As soon as they reached the cool night air, they both bursted into laughter, continuing down the street and around the corner to the alley.

"Did you see the look on his face?!" she asked, amusement plaguing her voice as they stopped for air.

"Aye. You were bloody brilliant, love."

They found an alcove in the brick wall and she leaned her back against it as he stood in front of her, his face only inches from hers as they tried to catch their breaths and stop laughing. When they were silent again, the humor in his eyes faded and was replaced by a look that awaited for approval to move in closer. She suddenly found it hard to breathe for another reason. She found it hard to really do anything but gaze back at him. Their eyes were locked, breaths heavy as she finally mustered a smile of consent. To that, he leaned in closer, pressing his body to hers. Her heart was pounding as he cupped her cheek and it was as though time had stopped.

His blue eyes were sparkling, she could see that even in the darkness of the night and before she knew what was happening, he surged his lips forward, crushing them into hers. She was unresponsive at first, not knowing what was going on or even if this was actually happening. After it started to click that, yes, he was actually kissing her, Emma's lips parted against his. It was bold and passionate and made every inch of her skin tingle all the way to her toes. Then his tongue darted out, dragging along her teeth for permission of entrance and she didn't hesitate to let him in, to let him taste her. The greeting of their tongues was met with a moan from both sides. He tasted of rum and smelled of leather and cologne. It was intoxicating and God, she wanted more. He latched his arms around her and her fingers wound through his dark hair, pulling him in deeper as they completely devoured one another.

For a moment, she forgot who she was or what she was going through. She forgot about the man who broke her heart. Her mind was only focused on this man's soft tongue in her mouth and what it was doing to her. She felt the rush of heat pool in her belly as she thought about how much she wanted him. And boy did he want her. She could tell by the way he kissed; the urgency mixed with tenderness and hunger.

Her thoughts started to rise above the lustful haze and she realized she couldn't do this. She was still married, whether the relationship was over or not. And it was all just happening too fast. Not to mention, the amount of alcohol she had consumed was clearly affecting her judgement. Her hands went to his chest, gently pushing him away until their lips broke free, leaving them both breathless.

"I can't... I'm sorry... I just..." Her words stumbled in a breathless slur as she found it difficult to put together complete sentences.

When she met his gaze, the look he gave was apologetic. He also knew it was too much.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have... not that I regret it. But you're right. With everything going on, we shouldn't."

Emma nodded regretfully and pressed her forehead to his as her eyes lingered over his lips. She was conflicted, trying hard to fight the urge to kiss him again as her fingers tightly gripped the lapel of his leather jacket.

"We should just end the night here and say goodbye."

He agreed with a nod, but their bodies betrayed them as they continued to hold on, not wanting this to end. She knew it had to, though, they both did.

She finally found the strength to lift her eyes to his as she spoke again. "Goodbye, Killian."

They slowly broke apart, first their foreheads finding distance, then their bodies and lastly their hands. She felt a chill at the loss of his warmth and shivered from the cold air.

Killian noticed and immediately removed his jacket and slipped it over her shoulders, rubbing her arms to warm her. "You shouldn't drive home. Let me call you a cab."

"It's okay, my brother doesn't live too far from here. I can just walk there."

"Not alone, love. Let me walk with you."

"But what about you?"

"I'll have Robin pick me. I'll call him right now." He took out his phone to call as she nodded and even though she knew this was a bad idea. She just needed to distance herself from him otherwise it was going to end badly.

When Robin answered, he asked him to pick him up at Emma's brother's house and gave him the address as Emma told him what it was. After he ended the conversation, he put his phone back in his pocket and met her gaze again. He could see the struggle in her eyes and gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'll keep my distance, I promise. I'm always a gentleman. And if you want, I'll even walk behind you."

She laughed, feeling the tension lower to a more acceptable decibel. "That's okay. We can walk side by side... but don't think I'm taking my eyes off of you for a second," she said with a playful grin.

He flashed her a quirky one and spoke in a low, sultry tone, tilting his head to the side. "I would despair if you did."

She rolled her eyes as she started to walk down the alley. "Let's go."

They walked two blocks in an awkward silence. She really didn't know what to say after they shared a mind-blowing kiss and then pretended it never happened.

He was the one to break the silence when they reached David's porch and walked up the steps.

"Look, Emma... I hope that our kiss wasn't too off-putting."

"No, it wasn't... it's just that... I really like you and I had a lot of fun tonight but right now's not really the right time to start anything romantic."

"It was a fun night and I quite fancy you myself, but I agree, it's not the best time."

"So maybe we could just stay friends?"

He gave a tenative smile as they stood in front of door facing one another.

"Of course. I think I can manage that."

She stood there, not wanting to leave him yet.

"So, is Liam with his mother?"

"Yeah, I dropped him after work. We decided to take turns every three days. As much as I hate the idea of Liam being there with her boyfriend there, I can't really keep him away from her. Plus, she's a good mother to him."

"Well, I think that every three days is reasonable then. I'm fighting for full custody, myself. Neal would probably prefer that anyway."

Killians features fell at that. He couldn't imagine not wanting to spend time with his son. Liam was his whole world and if Milah even dared to try for full custody, he would fight tooth and nail for him, there was no doubt in his mind.

"Sorry love. Henry deserves so much more."

"Thank you."

Just then, Robin pulled up in front of the house.

"That's my ride. I'll see you Monday then?"

"Yeah, I'll see you then."

Emma gave him his jacket back and turned around, heading inside while Killian walked down the steps to Robin's car.


"So, what, you're not going to tell me why I'm picking you up from Emma's brother's house?" Robin asked him as he started to drive away.

Killian sighed. He was not up for spilling the details of the night's events, including the life-changing kiss that he shared with the beautiful blonde.

"What's wrong mate? Spill it."

"Its nothing. We're just friends. That's it."

"So you what?... had a few drinks together and that was it?"

"I think I should be the one to ask questions. Did you and Mary Margaret plan this?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Robin replied but Killian could see his facial expressions betray his words by the slight hint of a smirk on his lips.

"Don't play dumb, Robin. I've known you far too long for that."

Robin's smile widened in defeat. "Alright, fine, but it was Mary Margaret's idea. We just thought it would do you both some good to talk to someone who understands what you're going through."

"Well, I don't need you looking out for me. And for your information, Emma and I were doing fine without yours and Margaret's help."

To that, Robin slowly looked away from the road and flashed him an inquisitive smirk before looking ahead again.

'Why did he have to say that?' Killian asked himself. He should have just kept his mouth shut.

"So, I don't get any details? You're just going to leave a mate hanging?"

"Robin, nothing happened."

His friend wasn't convinced.

Killian let out another heavy sigh. "Fine... if you must know, we kissed."

Robin's smirk widened.

"But we both then decided that it wasn't a good idea to rush into anything so we agreed to just be friends."

"Right, but that's not what you want, right?"

"Even if it was, it's just... it's just too soon."

Robin's smile faltered. "Sorry, mate. I just wanted to see you happy again."

"I know, but it's not going to happen overnight. I just need time. We both do."

"You're absolutely right. It takes time to heal. Better not to rush it."

He nodded in agreement and they were silent the rest of the way to his house.


Emma walked into the living room where David was holding Henry in his arms on the couch, Mary Margaret sitting next to him as they watched a movie.

"I guess you finished those things were going to care of," Emma scoffed, startling them both.

"Emma, I didn't hear you come in," David said as she approached.

"Emma-" Mary Margaret started to say, but Emma cut her off.

"No, you know what? I don't want to hear it. I just want to get Henry home. Will you please drive me, David?"

"Sure, Em. But where's your car?"

"It's at the bar... I had a few drinks and walked here."

"You walked here by yourself in the dark?"

Emma didn't say anything to that. She just scooped up her sleeping baby into her arms and grabbed his diaper bag. "Let's just go, please."

"Emma, wait... I can explain," Mary Margaret said as she stood up and walked over to her.

"Oh, you mean you can explain how you lied to me and ditched me at the bar."

"I'm sorry-"

"Look, I don't need anyone looking out for me. Okay, I'm not some broken lamp the you need to glue back together. I'm fine with the way things are. I'm fine with being single and I'm fine with raising Henry on my own. He's all that I need. So please, just let me be happy with the way things are."

"You're right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied to you. And from now on, I'll just stay out of your business. You deserve to heal without me interfering."

"Thank you," Emma said before she pressed a kiss to Henry's forehead.

"Here, let me take that, sis," David said, taking the bag from her. "Be right back," he assured his wife as he opened the door, letting Emma through and followed behind her.

As David drove to Emma's house, Emma sat quietly, looking out the window.

"Emma, you know she only meant well, right?"

"Yeah, I know. It's fine. Let's just drop it."

He was silent for a miment before he spoke again. "So does that mean you don't want to talk about what happened tonight?"

"Nothing happened. Killian and I talked and had a few drinks. Then Neal walked in with his girlfriend, so we left and he walked me to your place."

"Oh. Well I'm glad you didn't walk alone."

Emma knew that he wanted to ask her more about it, but he didn't. If there's one thing he was good when it came to his sister, it was knowing when to back off.

When Monday came around, Emma came into the daycare at her normal time with Henry in her arms.

She passed him off to Mary Margaret and went into her office to get coffee. After she poured it into a cup, she started to walk away, but then stopped and drummed her thumb on it thoughtfully. Her original plan was to try and avoid Killian... to just come and go before he showed up, knowing if she saw him, it would spark the feelings she tried to ignore. However, she did tell him that they could continue just being friends and she wasn't some teenage girl with a crush. She could control her feelings and he was just a guy after all. She could be civil for crying out loud.

Emma turned around and grabbed another cup, pouring coffee into it. She covered it with a lid and took the coffees, walking back to Mary Margaret.

Her sister-in-law gave her a curious look.

Emma replied with a small smile. "We're just friends... and I thought I'd wait for him. I have some time anyway."

Mary Margaret didn't say anything as she tried to hide her smile, bouncing Henry on her hip.

Emma waited twenty minutes before she gave up and started walking toward the exit door, still carrying the coffees, hoping he would show up at the last minute. Just as she walked outside, Emma saw him walking with Liam clinging to his chest and resting his head on his father's shoulder. She would never get sick of the sight as a warm smile came across her face. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to show."

Killian smiled back at her. "Sorry, love. The lad was a bit grumpier than usual this morning. Had to calm him down."

"I understand, believe me," she laughed lightly as she tucked one of the coffees under her arm to open the door for him and followed behind him.

When he entered the toddler room, Liam started crying a bit. Emma's heart broke at the sound as Killian kissed the top of his head.

"It's been a few days since he's been here. It's normal, Killian. He just needs time to adjust again.

"It's okay little lad. Papa will be back to get you." He kissed Liam's tear-stained cheeks before he handed him to Mary Margaret.

"Remember me?" She asked him in a soothing voice and he became calm and nestled his head on her shoulder as Killian hugged him and gave him one last kiss as he stroked his hair, handing him his giraffe.

"Bye, Liam. Papa's gotta go."

Killian walked with Emma out the door as she handed him one of the coffees.

"Thaks, love."

"No problem. We are still friends right?" she asked with a smile.

"Aye. I was afraid you'd have a change of heart."

"Well, honestly I did at first. But we're both adults. I mean we can be friends without it being more, right?"

"Of course, love." He ran his hand through his hair as they approached her car. "And since we're just friends, that doesn't mean we couldn't have lunch together... if one of us were so inclined to ask," he said with a hopeful grin.

She laughed as she turned to face him and reached in her purse for her keys.

"Actually I can't. I'm meeting my divorce lawyer today."

She could see his smile fall as he nodded.

"But... I'm free for lunch tomorrow..."

A wide grin returned across his features as his beautiful blue eyes lit up.

"Tomorrow it is, then. I'll meet you at Granny's at noon then?"

"I'll meet you there."

He was about to turn away, but then stopped, itching behind his ear nervously. "Perhaps we should exchange phone numbers... you know, just in case anything changes..."

She couldn't help the smile that pulled at her lips as she took out her phone and she also couldn't deny the fact that he looked absolutely adorable when he was nervous. She pulled up her contact list, adding his name before handing it over to him while he did the same with his phone. When their numbers were plugged in, they switched their phones back and bid farewell.

As he turned around and headed to his car, she had to steady her breathing, wondering if going to lunch was a mistake, but kept telling herself they were only friends. Nothing more.