Disclaimer: nothing

A/N: Surprise! Double update in honor of our favorite pirate's birthday! Enjoy my fellow Hookers!

"Dublin, to be precise." Killian swished a tumbler of amber fluid in his glass.

"Ireland." she said in amazement. Killian and Emma had finished up some of the other rooms and had decided to take a well needed break. Which, naturally, led to an impromptu game of 20 questions. So far she has learned that Killian was 28. Loved music, 80s mostly. Had a knack for the arts. Every shade of blue was his favorite and he was from Ireland.

Killian also learned that Emma was 24, born and raised in Storybrooke, Maine and also had a taste for music. Today's hits. Her favorite color was red. And she was a sucker for the ocean.

"Aye." he smiled before tilting the glass to his lips and she watched as the amber liquid disappeared. Killian ran his tongue across his lips as he reached for the glass bottle and tilted it towards her. Emma shrugged.

Why the hell not.

She slid her glass across the kitchen counter and he caught it with his thumb and middle fingers. Pouring a generous amount in her glass he cocked his head to the side, eyeing her. He was obviously contemplating something. Emma watched as he came closer, closing the small gap between them. "I've been meaning to ask you something."

Her face scrunched up in confusion as her hand chased the glass he was pulling away, just out of her reach. Emma realized that he had done it on purpose. The close proximity didn't feel so unwelcomed on her end. "Shoot." she breathed.

Killian rubbed the stubble on his face with his free hand before reaching out to brush a stray blonde curl back into place. His fingers rubbing the strands before letting them go. Ocean blue eyes moving to her emerald ones, "Why is it," he started, "your last name is Swan when clearly your surname should, in fact, be Nolan?" Killian took a quick sip from her glass before placing it in her outstretched hand.

Well crap.

This wasn't really a story she wanted to share but, the rum running through her system gave her some liquid courage. More. She needed more. Before she started answering his question, Emma downed the oversized shot, scrunching her face as it burned her throat on its way down. A long exhale followed before, "Identity crisis. Age 20. I thought I knew it all. I…. wanted to show that I was in control. That no one could knock me down."

"So changing your surname proved-?" he asked not really understanding.

By now Emma was pacing. It was going to come out sooner or later. It was a small town. Secrets last all of 20 seconds here. Eventually he'd find out from someone. Her face scrunched in aggravation. "Dammit. Okay, his name is Neal Cassady. We started dating my Sophomore year in high school. He was the jock, I was the cheerleader-" she watched as his eyebrow shot up in shock and amusement, "Can it." she warned. Killian turned his fingers on his lips in a mock locking motion and raised his hands in surrender. Emma rolled her eyes, "Anyway, everything was fine, ya know? The cutesy crap everyone does in the beginning. But, something just… changed." she sighed and slouched her shoulders. She's never even told Ruby all of what's happened and here she is, pouring her soul to a damn Irishman. "Drinking. Partying. Hell, the ass hole couldn't even keep it in his pants." Emma swallowed hard, taking the bottle in hand and downing another mouthful. Didn't even bother with the glass this time. "Then came the emotional abuse. The little quips. Anything to make me feel like he was the only one to love me. That I was stuck. Worthless."

Killian's anger was seething. If he ever ran into this Neal character well, he'll understand why his nickname was 'Hook'. He gently took the bottle from her hands when he spotted her trembling. He wasn't sure if it was from anger or sadness but, he didn't like it. He pulled her into a strong embrace. Maybe he figured that if he could hold her tight enough, it would put the pieces back together. But, he himself knew that it wasn't that easy. He knew hurt. He knew pain. But, that would be a story for a different day.

She wasn't expecting him to hold her but, she certainly didn't fight it. Her head buried in his chest as her hands gripped the back of his shirt. He smelled heavenly. She couldn't pinpoint any one scent but, she loved it. Eventually, she pulled herself away and immediately felt the loss of his arms around her. She wiped a few stray tears and sniffed. "But, yeah." she laugh in embarrassment. "Um, I changed my name to Swan because-"

"-it was a new beginning." he finished.

She nodded her agreement. "A very short lived new beginning."

"You went back?" his brows raised at his question.

"I felt like I had to. I felt that what he said was true, to an extent. I wanted to be-" Emma knew love. Her parents loved her very much. She loved her pet cricket she named Jiminy when she was 6 until one day he had met his tragic fate with the vacuum cleaner. Yes, she knew love. One day she wanted to have someone look at her the way her father looked at her mother. The emotions were getting too real. She needed to switch the gears back. "Favorite movie?" she asked quickly.

Killian looked at her strangely but, understood. Her walls were going back up and he'd try again another day. "I'm quite fond of 'Hook'. Dustin Hoffman has the best portrayal by far." he gave her a toothy grin before taking a mouthful of rum. "Robin Williams brings a sort of comic relief to the usual uptight scenes. I don't agree with the Tinker Bell kiss."

"All she wanted was a kiss." she countered.

"So hand her the bloody thimble." he challenged.

"She wanted a real kiss."

"Well a real kiss," he mimicked, "wouldn't have been so…" he waved a hand around as he searched for the words. "Oi! Forget it!" he yelled out, smiling when she did.

"You're cute when you're flustered." her smile fell and her eyes widened. No more rum for you, Emma Swan!

Under normal circumstances Killian would answer with some tongue-in-cheek comment but, he knew he must tread carefully. So as much as it killed him, he decided to ask, "And your favorite movie would be-" he trailed off.

Emma was quite thankful that he chose to ignore her comment. "Benny and Joon." she answered, truthfully.

He tilted his head from side to side as he debated this new information. "Can't really say I'm that surprised."

"Why?"

"A woman trying so hard to be accepted as an independent individual blind to the love given to her by a charming bloke who would love nothing more than to watch her smile and be happy. Might I be so blunt in saying, love, that in a way it mirrors your current situation?"

Smug bastard.

"Okay, I'll bite. How is this relevant to the now?" she challenged.

"Exactly my point." he shook his head and took another swig of his rum. This time he replaced to topper back on the neck of the bottle before leaving the room. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration before placing them on the mantle of the fireplace. Killian hadn't heard Emma gather her things before walking to the door. His head turned when he heard her soft voice cut through the loud silence.

"I'm going to go. My father has probably paced a worry mark into the floor." she gave a soft smile and added just before she shut the door, "Thank you." She wasn't sure for what. Maybe everything? Maybe nothing. But it seemed to be the right thing to say.

A nod. That's all he gave. A small, stupid, nod.

Emma wasn't quite sure when it went from being 4: 30 in the afternoon to damn near 10 o'clock at night. The air was still humid from the storm the night before but it still felt cool against her skin. She was sitting on her front stoop contemplating what had happened just an hour before. Her parents had a double date with Regina and Robin and were already gone by the time she came back to the house. The note on the counter told her not to wait up so she knew they would probably crash at Regina's. Gods know she had more than enough rooms in her mini mansion.

She twirled her drink around in the glass, mindlessly. What had happened? She opened up to a guy she didn't even- okay, she knew a little more about him but, that's not the point. The point being, she had told him one of her deepest secrets in less than 48 hours. Emma groaned and downed the drink. It burned. But it took her thoughts away for a moment.

Emma's attention moved towards Killian's house. The music had started up again. She knew for a fact that he didn't have many things left to sort through, so no more surprises by her mother. Why was she sad? Where did this come from? She didn't have an excuse to go over and talk-

She wanted to talk to him?

No.

Yes.

No.

Dammit!

The door was left unlocked. Had he expected her back? No. That's silly. But yet, here she was. Standing in the middle of his living room. She could hear Killian upstairs moving things around while belting out '18 and Life' by Skid Row. It was annoying how easy it was for him to make her smile. A tiny crack in her foundation.

Emma was about to knock on the panel of the door atop the stairs when she noticed him frantically sketching something. Only then did she realize he had stopped singing. The air was thick around her. The feeling of dread coming back and her hand, the one still raised in the air, began to tremble. She spun around when she felt a hand on her shoulder but no one was there. "What the hell?" she breathed. A squeak in the floorboards behind her hinted that someone made their presence in the doorway. Making another 180 turn, Emma screamed and jumped back clutching at her chest. "Don't do that!"

Killian couldn't help laugh at the situation. "What? Walk around in my own home?"

"Scaring me!" she finally regained enough composure to straighten and meet his gaze. His normal icy blue eyes were dimmed. There was a hidden emotion behind them.

"I'm sorry, love. But, you are the one who trespassed. I hadn't even heard you enter."

"I was about to knock when-"

"EMMAAAAAA!"

They exchanged confused glances before heading into the room Killian had just retreated from. Making their way to the window Emma saw him first. Her eyes grew wide and she quickly pressed her back against the wall, away from his line of view. Killian, on the other hand, raised open the window to lean on the ledge with his elbows.

"BAAAABES!"

Emma hit her head against the wall. Why? Why can't this fucker leave her alone?She knew Killian knew who it was. He didn't have to ask. His knuckles turned white and his jaw clenched. The little muscle in his cheek flexing. Without thinking, she placed a hand on his making him take a sharp breath in. "I'll go down and talk to him." she mumbled.

"Not alone." his voice was stern and angry. He left the room in record time, Emma following close behind him.

"Wait!" she called. "Let me go first. If he sees you-" her voice trailed off.

Killian understood. If he saw her with another man it would escalate quickly. He didn't want that. With a curt nod he opened the door for her.

Emma sighed at the sight of him. Three quarters of a bottle of gin was gone. The last quarter sloshing around in his hand. His face was beat red and his clothes were a mess. The complete look of confusion on his face was priceless. He made a motion that mimicked "eenie meenie minie moe".

"'s this the wrong hiccup house?" his words were barely recognizable. Neal stumbled his way over to her. It took him a few tries but he finally managed managed to stand - if you want want to call it standing - in front of Emma.

"Go away Neal." her voice was low and calm. "Go and don't come back."

He scoffed. "But I just came from all the way from that spot right over there." he slurred his words and motioned to the spot a few feet away from the area they were currently occupying.

"Yes." she acknowledged. "And now you're going to go further." she crossed her arms and tapped a foot on the pavement.

"No. I quite like it here." he stumbled forward in an attempt to kiss her when Killian came flying from where he was standing behind the door to push him away.

"She said to leave, mate." he spat.

"The fuck are you? Are you a leprechaun?" he seemed legitimately shocked. "Are you fucking a leprechaun?" he was speaking to Emma now. Her and Killian shared a look before returning their gaze to Neal who had thrown down the bottle and had his fists up ready to fight.

"Mate-" Killian sighed. "You're bloody drunk. And as much as I'd love to punch your lights out-"

"Enough talking Keebler!" and with that, Neal threw the first punch, hitting nothing but air since all Killian had to do was move an inch to the left. Neal fell on his face right at their feet.

"That was the easiest fight I've ever won!" Killian smiled fondly. Emma rolled her eyes and knelt down beside Neal, checking for a pulse. "Is the bloody man still alive?" he questioned.

"Unfortunately, yes. I'll call Graham to come pick him up." she muttered as she stood. Killian was still smiling. "What?" she asked, starting to smile herself.

He shook his head. "Nothing, I can assure you. Go on, love. I'll take care of our friend here. You go and get some rest." And before she could protest he took her hand, gave it a quick peck and shooed her off.

Emma had just opened her front door when Killian called over, "Oh! And Swan? Don't stare so hard next time." he grinned and ran his tongue along his lower lip before he mimicked a dance move had done the previous night. A blush crept up to her cheeks when she realized he knew she had watched him.

Damn.

Ok, I know it's only chapter 3 and it went for a dive in deep side of the pool. I promise next chapter will be a little more fun!