Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon A Time.
Chapter 3 - The Not-Quite-A-Date
Emma stepped out of the taxi in front of the Starbucks on the corner of Pearl St, scanning the surroundings for Killian. She didn't notice him immediately and for good reason. He was standing near the door in slim fit jeans and a white crew neck, a blue baseball cap was pulled low over his face and aviators covered his eyes. He was clearly trying to be incognito.
Emma smiled at the ridiculous nature of it and turned around to pay the taxi driver. She heard Killian's approach behind her and when she faced him again his mouth had formed a ridiculous smile.
"Hi," he greeted her enthusiastically.
"Hey. What are we doing here? Traffic was terrible, the cab ride took ages."
"It'll be worth it, I promise," Killian said as he ushered her towards the entrance of Starbucks.
"I really hope there's something after Starbucks."
"Not really. I'm a cheap date," he said jokingly and held the door open for them to enter.
The line was fairly short so it only took them a few minutes to reach the counter and place an order. The barista gave her and odd look when all she ordered was a simple hot chocolate with cinnamon but Killian didn't miss a beat when asking for a second.
On their way back out he took his first sip. Emma watched his face, waiting for a reaction. It seemed stupid but hot chocolate with cinnamon had been one of her favourites for as long as she could remember and she wanted him to like it.
"This is actually quite good."
"Hmm," Emma hummed in agreement, taking a sip of her own, "So where are we going?"
"It's a little bit of a walk from here but it shouldn't take us long," Killian said, pointing them in the right direction and starting off with a leisurely pace. Emma fell in beside him.
"Still not gonna tell me what we're doing are you?"
"Nope," he replied with a cheeky grin.
"Fine, but just so you know, you're not off to a very good start."
"I'm confident I'll make up for it."
They walked for a few minutes in comfortable silence. Killian guided the way to their destination all the while Emma tried to work out where it was they were going. She played up the fact that she hated surprises, and truthfully she did but this one she actually wasn't dreading. Emma was broken out of her wondering when Killian spoke again.
"So, bail-bonds huh? How you get into that?"
Being totally honest with him felt like a little too much for a first date so Emma went a little more vague.
"I sort of just fell into it really. I've always kind of had a knack for finding people. Figured I might as well make some money out of it." He nodded along at her explanation but didn't ask her to elaborate, "So what about you? What do you do?" Emma asked coolly, trying to play it off like she didn't already know.
If his expression didn't give away that he felt she was bullshitting his next words definitely did.
"You sure you don't already know?" he asked, his tone more resigned than condescending.
Emma took another sip of her hot chocolate to avoid making eye contact while she answered.
"To be honest, I didn't know until yesterday morning when I googled you."
"Do you google all of the men you go out with?" He teased.
"Oh my background checks are usually much more extensive. You should be lucky that I only ran your name through google. Then again it turned up a lot more information then I usually find." They were quiet for a few moments again before she continued, "Is it hard? Being recognised all the time?"
"Sometimes. Mostly when I want to do simple things. Like get groceries or go on a date," he nudged her shoulder at that and then he was coming to a stop in front of a crosswalk. Emma could see the pier across the street. "I used to like coming over here actually," Killian continued, "Football's not very popular in the States so it was easier to go unrecognised. Then People Magazine decided to name me sexiest man alive," he shot a teasing wink at her, "Now I feel like I can't go anywhere. Liam got a good laugh from it though."
"Liam?"
"My older brother?" he replied, "Do you have any siblings?"
"Can't say that I do."
Thankfully before the sibling conversation could travel into territory she was truly uncomfortable with, such as explaining why she couldn't simply give a yes or no, she spotted something that made her stop short.
"You can't be serious?" Emma asked incredulous.
"I hope you're not afraid of heights?" Killian's tone was teasing but Emma could tell there was some underlying worry there, as if he was afraid he had really screwed up in his date choice.
"I'm not," she answered quickly to put his mind to ease, "This just caught me off guard."
"We don't have to do it if you don't want to. I've just never been in a helicopter before. I thought it might be fun."
Emma thought about it for a moment. The idea of getting in a helicopter was one that had never crossed her mind but she wasn't adverse to it either, and it would make a great story to tell Henry.
"Lets do it."
"Great."
Killian offered his arm to her, she contemplated not accepting it for a moment, but in the end she slipped her arm through his. They walked in tandem the rest of the way to the building.
"You know I'm pretty sure I've been here before in Grand Theft Auto," Killian said as he held the door open for Emma to enter.
"I hope you didn't bring me here to steal a helicopter," she joked.
"Of course not, love. I'm too pretty to go to jail. I wouldn't last an hour."
Emma tensed, but forced an awkward chuckle.
It didn't go unnoticed by Killian. He was curious but considering the delicate nature of the topic, chose to let it go. What ever it was, it was a conversation they would have when Emma was ready.
Killian approached the reception, informing the woman behind the counter of his reservation. Once the payment was made they were ushered through a metal detector by security and given a crash course on the do's and dont's of helicopter etiquette.
Another half hour later they were being shown out the back of the building and over to a waiting helicopter. The blades spun loudly overhead as Killian climbed in then turned back to offer Emma his hand. She accepted it graciously and allowed him to pull her up. When they were secure in their seats the helicopter began it ascent.
Emma spent most of the ride looking back and forth between the sights outside and Killian's face. It was lit up like a child throughout the whole tour, a wide grin and bright blue eyes looking out over New York. It was breathtaking to see the city in this way. From so high up you couldn't see the chaos in the streets below, just tall buildings and barely visible people.
Central Park stood out, it's green grass a stark contrast to the grey streets and buildings that surround it on either side. The few minutes they spent flying over it was Emma's favourite of the tour and Killian's as well as she would find out later. They each wore headsets that allowed them to speak to one and other but they both seemed content to enjoy the ride in mesmerizing silence, using only the occasional glance to communicate.
Before either of them knew it the pilot was circling the Statue of Liberty and aiming the helicopter back in the direction of the pier.
When they touched back down again it was nearly two o'clock and Emma was starving. Killian must have read her mind because the next thing she knew he was hailing them a taxi and they were off to get pizza. Killian insisted that he wanted the full New York experience so he let her choose the place.
"I trust that you have knowledge of the best place to get pizza in this city."
"You trust right," Emma told him before instructing the driver where to take them.
The drive was a little long but they filled it with small facts from their lives. He told her he was from a small town in Ireland called Drogheda and laughed when she tried to pronounce it. He and his brother own a house there and it's where he spends every summer. She tried to be as forthcoming with her life as he was.
Killian was careful to stay away from questions that were too personal, probably sensing early that it would be the quickest way to scare Emma off. Instead he chose to ask about her job and she regaled him with stories of stakeouts gone wrong and foot chases in 5 inch heels.
The pizza place Emma took him to was a small place called Alexandria's that went mostly unnoticed on the busy street. Known only to locals it was as cliche a place as any. The same Italian family had owned it since it came into existence and almost everything in the place was a red and white checkered pattern.
Emma told Killian to get them a booth then made her way up to the counter.
"Emma!" A petite woman with a mild Italian accent greeted her, "No, Henry today?" she asked after scanning the room and not finding him.
"No, not today, Rosa."
Emma peeked over her shoulder at Killian sitting in the booth near the window. He was typing something on his phone but as if he could feel her stare he looked up and smiled widely at her.
"Oh, I see. A date today," Rosa said in that same way a grandmother would ask about your new boyfriend. Emma smiled back shyly.
"Yeah, I guess you could call it that. Can we get two slices of pepperoni please?" Emma asked before taking one more glance back, Rosa's eyes followed her own. Killian had removed his sunglasses and now Rosa was gasping behind her.
"Is that Killian Jones?" Emma didn't get the opportunity to answer before Rosa was continuing, "I need to go get Vincenzo. You sit darling, I'll bring you your slices." With that Rosa was rushing off towards the kitchen already calling out to her husband.
Emma turned and walked over to the booth, sliding in opposite of Killian.
"I think you may be about to get mobbed," she told him. He tilted his head to the side in confusion.
"What?"
Killian looked over towards the kitchen where the sounds of rushed footsteps where making their way closer. Soon Vincenzo and his oldest son Antonio where screeching to a stop beside the booth. Vincenzo spoke first.
"Killian Jones in my pizzeria! My pizzeria! I can't believe this!" He spoke loudly. Killian stood and offered his head, Vincenzo took it, shaking it almost too enthusiastically, "This is my boy, Antonio." Killian shook his hand as well. Rosa joined them again sliding a whole pizza onto the table and motioning to the camera hanging around her neck.
"You take a picture, yes?" she asked Killian, "We'll put it up behind the counter."
"Oh ah, yeah, of course," he replied.
"Do you mind, Emma?" Rosa asked, holding the camera out for her to take. Emma slid out of the booth awkwardly and took the camera, preparing to take the picture.
Killian was nearly half a foot taller then the short Italian family but he wrapped one arm around Vincenzo's shoulders and the other around Rosa's then smiled for the camera. Antonio squeezed in next to his father and Emma snapped a few photos.
When Rosa was satisfied, Emma sat back down and Killian joined her.
"The pizza is on the house," Vincenzo told them.
"Thank you," Killian replied.
"You remember this when you play Italy in a few weeks, yes?"
Killian chuckled deeply and nodded. When they were alone again he spoke.
"Sorry about that."
"No need to be sorry. I don't mind."
"You will," he said quietly.
Emma didn't know if that was true or not, but she imagined it probably was. It hadn't bothered her this time but if it became a regular thing when she was out with him she knew it would become an obstacle. For now though she decided it was a conversation they could have later, if ever. This was only a first date, she wasn't committing to marriage.
"So, what was Vincenzo talking about? When you play Italy?" Emma asked as she reached forward and grabbed a slice of their pizza.
"The World Cup in Brazil. It starts on the 12th. I'm flying down there with the national team on Friday," he told her as he grabbed a slice of his own.
"So why are you bothering to fly back to London tomorrow?"
"I have a meeting with my club team manager. I'm trying to transfer up to Manchester or Liverpool but I have to be put on the transfer list first. Hopefully things will go smoothly there and then it's over to Ireland to report for the national team and we're all of to Brazil."
"Wow. Four countries in one week. Is your life always this busy?"
"Not usually. I suppose life just saw it fit for us to meet at the most inconvenient time."
It was the truth of the situation and it gave Emma the opening she needed.
"Yeah about that," she started, Killian looked at her apprehensively, "I'm not sure it's a good idea for me to be starting a long distance relationship at the moment."
He let out a relieved breath upon hearing her words and she was almost insulted until he spoke.
"Emma we only met two days ago. I'm not expecting some kind of commitment." This time she was the relieved one. "I asked you out because I wanted to get to know you. I'd like to keep getting to know you. If that's something you want." It wasn't a question but it sounded a lot like one.
Emma thought about it. Getting to know him better didn't sound so bad. No commitments, no expectations, just two people building a friendship.
"Yeah, I think I'd like that," she told Killian. He smiled happily at her.
"As would I."
After that the conversation switched back to casual topics and they finished their pizza in between facts about themselves. When they were finished eating Killian left a large tip on the table, which Emma made a point not to look at and they each waved goodbye to Rosa as they walked out the door.
"I only live a few blocks away," Emma told him.
"I'll walk you there," Killian offered.
Emma thought about turning him down. It was the middle of the day and she walks these streets all the time she didn't need him to walk her home, but then she realised he wasn't offering out of necessity, he just wanted to. No expectations, Emma reminded herself.
They walked the three blocks back to her apartment mostly in silence, enjoying the sun and each other's company. When they reached the green gate that led to her building's private garden Emma held it open for Killian to follow behind her. He did wordlessly and soon they were standing just outside the door.
"I had fun today."
"Me too, love. Thank you for accompanying me," Killian said, with a short glance down at her lips that Emma didn't fail to miss. When his eyes met hers again she raised a brow causing him to look away bashfully.
"You said no expectations," Emma said, masking her tone.
"I know and I meant it," Killian replied quickly, scratching behind his ear nervously.
"Okay."
Emma hesitated for a moment and then abruptly grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled his lips down to meet her own. Killian kissed her back immediately. The kiss was soft and slow despite Emma's forcefulness, and it lasted a little longer than any first kiss on a not-quite-a-date should have, but Emma was enjoying the rough feel of his scruff and was in no rush to end it. Killian didn't appear to be either has he gripped her hips a little tighter and tilted his head.
When they finally pulled away from each other it was his turn to raise an eyebrow at her. Emma shrugged before responding to his silent question.
"I just had to know." The 'what is would feel like to kiss you' was implied. "Call me, okay? We'll talk."
"Of course. I look forward to the next time we speak."
Emma smiled at him one last time before entering her building. He watched her with a satisfied smirk on his face until she disappeared from sight behind the closing elevator doors.