A/N: So here is the first chapter from Killian's perspective. Not sure how many there will be in the future, but I wanted to explore how he's dealing with the misconceptions as well.
"Everything alright with you Captain?" Killian glanced up from the computer monitor he'd been staring at blankly and blinked. Will Scarlett, one of his new hires was staring back at him quizzically.
"Yes, everything's fine. What can I do for you, Scarlett?"
"That was Chief Nolan calling, sir. The conference in Boston is wrapping up tonight and he'll be back tomorrow. " Killian nodded. David Nolan, as Chief of Storybrooke PD (and Killian's best mate) had been missed this past week while attending the annual gathering. While life in the quiet town had remained tranquil with very few upsets, Chief Nolan was still a respected public figure and people tended to feel better when he was here. His wife, Mary Margaret ran Saviory Sweets with Emma.
Emma, there she was again. Everywhere he looked everywhere he turned she was there even when she wasn't. There was something about the woman that called to Killian and in an instant he'd known that life had changed forever when she'd first taken his order that fateful day one year ago. With golden hair, expressive bright green eyes, unparalleled beauty, and a cutting wit, Emma Swan brought together nearly every possible good feature. She radiated warmth and light and seeing her each morning had fast become the best part of every day.
She's taken, Killian reminded himself before nodding at Will who was still standing there.
"Anything else, sergeant?"
"Yes, the Chief also mentioned that Misthaven Grille was double booked and that the annual party needs to be held elsewhere. He's spoken to the Missus and she offered the café for the festivities." Again Killian was sucked into thoughts of Emma, only catching pieces about how the catering would come from the diner across the street and that a temporary liquor license had been given to the café for the purposes of the party. His mind was consumed with the unfortunate memory of this morning's run in.
"That sounds fine, Scarlett, thanks." Will turned out of the room and Killian leaned back in his chair covering his eyes. Earlier when he'd walked into Saviory Sweets and seen Emma looking like a vision of loveliness he'd damn near lost his ability to think.
There was nothing improper about her appearance or dress, but it had made his mind wander to more intimate things and the usual polite interaction he permitted himself with the lovely bakery owner was more charged as a result. He'd allowed himself to fall victim to those kind green eyes and the softness of her features, wondering how it would feel to run his fingers through the golden hair she'd contained in the sleek braid.
He'd noticed the yellow buttercups scattered across the white of her dress and wondered if she'd meant it to tie in with the cupcake's theme. He's seen it and thought of The Princess Bride and had even gone so far as to use the films words for 'I love you.' Then it had all come crashing down as he glanced down at the ring she wore and was reminded that she had chosen another man. His lovely Swan was in fact not his, and so he'd left quickly, trying not to embarrass himself further.
What must she think of me? He hoped she remained oblivious to his true feelings. He would rather keep quiet than risk losing the happy sort of friendship they had. He would take Emma Swan in any form he could, because the woman was everything even if to her he was nothing more than another customer.
A call on the radio pulled Killian from his musings. It was a problem up near the ranger station - some sort of fight between two visitors that had gotten out of hand. Ranger Graham Huntsman was calling for back up, and Killian was poised to answer. Typical that the man Emma loved should intrude into more of Killian's day. Seeing them together always left him feeling particularly hollow. There was a trust there, a caring that he wished he and Emma shared, but Killian was an honorable man and he would not attempt to steal a woman from the arms of another. Answering the call, Killian quickly grabbed his things and headed to the squad car.
The drive to the state park was swift and upon his arrival he found that the two tourists had notably calmed from the described interaction of before. As neither man sought to press charges on the other, and no park property had been damaged, Killian let them off with a warning and instructed both men that any feud they had with each other in future better be settled out of the confines of his town, for such leniency would not be shown again.
"Thanks for the help, Captain," Graham said as the two men headed out of the parking lot and in opposite directions. While Killian had managed to limit his interaction with the Ranger during the incident, keeping his questions succinct and to the point, he couldn't bring himself to sink to rudeness.
"Not a problem, Ranger. If that will be all." Killian turned to go but Graham called out to him.
"I meant to apologize yesterday. You were speaking with Emma and I interrupted. It was bad manners." Killian felt the blood drain from his face. Was the man serious? Had he really done such a good job of concealing his feelings for Emma that her boyfriend would apologize to him? He could see no signs of resentment in Graham's eyes, only an easy sort of friendliness covering a look of some other preoccupation.
"Not a problem," Killian managed to choke out. "I see the way you care for her, and she's lucky to have someone like you looking out for her." Graham looked shocked.
"You know?" Killian thought the man was likely mental if he thought he hadn't seen. "I don't even think she knows really. I've been trying to tell her for months but I can't seem to keep from making a fool of myself every time I try." This was some devil-sent form of torture, and all Killian wanted to do was get out of there before he had to listen to any more confessions about this man's feelings. The only way out though seemed to speedily reassure him before hastening to his car.
"The ring she wears says it all, mate."
"Ruby doesn't wear a ring." Graham responded. Ruby? The bastard was talking about his feelings for Ruby when he already had the world's most magnificent creature choosing him? Killian's body tensed and if his radio hadn't crackled to life right then about a bad car crash on the other edge of town, he would have punched the foolish, deplorable pig.
"You should go," Graham noted and Killian heeded the advice before he put himself and his badge at risk by bloodying the Ranger up.
All along the way to the crash, Killian was wracked with anxiety. He had to tell Emma - surely she needed to know. No one could desire to stay in the dark about something like this. But at the same time, she'd always resent him, wouldn't she? He'd seen her affection for the man time and time again and the last thing Killian ever wanted to do was be the cause of hurt for Emma.
He found that the crash (though not fatal) was so disastrous for one of the town bridges that it consumed the entire rest of his day late into the evening. Once home, he began the struggle again. He wrestled with what to do so late into the night that he looked at the clock on his mantel to find he had only a few hours until he would be seeing Emma again. Could he bear to face her, knowing that his sense of duty would implore him to tell her the truth? He had no choice. He wanted only the best for her, and Graham Huntsman was nowhere good enough.
Later that morning when Killian had worked up the courage to go face the woman he loved, he arrived at the café to find that Ranger Graham was already there. Actually, not only was he there, he was engrossed in a sickeningly obvious flirtation with Ruby. Killian scanned the bakery for Emma, knowing that someone as smart as she would have to see this and know the truth, but she didn't appear.
"Can I help you with something, Killian?" Mary Margaret asked him, pulling him from his active search. Killian faced his best friend's wife and attempted a smile, failing miserably. Mary Margaret gave him a small sad look in return. "If you're looking for Emma, she won't be in today, I'm afraid. She seems to have caught that nasty bug going around town." Killian didn't believe this for a second and debated whether or not to speak with Mary Margaret openly. In the end he did just that.
"Huntsman certainly seems very friendly with Ms. Lucas." Mary Margaret looked over at the two in question and now her face grew happier with a large and genuine smile. Killian was alarmed at such a response and only just now began to see that maybe he was in the dark on something here.
"I know I can't believe Emma's missing it. Getting them together has become sort of a pet project for she and I."
"Come again, love?" Mary Margaret smiled at him as something clicked in her eyes.
"So you did think that Emma and Graham were dating. No, no they're just very old friends. Someone does have Emma's heart but it's not Graham." Mary Margaret smiled widely at him and he couldn't help but wonder if maybe the man Emma cared for was him, he was just about to ask when Ruby called Mary Margaret to the back and the pixie haired woman excused herself.
While he wanted nothing more than to wait for Mary Margaret to respond to ask her who the man she'd meant was, David chose that moment to call him into the station. Other than saying that they had a pressing issue to discuss, David remained cryptic but resolute that Killian should come in immediately. Convinced that Emma had not actually been slighted by the Ranger or her beautiful friend, and knowing that he wouldn't be seeing her today if she truly was ill, Killian left the café and vowed to ask for clarification the next day.
He had to admit though that some dark force in him had lifted and now he felt the odd stirrings of hope under his left breast. Only the chance of being with Emma could ever bring something like this on and while the tension of not knowing for sure still remained, the sun seemed somehow brighter, the sky bluer, and the world far less dower than it had mere minutes before.