Emma changed clothes three times. She could not decide what would be best to wear for what she hoped was a date. But maybe it wasn't an actual date, maybe it was just Killian's way of thanking her for helping him smuggle Luna into the building. She was trying desperately not to overthink the whole thing but she was also nervous because she really liked what she had seen so far and wanted the chance to get to know him. She finally settled on a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, a breezy sleeveless blouse and some espadrilles. That way she would look dressy but also a little casual. She put her hair up in a half braid with the loose waves hanging over one shoulder. She was just taking one last glance in the mirror when she heard the knock on her door.

She opened the door to Killian standing a little nervously to the side. He was holding a single rose in his hand. "Swan, hi. You look beautiful"

Emma blushed at the compliment "Is that for me?"

"Ah, yes. " Killian said as he handed her the flower and stepped inside.

"Let me just put it in a cup of water" Emma said taking it and going into her bathroom quickly. She came out with the rose in a small cup and set it on her desk. "There, ready to go?"

Killian smiled and held out his arm to her. She looped her hand through as he led them into the hallway and to the elevator. They rode down in silence. Emma had noticed that Killian still seemed a little nervous so maybe he too thought of this as a date. He looked really nice, basically his outfit was almost identical to the one from the night before except he had traded the darker blue shirt for a royal blue one that made his eyes even more blue if that was possible. He also smelled incredible. It was something like a mixture of ocean air and clean cedar.

When they reached the bottom floor and went out the doors, Emma turned to him and smiled, "Where are we going?"

"That depends on what this is…umm…if it is just me thanking you, then I thought coffee would be nice. If, however, you accepted this as a, umm, that is if this is a date, " he hesitated and swallowed hard, "then I would like to take you someplace special to me."

Emma smirked, "Well Mr. Jones…I think I chose option 2"

Killian's answering grin brightened his whole face. "In that case, come with me m'lady" He gave a short bow and offered her his arm again. Emma took it with a smile and they walked to Killian's chosen destination. Emma was a little confused when they arrived at the planetarium on campus. She gave Killian a short questioning look and proceeded inside when he just smiled and shrugged a little.

"Wait here" he said as he escorted her to a seat. She sat down and he darted off to the control booth. The room went dark and soft classical music began playing through the speakers. Suddenly the ceiling lit up with thousands of star constellations. Emma looked up in amazement as Killian returned to her side.

"This is beautiful" Emma said in awe.

"Aye, it is" Killian said and Emma noticed when she looked up he was not looking at the ceiling. She blushed and then giggled when Killian produced a small picnic basket from the row behind them. He handed her a bottle of root beer and then sat beside her.

Emma took a sip and then glanced at him. "So why is this your special place?"

Killian thought a moment, "Technically I would prefer the real thing, but inside the city you don't get much. Too many lights for the stars to be visible. So I can come here and pretend that I am looking at the night sky. I did an internship here over the summer and it was always so relaxing."

"You like to be alone."

"Excuse me" Killian said a little shocked.

"It seems to me that you like to be alone. You prefer the stars to the company of people." Emma surmised.

Emma could see something in Killian's eyes before he shut it down. "Let me guess, psychology major?"

"How did you know?" Now it was Emma's turn to be surprised.

"I can read you Emma Swan. You try to deflect personal revelations by analyzing the person you are with. It keeps people from getting too close. " Killian stated bluntly.

Emma was a little angry, "You don't know me." She started to stand to go, but he grabbed her wrist.

"Perhaps I would like to know you. Look, I don't always censor my thoughts. As you said, I am not good with people. Stay, please." He asked in a quiet tone. Emma considered a moment and then sat back down. He continued, "I chose my major in astronomy because it was something that I loved as a boy and it also does not require too much interaction with others. After recent events," he airquoted with one hand, "it just pushed me even further into this path."

Emma considered his words for a moment. She really wanted to explore this with him and she knew he was right about her. She did try to deflect from her own self by analyzing others.

"You were right, I am a psychology major."

He grinned in triumph.

She gave him a little smirk and decided to change the topic, "So how was your first day of classes?"

"They were good except for one. My physics instructor, Gold, seems to think that I am the poster boy for bad behavior, despite the fact that he does not even know me. He was going over the syllabus and class rules and I swear that every time he mentioned a don't he looked straight at me" Killian groused.

Emma laughed, "Maybe you just have the bad boy look"

Killian laughed too, "Aye, maybe. And yours?"

"My advanced English literature course is taught by this professor who seems like she stepped right out of a storybook. Mrs. Nolan is sweet but I think that I would hate to be on her bad side. She seems like there is a tiger waiting to spring underneath her cute exterior." Emma giggled a little.

"You must tread carefully then Swan" Killian smiled at her.

They continued to talk about their day and their class loads. It turned out that they pretty much had the same free times, which gave Emma some hope that perhaps they could see each other more than if their schedules were out of sync. After about 2 hours, Killian started to clean up.

"I think my time is up here. Allow me to escort you home m'lady" Killian stood and offered her his arm again.

She rolled her eyes at him playfully. "Always the gentleman with your old fashioned manners"

He smirked and led her back to their dorm. When they got to their floor, he hesitated a moment. "Would you like to come in for a hot chocolate? I have a hot water kettle and the mini marshmallows for the top."

"Sure, that sounds great. Do you have any cinnamon?" Emma asked.

Killian nodded. He opened the door and she went into his room and sat at the desk. Luna came out of hiding and meowed up at Killian while rubbing his leg. He reached down and pet her on the head, talking to her softly. Emma just smiled at the sight and thought that she would never get over the surprise at the softness he showed the little cat. Emma watched as he prepared the kettle and the cups. She noticed yet again how he never moved his left hand and the curiosity got the better of her.

"What is wrong with your hand?" She asked.

Killian's back stiffened and his movements stilled. "It's paralyzed" he said flatly.

"How?"

"Perhaps that is not a story you want to hear Swan" He said dismissively but she could tell he was nervous because he scratched behind his ear again. She had noticed that was his tell.

Emma thought through her words for a moment. She wanted to get to know him and she instinctively knew that this was a big clue about him. She tried to push him lightly. "I want to know everything about you. It's ok to tell me."

Killian was quiet as his inner turmoil warred with his desire to let Emma in. He was afraid that if he told her, his chances would be gone before they had properly started. He decided to take a chance. He finished up their cocoa and handed her a mug. He sat on the bed and Luna jumped up in his lap. He stroked her fur softly as he began to talk.

"It happened when I was 16. I had a girlfriend, Milah. She was wild and crazy and so free. The opposite of what I was. I was so stuffy and closed off. She made me feel like the world was an infinite source of hope and possibilities. I was so in love with her that I could not draw a breath without thinking of her. She was like a sun that I orbited." Killian let out a shuddering sigh.

Emma reached out a comforting hand and squeezed his arm for a moment. "It's ok, you don't have to"

Killian shook his head, "I want you to know. " He warred with the lump in his throat. Clearing it, he continued, "We were driving home one night from a game. We had won and Milah was being herself with wild abandon. I had borrowed Liam's car with the sunroof, just to impress her. She was standing up in the car through the sunroof singing at the top of her lungs. I had begged her to sit down but she just said "Oh lighten up Killy" and I could never deny her anything. It was so fast I barely remember it. A drunk driver was coming around the corner in our lane. I did not have time to adjust. He just hit us."

The tears were rolling down Killian's face and he was embarrassed at his lack of control. Luna began licking his hand where the tears fell. "When I woke up, Liam was there in the hospital. I asked about Milah and all he did was shake his head. I knew. God I knew she was gone. And then I found out that the accident had left me paralyzed too. A constant reminder of what I had done"

Killian was shaking with the sobs and Emma's heart constricted. She moved to the bed and put her arms around him. She laid his head on her shoulder and quietly soothed him. "It wasn't your fault. I know you blame yourself but it wasn't your fault."

After a time, Killian's sobs subsided. He sniffled. "I'm sorry Emma. I would understand if you don't want to see me again."

"Killian, this does not make me want to run. It was not your fault. You were young. We all do stupid things." Emma smiled and saw the light return to his eyes. They were so close that she could feel his breath on her. Killian could feel the relief as a palpable thing that flooded through him.

"Emma" he said reverently and leaned towards her. He stopped just short of her lips, giving her the opportunity to back away. She closed the distance and their lips met.

The kiss was slow and sweet. She could feel the attraction between them instantly and it stole her breathe away. She could not believe how fast she was falling for Killian. She had sworn she would never get this close to someone again but the kiss felt so right that she was reluctant to let it end. After several breathless moments, the kiss ended. Killian pulled back and smiled at her. She smiled back.

Just then, Luna stood up, stretched and jumped off Killian's lap as if to say "my work here is done". Emma and Killian both laughed a little.

"She seems pleased with herself" Emma said.

"Aye, she has an uncanny ability to sense my emotions" Killian said reverently.

Emma was reluctant to leave but they both had class early. Killian understood and walked her to her door. He smiled at her and gave her one last peck on the mouth then returned to his room. Emma went inside and slumped against the door. A ghost of a smile crossed her lips as she touched them and remembered his kiss. She was so screwed.