying?" Emma didn't even notice she had used his first name.
"The basket was not an accident, Emma."
"You lying, manipulative son of a bitch. Take me home." Emma said, not even looking at him.
"Emma…"
"God dammit Killian Jones. Take me home right now!"
Well that didn't end well. There is probably going to be another couple of chapters. Let's face it, Emma is not suddenly going to melt on the spot and everything be happy. She's going to put him through her own type of hell first before they finally settle their differences and potentially have a smooch ; )
Thoughts?