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Disclaimer: Characters not mine!

Emma woke up on Sunday feeling pretty amazing.

She still wasn't over the fact that Liam actually trusted her. That she, Emma Swan, was actually making a difference in a child's life.

It also helped that she and Killian seemed to be getting along well enough.

Emma usually spent her Sunday's lounging about with a cup of hot chocolate with cinnamon watching reruns of some of her favorite 90's shows. But with everything that happened in the past week, she was feeling too happy to just mull about.

With that in mind, she quickly finished her pop tart, got dressed enough to be presentable, and with a perk in her step, made her way out the door to spend her day wandering around town.


Sunday's were supposed be Killian-Liam day. No work, no interruptions, no exceptions.

At least, that's what he'd promised himself it'll be.

Unfortunately for him, life had a knack for getting in the way of plans.

He had received a call early this morning, probably too early this morning, informing him of a buyer that was willing to pay a hefty price for a few of his paintings. If you'd asked him, the paintings weren't worth nearly as much as the offer, but he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Liam wasn't difficult to sway; all he needed was the promise of ice cream and an afternoon spent with Aunty Tink, and he was sold.

It didn't stop his conscience from eating at him though. It was ridiculous, but he couldn't help but feel like this one broken vow would affect Liam more than he could imagine. He didn't want his son to grow up believing that his father valued his work or his money more than him, but it was just this once and it was enough money that if he put most of it towards Liam's college fund, he wouldn't have to save much more.

He knew he was making excuses, but he had no other choice. It was for the best.

Tink, yes, her given name was actually Tinker Bell Greene, like the fairy; it was unfortunate to have parents who were as devoted to fairy tales as hers were.

Tink had agreed to take Liam for the afternoon, but she had a few errands to run herself, so she asked if it was okay to drop Liam off by the docks where she'd be waiting for them. Her one condition was that she'd join them for ice cream when he was finished with work.

So he quickly fed and dressed Liam before they were making their way to the docks, Liam hoisted on his arm, talking his ear off about Emma and how much "funner" swimming was with her around.


Emma's first stop was her local boutique. She didn't own that many dresses – never really needed to – but she didn't see the harm in looking.

She moved through the racks, feeling and examining every dress. Most of them were pretty ordinary, and some looked like they'd end up being someone's very regretted prom outfit, but there was one that did catch her eye. It was soft, softer than she'd usually go for, it was an off the shoulder blend of peach and beige that pulled at the waist, only to flow down to her knees.

She really liked it.

One look at the price tag, though, showed her just how much harm could come from just looking. She wasn't poor, but the salary of a lifeguard was never known for its generosity.

For the sake of her bank account, she opted to go stuff her face at the nearest bakery.


By the time 1pm rolled around, she decided to head over Granny's Diner for her well-loved grilled cheese and onion rings. She was also good friends with Ruby, the waitress at the diner, and her grandmother, Granny Lucas, who owned the place. She liked the idea of stopping by to say hello.

On her way over, she heard a high-pitched laugh, her first thought was Liam, but then she remembered that Liam wasn't the only kid around. She ignored the sound and continued walking. It wasn't long before she heard the sound again, this time accompanied by a "nooo, I'm more handsomer!"

There was no denying it now; she'd recognize that voice anywhere. She turned around to call out for Liam, even took a step towards the general direction of his voice, but stopped dead in her tracks at the sight that greeted her.

Liam was in the arms of a petite blonde woman, dressed head to toe in various shades of green. Before Emma could contemplate her further, she heard the booming voice lilted with an all too familiar accent. She shifted so she could watch at the man in question.

Killian was walking up to the pair holding two ice cream cones layered with different flavors of ice cream. When he was a couple of feet away, she vaguely heard him say, "Well lad, I, of course am devilishly handsomer." They then proceeded to argue over the merits of being crowned the handsomest of them all, Emma really couldn't focus on that though, she was too busy glaring at the woman who seemed to complete their little family.

That's when it dawned on her.

Milah.

This woman must be Milah from the tattoo.

With that thought she felt her whole being deflate. Of course it was stupid, she wasn't anything to this man, just like he wasn't anything to her. She was nothing more than his son's swimming teacher.

Good.

That's how she wanted it to be.

With that being said, she couldn't deny the fact that the sight really put a downer on her day. She'd already convinced herself of the notion that it wasn't specifically about him; it was more to do with happy family moments she never got to have, with feeling whole and loved and just, normal.

Today was supposed to be a good day, but apparently that was too much to ask for.

So instead of going over to Granny's and being around people she actually cared about and who care about her, Emma made her way back to her apartment. All she wanted to do was curl up on her couch with a mug of cocoa with cinnamon and do what she does best; lock herself in her metaphorical fortress of self-imposed loneliness – no, safety.


Killian's body and nerves were on high alert, and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why. He was in the middle of the sidewalk along side Liam and Tink, sharing ice cream and laughs, the faint smell of vanilla and cinnamon suddenly in the air.

He chanced a glance to his side and could've sworn he saw a wisp of blonde locks disappear around the corner.

It couldn't be though, no way. It was probably just his mind playing tricks on him.

With that, he turned his attention back to his boy, pushing all thoughts of whatever just occurred to the back of his mind.

It was Killian-Liam day. No work, no interruptions, no exceptions. Not even ones concocted by his own imagination.