A/N: I don't think you understand how hard this story hit me. I don't think I've ever written this fast- and if you've followed any of my other stories you'd know this lol. I'm really excited for this story though, and I'm really happy with this chapter and how it's turned out. You finally get the first meeting here- I hope you like it! While this is AU, some things will very much be the same. Neal is still part of Emma's past. Milah is still part of Hooks..

Thanks to everyone who has already followed/favorited this story! I love you!

I'm coming out of my cage and I've been doin just fine...

Killian wiped down the counter while humming along with the music. It'd been so long since he'd let himself let go, and for once in his life he was doing just that. Four years ago he moved from his big city life to this little town- a decision based off a rather rocky event he preferred not to think about. He'd always wanted a bar, and he saw the opportunity to start over by buying the run down place near the town line. It took 8 months to get it up and running, but it was worth it. The Hook was the most popular bar in town- or rather, it was the only bar in town- but it was still popular.

It was only recently that he'd really begun living his life again, and he knew part of that was because of the boy. A few months ago, a young man wandered into his place claiming he was running away from home- 'he'd had enough.' The kid's name was Henry, and Killian really took to him. Somehow the boy managed to break Killian from his stupor he seemed to be entranced in for the previous few years. See, the problem was this girl. It was always a girl though, wasn't it? She'd broken his heart- shattered it really- and he never really recovered. He'd lasted 6 months in that city before realizing he was always looking over his shoulder, wondering if she'd be there. So he packed up and moved- but it didn't help. Not even opening a bar helped, not much anyway. But the kid- he helped.

And Killian hadn't a clue why.

He'd chalked it up to being an empathy thing- Killian had run away when he was young, and he supposed he empathized with the kid's lack of will power to put up with his adoptive mother anymore. Killian's parents were distant at best for most of his childhood, up until the point when his own father walked out on them. That really did a number on his mom, and it was downhill from there. One day, it was all a bit much. So he walked. And he saw that look in the kid's eyes- the one only a few people Killian had encountered truly had. The kid knew what it was like to be surrounded by people that 'loved' him, but feel completely and utterly alone in the world- and so did Killian.

Being around Henry had helped him deal with the issues he had with his parents- he realized he'd harbored resentment for the way he'd been treated growing up, though he really shouldn't have. He didn't have it bad; neither did Henry. But the both of them had this feeling of abandonment- Killian from his father, and Henry from his birth parents. It was a strange bond they'd formed, but it made them happy- a feeling both needed more of. So Henry came around a few days during the week after school and the two would just talk- about anything, really. The kid didn't have any sort of father figure, and Killian had sort of filled that role for him in a manner of speaking.

That was how he knew Henry was tracking down his parents, though he'd never dreamed the kid would actually go out and find them. That seemed a bit dramatic, even for him.

The bell rang on the door then, and Killian forced himself out of his thoughts as he looked up.

Damn.

The woman had long blond hair, lightly curled, and wore little make up if any. Her dark jacket was tucked close to her body to shield her from the cold but it couldn't hide the red dress she wore underneath that hugged her in all the right places. She smiled sheepishly at him and said, "Sorry, are you open?"

He gave her a smirk and replied, "Darling, if the light's on we're open." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and walked to the counter to sit down. "What'll it be, lass?" he asked while grabbing a glass from the shelf.

"Uh…" She looked around before sighing and putting her head in her hand, glancing up at him under her lashes. "Something strong?" He chuckled and nodded, moving to make a drink.

"Rough day, huh?" he asked casually though he knew it obviously had been.

"You've no idea—thanks," she said while taking the drink from where he'd just placed it in front of her.

"I'm a great listener," he pressed. She gave a small laugh and took a sip.

"Mm I'm sure you are." She looked up to meet his eyes, smiling briefly. "I'm really just passing through- I gave um…someone a ride, but I'm headed back home after this." Killian narrowed his gaze while he wiped the counter again, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Who?" He wasn't going to lie- he was curious.

"Just some kid, I'm sure you don't know him," she answered. Killian lifted the corner of his lips, his eyebrows raised. No way the kid found her that fast.

"Let me guess- long lost son?" he wondered out loud. He watched her bright green eyes widen and he leaned forward to press his forearms into the dark wood bar. "Why don't we stop assuming I don't know things, hmm?" he said, a smirk playing at his lips. She rolled her eyes, a laugh escaping.

"How the hell do you know him?" she asked. He shrugged, shaking his head slightly and biting his lip.

"Wandered in one day. Cute kid, by the way." Her cheeks flushed with a light color, making his smirk grow wider.

"Of course he did. And um, thanks I guess?" Killian smiled at her answer- she'd quirked a brow as she spoke and leaned in slightly while thanking him.

"You're welcome." He paused. "Look, because and only because I know the kid- why are you really here? Because if you're really just going to leave him…" he said, shaking his head. This kid had talked about meeting his birth mom for so long.

"I don't know what I'm doing yet," she said quietly. "I have my reasons for giving him up you know."

Killian nodded. He assumed she did, but it was still hard for him to accept. No one deserved to be left alone, wondering why their parents walked out. He still had dreams of his father leaving- he couldn't even imagine what Henry went through; it had to be even worse knowing neither parent wanted you at all. "What's your name, lass?" he asked suddenly. He watched as she narrowed her stare before looking down at the table, her arms now folded on the bar to match his, their bodies much closer now.

Her eyes flickered back up to his, a smirk playing at her lips, their previous conversation forgotten. "Wouldn't you like to know," she taunted, her voice quiet. Killian's eyebrows shot up in surprise, not really expecting her answer.

"I would actually," he confirmed.

"Who's asking?" Oh, she was good. Alright, he thought. I'll give her this one.

"Killian Jones, milady. Now, you are?" he asked again, extending his hand. She eyed it while biting her lip, contemplating her answer.

"You'll have to earn that knowledge, Mr. Jones," she said, struggling to hide a grin. He laughed at her, pushing off the counter to grab a few shot glasses. "Oh no you don't," she warned. Killian looked at her questioningly. "You think getting me drunk will make it easier to get my name. I got news for you- it won't work."

"Well," he started, moving towards her once more. "I do love a challenge." She gave him a laugh, rolling her eyes while gripping the bar's edge. "What am I to call you, if your name is such privileged information?"

She thought for a moment, her pointer finger resting at her chin in thought. "Swan. You can call me Swan."

Killian chuckled- "Swan? Really?"

"It's my last name genius. Like I said- you've gotta earn the first name," she told him before pushing off the stool and standing. "Thanks for the drink," she added.

"Anytime, Swan. And don't worry about it- it's on the house; though I am curious as to where you're hiding the money..." She laughed and gave him a wink, turning to leave. He watched her leave, somewhat fascinated in the way she moved. He'd have to find the kid himself and ask for her name, he supposed; though he quite enjoyed their little game.

Killian picked up the mug Granny had placed in front of him, thanking her. He took a small sip, testing the temperature of the hot chocolate- he preferred the taste to coffee, a beverage he hadn't even encountered until his twenties when he moved here from London, and never really grew accustomed to it. He licked his upper lip to rid it of any whipped cream that might have found its way there, and nearly dropped the mug when he looked up.

"Thought you were skipping town, Miss Swan," he said just loud enough to get her attention- and unfortunately, the attention of Granny and her lovely granddaughter Ruby, who both stared at him in confusion. Emma, however, just laughed and dropped her arms to her sides while shaking her head to the side.

"Of course you're here. Someone convinced me to stay, if you must know," she told him as she made her way to the stools he sat at, taking a seat one chair away from him.

"My, Swan I'm flattered," he said, resting his hand over his heart. She rolled her eyes and ordered a hot chocolate- "Can I get some cinnamon on that, too?"- before addressing him.

"Not you. God, you're conceited in the mornings," she mocked, though there was something behind her words that made him think she was lying.

"Aye and you're a real piece of work yourself," he countered. She rolled her eyes- something he was beginning to think was just a normal character trait of hers. "Cinnamon?" he asked when the mug was put in front of her.

"Huh?" she asked, glancing at him in confusion. Someone's a bit slow today.

"The hot cocoa- you have cinnamon on it?"

"Oh! Um…yeah- kind of an old habit I guess." She took a sip of the drink and wiped the cream off her lip. "When I was growing up there was this old place I'd go to with this really nice waitress. The first time I'd gone there it was snowing and freezing, so she put some hot chocolate in front of me. I'd never had it before, but she promised I'd like it. I wasn't so sure, so she said she'd put some magic in it to make it extra good- she sprinkled cinnamon on it. I've never really liked it without it," she said in an honest moment. Killian looked at her in wonder- who was she? "What?" she asked.

"Nothing. Just…nothing. How's it?" He motioned to the drink.

"Amazing- here," she said while extending the mug to him. He lifted his eyebrows in question. "Oh come on, it's not like you have cooties." He laughed and took the mug, taking a small sip before widening his eyes.

"Damn," he said.

"Yeah I know- good right?" she said with a smile. He nodded in agreement, turning around to find Granny. Ruby found him instead.

"Here," she said with a wink as she sprinkled some of the 'magic' cinnamon over his own mug, bending over the bar and looking at him like she was attempting to undress him with her eyes.

"Thank you, love," he said, giving her a grin just to see what would happen. Ruby always flirted with the customers- no one was ever really safe. She merely glanced at Swan and sighed, turning away from him to get back to work.

"Is she always like that?" Emma asked curiously. He laughed, giving her a nod before taking a drink of his hot cocoa. It really was good. "Wait- you're drinking hot chocolate, too? Why? It's sort of uncommon in the mornings," she wondered.

"Grew up in England, love. Never liked coffee, and tea is…well I don't care for tea so much either," he told her. She seemed to accept this, as she nodded thoughtfully and looked down at her cup.

"When'd you come to the states?"

"I was 22," he answered, suddenly lost in memories of that first summer and her eyes…

"—Hello?" Emma asked, pulling him from his mind. He hadn't realized she'd been talking.

"Sorry," he said.

"It's fine," she told him, eyeing him with a look he couldn't quite decipher. "I was just wondering what made you move…" Oh, great. Where to start with that one…

"Um…it's actually somewhat of a long story," he started. "I'd an opportunity to come here with a friend of mine, and I took it."

"Doesn't sound like a long story to me," she replied. He gave a short laugh and drank some more of his cocoa.

"That's the short version," he said. Then he smirked, looking back to her and saying, "You have to earn the long story." She started laughing and soon he was too, only to be interrupted by the bell on the door ringing and a boy's voice filling the air around them.

"Okay but I don't need a babysitter!" he exclaimed. Killian chuckled and turned around, knowing what he would find. Henry was exasperated, backpack slung over his right shoulder as he scolded the sheriff who, coincidently, wore a similar expression Killian did.

"Yeah yeah, I know- take it up with your mother," he said while hiding a smile. Emma had turned around at the sound of Henry's voice and it didn't take long for the boy to meet her gaze.

"Mom!" Emma sighed, glancing at Killian.

"I told you not to call me that." Killian perked up ever so slightly, but Emma noticed. A knowing smirk fluttered to his lips as he thought he might actually get to find out her name. "But I guess it's alright," she added quickly. Killian's shoulders slumped and he glared at her, though he found it difficult to when she shifted her eyes to his with a knowing smirk of her own.

"Yeah….well," Henry said, clearly picking up on the body language. "Regina," he spat, "is making Graham babysit me 'till I get to school. I told you she doesn't trust me!" he cried. Emma gave a tight lipped smile to the kid and stood to meet him.

"Sorry, kid. Can't help you there," she told him while ruffling his hair. Killian watched from his seat as the boy ran over to him, taking the seat his mother had skipped in favor of one farther away from Killian's.

"Hey you met my mom!" He seemed very excited.

"Aye- she won't tell me her name though, only that I'm to call her Swan. I see where you get that stubbornness, lad," he told him, tapping his chest when he said 'you.'

"Oh! Well her name's-"

"Henry!" He looked to his mother innocently and she shook her head, a smile threatening to show.

"Fine." He turned back to Killian, asking how they managed to meet. Emma gave him a warning look, and he laughed. Apparently 'she wandered into my bar looking to get trashed after a long day' wasn't an acceptable answer, and somehow she'd known he'd say something along those lines. Well, two could play that game.

"Well, naturally she came onto me the second she saw me but-"

"Oh please," she said. "In your dreams." He wagged his eyebrows at her and she rolled her eyes, turning towards the sheriff to introduce herself. Killian strained to hear her name, but the kid was talking awfully loud.

"She probably found your bar huh? Well anyway, Regina doesn't want me talking to her. That's why Graham is watching me. I don't know why though- it's not like meeting er, Swan, is going to make me hate Regina more. I don't think that's possible really," he said. Killian shook his head at the kid when he adopted the name Killian was told to use. God, this family…

"Well, Miss Swan I've actually got a job opening- if you're interested that is. It's a bit of a long term thing though, so if you do intend on skipping town soon I'd request you pass," Graham told Emma. Killian watched as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled at him.

"Well, what kind of job is it, Sheriff Humbert?" Oh God. He seriously wished he could tease her right now- it was blatantly obvious she was attracted to him.

Graham smirked, looking briefly to Killian. They'd been good friends since Killian opened the bar- there had been a surprising amount of calls to the cops from his bar, so they'd gotten to know each other. Killian nodded, as if to assure him that he had no intention of chasing after her. Sure, Swan was gorgeous, but he was in no position to actually make a move. He wasn't sure he'd ever be ready to make a move on anyone, actually. Not after…

"It's deputy. My last one just moved so I'm a bit short staffed, seeing as it's only me," he told Emma.

"Yeah, actually that'd be great. I was a bounty hunter back in Boston, so I know how the system works- at least a little," she told him, all business now. Bounty hunter, huh?

"Hello- earth to Killian! Are you even listening to me?" Henry asked.

"What? Sorry kid. Something about Gracie?" he guessed. It was a solid guess- Henry'd been talking about this girl in his class for the past two weeks. She was the daughter of a man Killian knew quite well- he frequented the bar.

"Yeah. Well, yesterday she dropped her pencil and asked me if I could get it for her. So I said, it'll cost you. And she was like, okay what do you want? So I said I don't know you'll figure something out, because I didn't wanna be too obvious you know? So then she just leaned over and kissed my cheek! She kissed my cheek, Killian! What am I supposed to do when I see her in class?" he asked, arms outstretched in question. Killian laughed, patting the boy on his back. They grow up so fast.

"Well, you can pretend like it didn't happen- or- you can tell her how you feel." He nodded, taking his hot chocolate to go, and hopped off the stool.

"Thanks! Hey Mom, so does this mean you're gonna stay in town?" he asked as he approached Emma's side.

"Yeah, kid. I'm going to stay." Killian couldn't help but smile. It'd been a long time since he'd had a friend like her- one who'd call him out and challenge him. Graham was good, but he also wasn't that great to look at- not when compared to Swan that's for sure. Killian stood as well, greeting the sheriff on his way out, waving goodbye to Emma and Henry who stood at the doorway. "I'll see you around," she called after him.

"You'd better if you want to hear the rest of that story," he replied with a smile.

A/N: Review? :D