Emma.
Staying away was the dumbest idea Emma ever had. It was impossible, she really wanted to reconnect with Neal, bring back the spark they had a long time ago, and avoiding his home and friends was not going to help. So here she is, in front of Neal's apartment about to knock on the door. Neal's been busy lately; she has seen him briefly the past few days, so when he called earlier and asked her to go to his place because they were celebrating Killian's birthday tonight, she couldn't say no. But what really has her standing in front of the door like a coward is that she really wanted to come and not exactly to see Neal. She was holding a present for Killian, because when she heard about Killian's birthday she knew which was going to be the perfect birthday gift. So she went out and bought it, she considered not giving it to him at all, but she already had the gift so there was no harm in it. Probably everyone was giving him something, right?
She gathered the courage and knocked on the door after saving the present inside her purse, she'll find an appropriate moment to give it to him. She need it to stop feeling nervous about seeing Killian again, he is just a nice guy, with pretty eyes and hot as hell. The door opened before her thoughts dragged her to dangerous waters. And it was Tink, of course. Killian's girlfriend or girl-friend.
"Hi, Emma. Come in, don't you have a key or something?" The girl asked confused, well maybe she should have a key but Neal never offered one, and she never asked.
"Hello" she forced a smile and for some reason she didn't know Tink seemed amused with her and she didn't like it one bit, especially when she has no idea the reason why. And what bothered her most was when the girl turned around to say out loud...
"Killian, you have a special guest here"
Killian's stepped out of the kitchen with the blender in one hand. When he saw her, a sweet sincere smile took over his face, and Emma couldn't help but mirrored it "Happy Birthday" she said
"Thank you…Tell me Swan, would you like a Margarita?"
"Sure"
"Let me make those for you" interrupted Tink grabbing the Blender and pushing Killian towards Emma "Go have fun, introduce Emma to everyone" and it was when Tink said it that Emma realized there was other people on the living room staring quietly at them.
"Well, everyone this is Emma" Killian said putting an arm around her shoulders and turning her around so she could face the other people in the room. And she blushed when Killian's smell hit her, something masculine, but breezy, like the ocean and exotic flowers "Emma this is everyone" he said with a smile. A pretty girl with brown hair who was sitting beside a guy who probably was her boyfriend stood up and grabbed Emma's hand taking her away from Killian.
"Killian that's no way to introduce someone…I'm Belle, this is my boyfriend Will"
"Hello, love" said Will and gave her a wink.
"This is Mary Margaret and David" said Belle, and Mary Margaret stood up and hugged her. Emma was confused, and she gave a confused look to Killian.
"Sorry love, she does that"
"Oh don't be like that Killian, any friend of yours is a friend of us" said the brunet letting her go. Then she looked into her eyes "Is really nice meeting you Emma" The girl was so sincere that Emma felt a knot in her throat, where are this people coming from? Are they for real? Why is everyone so damn nice?
"Hello I'm David, don't worry my wife is the one with the hugging thing" he shook her hand and Emma smiled.
She sat down in the available couch and Killian sat down beside her, everyone started talking again. Emma took the opportunity to asked Killian quietly "Is Neal here?"
"Umm…He went out an hour ago, I thought he was picking you up" he replied
"No, He told me he'll meet me here" Emma answered thoughtful. And Killian was now giving her this look people was giving her lately; Neal has stood her up more than once this past month. She was blaming her infatuation with Killian, but last week she's been all Neal, and he kept on disappearing "I'm sure he'll be here soon" she assured him, although she was assuring herself. She texted Neal, and five minutes later she got a reply, he said he'll be there shortly.
She found herself enjoying the evening, Mary Margaret was a really nice person, and very interested in Emma's job, she is a teacher so she loves kids as much as her, and was very interested in Emma's line of work. Belle worked in a library, and the conversation between everyone was caring and intellectual, and Emma loved it. Not what she was expecting, so Killian's friends where amazing, another point for Killian, not like if she was keeping score, not at all. She learned that David and Mary Margaret are old friends with Tink and Killian, since college. And Will is a co-worker, they work at the docks or something with boats, she wasn't sure and she didn't ask. The whole evening was so stimulating and joyful that Emma lost track of time. When it was clear that Neal was not showing up, Emma took her drinking seriously. Killian tried to slow her down but was not successful.
Killian.
Killian was happy watching Emma enjoy herself with his friends, it was not difficult for Mary Margaret and Belle to engage her in an interesting conversation. He relaxed when she stopped looking at her bloody watch every two minutes and began to smile and laugh. But eventually he noticed the way she was drinking, so he tried to delay the cocktails rounds, until Emma found a glass and the bottle of rum he was drinking from and started serving her own drinks. They had a great night, and he felt happy spending time with her, having little and casual conversations. He wasn't sure she'll show up, after the morning she saw him on his underwear she was clearly avoiding him. But he told Neal to invite her, he really needs Emma's phone number. Hopefully he'll get it tonight. You know, for friend's purposes only.
Everyone left, and Tink was supposed to stay behind to help him clean up. But after they close the door to their friends she grabbed his arm aggressively and got him inside the kitchen "I'm leaving, go get her a drink and do something" she stared at him pointedly.
"What do you mean?" he asked, but she didn't answer, she walked out of the kitchen and said goodbye to Emma. And Killian followed her to the door.
"I know I already gave you a birthday present, but this is my other birthday present. Go to her and let her know how you feel"
"She has a boyfriend"
"Where is he? I don't see him around, he is never around. Go tell her how you feel" she gave her a kiss goodbye in the cheek and left the apartment.
Killian was no coward, he simply was wary about Emma's feelings right now. She was stood up by her boyfriend again, he didn't think it was good form to overwhelm her right now with his feeling for her. But he may not get another chance, he was already apartment hunting, he was most definitely moving out. And even when Neal could walk in at any moment, he has to do it. He took the bottle of rum they were both drinking from and walk to the living room, when she saw him with the bottle in hand she extended her glass, he filled it half way and did the same with his glass.
"I thought Tink was staying here tonight" she said staring intently to her glass, he read her easily she was searching for a relationship update.
"Why would she stay here tonight?" he asked and then took a sip of rum.
"I don't know. Isn't that what you guys do?" she looked into his eyes, waiting for the answer.
"She is my best friend, nothing more" Emma looked away and smiled.
"You didn't answer my question, but it's ok, not my business"
"Are you staying here tonight?" Emma blushed and he smirked "waiting for Neal, I mean"
"I'm not waiting for Neal. We are celebrating your birthday, which reminds me I brought you a present" and when he heard that, he was really surprised.
"A present? You shouldn't have Swan" He said watching her walk towards her purse and take something out. She walked to him and extended the gift, the wrapping paper was full of sailboats, and a big blue bow was on top of it. He felt so warm inside, he wasn't expecting it. And it felt so good that she thought about it enough to pick a wrapping paper of something he loves. He grabbed the package and looked into her eyes "You really shouldn't have" he said with a sincere happy smile on his face. She smiled back.
"So open it" she said when she got back to her seat and notice he was still staring at the gift. He nodded once and carefully tear up the paper. It was a book, but not any book. It was a copy of Peter Pan.
"How did you know?" he asked looking amazed by it.
"I remembered you said once that this was your favorite book when you were growing up. I saw it and I couldn't stop myself. Do you like it?" she asked smiling happy with his reaction.
"Is perfect, is amazing…you are amazing, Emma…Thank you"
"Well it is my pleasure, especially now that I see your reaction" they both laugh. Emma took her glass and drank the rest of her rum "Is time for me to go…I really don't want to ran up to Neal right now" she said and Killian noticed her mood changing.
"Are you driving home? Because…don't get me wrong but you've been drinking quite a lot tonight. I can't let you drive like that" She looked at him for a few seconds.
"Will you walk me home?" she asked "I really don't wanna be alone right now"
"Of course, love. I'd love to walk you home"
"Are you always this polite? Are your friends always that polite?" she teased him.
"I try to be polite as much as I can. And my friends, well they are the optimistic kind of people, they keep my negativity in check"
They went out and started walking slowly in Emma's home direction. Killian could tell Emma was not happy about Neal not showing up, he wanted to do what Tink asked, take the opportunity to express his feelings, but Emma was vexed.
"You know, when I met Neal I was very lonely. I had never experienced love or even happiness, I know now that I've been trying to keep us together just to try and feel that again. But it is lost, and I can't find it, I keep looking but is nowhere" she started talking, confiding in him so he kept quiet, letting her talk, letting her share her burden with him "I love him, but I am not so sure anymore…I'm not sure if my love for him has change. And I'm scared of being alone again, have no one to reach out for" he was silent for a few seconds, considering carefully his reply, because she seems to be waiting for one.
"Swan, maybe it is not my place, for several reasons, but maybe it is not my place to say this…but I have to…You are a caring, loving, passionate, beautiful woman who deserves someone by her side who doesn't stood her up ever with no reason at all" she was staring at him attentively "Look, when we are young and we fall in love, we hope is going to be forever. But then we grow up, and maybe the person we are with grows up in a different direction, and things get messy. Is hard to let go, but that is the choice we have to make, to keep on fighting for it for a bit longer, or simply let go and move on"
"How do you make this choice?" she asked and Killian shrugged.
"I guess is personal, no one else can choose for you"
"If I fight for a bit longer, will things get better?"
"Statistically no, but there are always exceptions" he said trying to be honest, even when all he wanted to say was that she shouldn't be with Neal anymore.
"And you don't think Neal and I could be a part of the exception" it was not a question. Killian ran a hand trough his hair and said to himself "here goes nothing"
"If I was your boyfriend, I would never let you alone an entire night knowing you are waiting for me in my bed. I would never tell you to meet me somewhere and never show up, I would take care of you and love you, letting you know every single day how bloody much" He was so passionate on his speech that he didn't notice when Emma got so close to him, or if it was him the one getting closer to her "But you are not mine, and all I can say is I wish you were" he said almost in a whisper, because she was so close he could feel her breathing on his chin. He saw Emma's eyes travel to his mouth, and he almost jumped to kiss her right there, but he stopped himself. Suddenly Emma's hands where on the lapels of his jacket pulling him to her. Their mouths met in a passionate kiss, to be honest he was expecting Emma's kiss to be wonderful, but this was fireworks and passion, and raw desire. When they finally broke the kiss searching for air, his mind was turning circles in his head. He pushed their foreheads together, grasping for more seconds to have her in his arms, because he knew it was not going to be as simple as kissing and live happily ever after.
