Chapter Four:

Things were silent between Emma and Killian for the next few minutes or so. Every so often, Emma would glance at him, drumming her fingers on her knees, before Killian finally sighed.

"Would you like a coffee?"

"Chai Latte?" Emma smiled.

"Aye." Killian chuckled as he stood from the couch, beckoning for her to follow him which she did.

Emma's eyes wandered around the house as she followed Killian through the large, grand entrance hall and into the modern kitchen that the Jones' just had put in.

"Wow, it looks great." Emma complimented, inspecting the marble bench tops. "Very modern for Storybrooke."

Killian chuckled. "You rubbed off on my parents in your last visit when you showed pictures of your apartment in New York."

"Glad to know." Emma smiled, as Killian set the kettle on the stove to heat up.

Killian leaned down on the bench, his head on his hand as he looked up at Emma who was sitting on a bar stool.

"What's New York like?" Killian asked.

Emma's eyes widened. "You still haven't been." She faked a mock gasp when he shook his head. "Amazing. You should see it at night and New Years Eve."

Killian smiled as he watched Emma's face light up as she spoke of the city.

"I think I'll definitely make a full time move to that apartment in the next few months." She said, finally coming to a close on her New York speech.

Killian looked at her in surprise, and he felt his mood darken at the idea of her moving away, when he finally had the chance to prove his feelings for her.

"Have you met someone there?"

Emma shook her head. "Gods no. I'm looking for a job, so the only friend I have is a girl named Lily, who rents a room in my apartment. I don't know what she does for a living, but she's never introduced me to anyone. I'm lonely there, but when I get a job, I imagine I'll meet people."

Killian nodded, as the kettle finally began to whistle. Emma watched as his muscles in his arms flexed as he took the kettle of the stove, before filling up some mugs with hot water, before adding the mixture for a chai latte in. Emma looked in the mug a little uneasily, always having hers made from scratch and Killian seemed to notice this.

"Sorry, I don't know how to make them. I just use the packet." He said, sheepishly, scratching his ear nervously.

"I'm sure it'll be nice." Emma said. "Maybe I should try something new."

Even though Killian knew that her words were directed at the coffee, he couldn't help but wish she was talking about him.

After Killian had finished making her coffee, Emma took a tentative sip, before smiling up at him.

"It's actually really nice." She smiled. "I think I might buy some of these in the future."

"Nescafe sachets." Killian said, as he took a seat next to her.

"They're nice." Emma replied, as she took another sip, before turning to face him. "So, you've never been out of Storybrooke?"

"No." Killian said, red in the face. "It sounds shocking when I say it out loud."

Emma placed her drink down on the stone bench, before sighing. "Don't take this in the wrong way, but you can come see New York if you want. You could have the couch and you would have chance to explore beyond the walls of Storybrooke."

"I'd…"

Emma and Killian were broken out of their conversation when the kitchen door opened to reveal Killian's mother, Catherine, who looked at the two in shock, before she broke out into a large smile.

"The date, oh it worked. Are you two dating?"

Emma blushed and shook her head. "No, Mrs Jones, we're just taking things slow."

Catherine nodded and looked embarrassed, especially when she noticed Killian's bashful expression.

"Oh, well, uh, I don't think going to New York is slow, Killy… Killian."

Killian went red in the face, as his mother used his nickname that she did in private. Emma let out a snort, but quickly masked it by fake coughing. Killian knew she was really itching to laugh, but his mother actually thought she was choking.

"Oh, don't drink to fast dear, you'll choke." Catherine said, patting Emma's back gently.

Killian rested his head in his hands, hiding his face. Emma was fairly certain she heard "fuck my life" under his breath.

After witnessing Killian being embarrassed like there was no tomorrow, Emma couldn't help but feel her heart melt a little more, that a cocky, twenty-three year old man, could still blush like a six year old boy. Catherine, who had just come home for a pie she had forgotten, was gone five minutes later, leaving a red Killian and a giggling Emma.

"You know I've always liked your mom." Emma said. "For some reason, I used to stay up late at night, wondering how the hell you turned out the way you did."

Killian's smile vanished as he listened to Emma's tale.

"I mean you come from such a nice home, that witnessing you behave the way you did in high school was weird. A lot of people couldn't believe it. And last night, I truly thought about it. It's because you got involved with the wrong group isn't it?"

Killian looked at her softly, the disappointment in his stomach bubbling away.

"Liam was the good nerd." Emma chuckled. "And then you came along. You didn't want to be a shadow in this shoes, so you made sure to out shine him, even if it meant acting like a jerk. You started hanging around with the 'it' crowd."

Killian couldn't believe that girl he had hurt in high school knew him better than he knew himself.

"You had to be the centre of attention." Emma said. "It happens. It happened with my dad and his twin brother, James. And it happened with you. But that doesn't change the way you treated people. If you are going to apologize to me, you need to apologize to everyone. You emotionally hurt a lot of people in high school. Remember that poor girl, Aurora, who you asked out to prom, only to show up with someone else on the night? That was the worst thing you could have done to a girl on prom night."

Killian sighed. "I know Emma, and there is nothing I regret more than the way I acted in high school, but I guess you could say I'm too chicken to go around to everyone and apologize for my actions."

Emma nodded. "I understand. I remember accepting Graham's invitation to prom, only to find out that he had a serious crush on me and that I was misleading him. Telling him I couldn't go with him was the hardest thing I ever did, especially when I had a big crush on Neal Cassidy."

Killian flinched slightly. "Really? But he was worse than I was."

"Not to me." Emma said. "But he ended up going out with that Tamara girl, and I was heartbroken."

"You must be glad they've broken up."

Emma shrugged. "I know I have no chance with him anyway. He's out of my league."

"So I can still win your heart."

"You can try." Emma said, looking at him intently.

"You see Emma, I will win your heart." He said softly, his fingers coming to dance on her cheek. "And it won't be because of any trickery. It'll be because you want me."

Emma didn't realize she was holding her breath until Killian removed his hand from her cheek.

"Do you want to go get Granny's?" He asked.

Emma nodded, as Killian placed their mugs in the sink.

"I'm just going to grab my jacket. I'll be back in a few moments."

Emma nodded, and once he left the room, she touched her still tingling cheek. He didn't need to win to her heart, because he already held it, Emma just didn't realize it just yet.

Thoughts?