A/N: Hey all! This chapter was originally going to bring us to the two first dates, but I ended up writing a lot more for the first one than expected. As such this chapter just looks at their real first date from Emma's POV. Next chapter we will get banquet from Killian's POV and that will show us some of the strangeness of this whole fake dating dynamic. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and thanks for reading!

"I still can't believe you - Emma Nolan - said yes to a date. I mean the level of shock I am experiencing right now knows no bounds. It's like that time we found out the people breaking into all those Baskin Robbins shops were old ladies just chasing a high. That's how crazy it is that you're going on an actual date."

The commentary from her best friend made Emma's already present butterflies spring back up to the surface. Truth be told, Emma had been fighting off these nerves all day, and the anticipation of the evening before her had been on her mind constantly, but she was purposely avoiding direct mention of it.

Clearly Ruby hadn't gotten that memo, and she was not only bringing up Emma's impending date, but comparing it to one of the most insane busts they'd ever made while on the force. Now Emma almost regretted telling Ruby the whole truth about this fake/possibly real dating with Killian. Not that Ruby hadn't had her suspicions. She was Emma's best friend and upon seeing the photo in the paper with the caption claiming she ad Killian were an item, Ruby immediately knew that the story was bogus. Emma was not dating Killian Jones, because if she were, Ruby would know and she would have already given Emma enough grief to last a lifetime.

"Ruby, it's not like I'm a hermit."

"Never said you were, but you know what an actual date entails right?" Her friend asked before filling in the details herself. "Flowers, food, wine… the man is going to open doors for you and pull out your chair. This isn't some 'we met in a bar and skipped the last names' hook up. Your Sergeant is going hot and heavy on this, I guarantee it."

"He's not my anything, Ruby," Emma professed, and then she began rambling more for the sake of not getting her own hopes up than Ruby's. "This is just dinner. Honestly we'll probably both realize that there's nothing beneath the surface of whatever this is, we'll learn a few details about each other to get us through my parents' insane PR idea, and then we'll go our separate ways."

Emma felt a bad taste accruing in her mouth as she uttered these words, probably because they were so clearly false. Emma was actually hoping that everything she'd just said would be proved incorrect tonight. After a few days of texting and building the excitement, Emma was eager to see where Killian would take her and to get the chance to find out more about him. She had the basics of course (her status as a detective wouldn't allow her to not do a little digging after all) but she didn't know the man underneath that swagger and charm, at least not yet.

"Oh sure. You wore your best dress for a guy you know will be a dud. Totally believable." Ruby flopped down on the chair in Emma's living room waving her hand in the air like she couldn't even entertain that thought being in the air around her.

Emma looked back down at the classic black dress she had on and she bit back a smile. Ruby was right. This was her best dress, and Emma had chosen it for that reason. Then she'd gotten frustrated at herself for not having more color in her closet. If ever there was a time to liven it up a bit that time was now, but aside from the gown she'd worn for the gala, Emma wasn't exactly racking up bright ensembles.

"Is that your way of saying I look okay?" Emma asked and Ruby scoffed.

"You look hot as hell and you know it, Emma. Just get out of your own head, and whatever you do don't tell that story about tazing that guy Belle set you up with."

It probably shouldn't make Emma smile to think back on that night. It had been the single worst date she had ever been on, and she only went because their friend Belle had been begging to set Emma up for months, but even Emma couldn't dream up that ending. An unintelligent, borderline rude, self-absorbed guy talking her ear off about stocks all night was one thing, but when she found out he had a warrant out for his arrest in three states for fraud and then he tried to pull a butter knife on her for confronting him, it really clinched the title of most horrific date ever. Emma's one silver lining had been tazing him when he tried to get away from her and the backup she'd called in, and all these years later that was the part of the story that stuck with her most. He'd made a hilarious sound when going down, and she'd taken just a tiny bit of joy in that pain. He'd been a real asshole after all and he'd conned a lot of people out of their hard-earned money, thus the warrants.

"Really? It's a pretty good story. I could just leave out the part about how he lost a testicle," Emma joked and Ruby looked liable to launch into a big long speech about why it wasn't when she realized Emma was kidding.

"Very funny," Ruby said, and right then the buzzer for Emma's apartment went off.

"Shit he's on time!" Emma yelled, not realizing that was a thing. Then again she never let anyone meet her at her apartment so maybe she should have known. Emma glanced around trying to figure out if she needed anything else as Ruby laughed and put her hands on Emma's shoulders.

"Emma, chill. You are going to be great. Your instincts are never wrong, and you like this guy, so trust that. Plus he has a great date planned for you," Ruby tossed in that last part off-handedly as she grabbed her coat to go.

"Wait! How do you know about the date?" Emma asked, frustrated that her friend had known all of this time and never mentioned anything until right now.

"Graham told me." Ruby said that like it was completely obvious.

"Of course he did. You know I'm gonna get you back for not telling me when you knew I was stressing about what to wear, right?"

Emma's threat was mostly empty, but there were a few ideas rattling around in her head about ways to even the score with Ruby, like bringing her lunch all next week and not giving Ruby the leftovers, or getting to the station house early every day so she got to drive and Ruby had to sit on the passenger side.

"You'll be singing a different tune after tonight, girl. Now buzz the man up or he'll freeze out there."

Emma heeded her friend's advice and she used the last thirty seconds or so to get herself together. She heard the distant sound of Ruby greeting Killian in the hall and him saying hello back, but when he knocked on the door, Emma felt her heart leap. This was it. She was actually going on a date with the guy her parents insisted she fake date. Emma shook away that line of thinking, trying to avoid the headache that came whenever she lingered on it. Instead she opened the door, and felt the air rush out of her lungs when she saw Killian.

Hot did not do this man justice, and Emma had a moment where she just stared. Taking him in and seeing the way he looked somehow better than he had in either a tux or his fire gear, Emma felt completely overwhelmed. Honestly it just wasn't fair. No guy had a right to look this good or to walk this line between formal and casual, but Emma's one real consolation was that as obvious as her staring was, Killian's was just as bad, and he got a hold of himself only after she said hello.

"You look stunning, Emma," Killian finally said and Emma knew that he meant it, which escalated the flips her stomach was doing right now.

"Thanks, you look…"

"I know," Killian added easily and though it was a cockier thing to say, Emma could sense he'd done it to help cut through some of this fog between them. Then he handed her a bouquet of flowers that were beautiful, and again, unexpected. "These are for you, love. I know you said flowers weren't really your thing when you texted but-,"

"I lied," Emma confessed and then looked back up to him. "I love flowers. Or at least ones like this. But if you'd walked in here with an armful of those artificially colored daisies…"

"I shudder at the thought. No, these I chose for one reason. They reminded me of you, and the dress you wore at the gala. One look and I knew I couldn't walk away from something so beautiful."

Emma felt herself blush at the compliment that might have been construed as being about flowers but Emma knew was really about her. She snuck inside to put the blossoms in water quickly before coming back and taking his outstretched hand. There was only the briefest of hesitations on Emma's part, but when her hand was safely in his, Emma had no regrets. Wherever tonight was headed, she wanted to go there, to see once and for all if these feelings she'd been carrying since meeting Killian could add up to something more.

Despite the fears Emma had about first date conversation and her own often bumbling awkwardness, Emma found herself really enjoying the company, and after a few requisite jokes about him knowing how to drive on the right side of the road, Emma eased into the dynamic between them. She was actually so comfortable that she neglected to notice their surroundings until they were already about twenty minutes outside of the city. Sensing her surprise, Killian commented on the decision to leave Boston tonight.

"I figured there would be a little more peace of mind if we left behind your parents' stomping grounds. And to be honest, I was hoping to take you somewhere you've never been. As a native of the city, that seemed a harder prospect within Boston's city limits."

"That was a good call. So where are we going then?"

"Just outside of your parents' kingdom," Killian joked and then nodded. "Actually we're already here."

Emma peered through the windshield and watched as the roads they'd been on gave way to a beachfront property in the style of an old Victorian mansion. The beautiful blue color of the old home was crisp and clean even now in the winter months, and though there was snow on the ground, it was less extensive than back in the city thanks to the ocean being so close. The sun was long gone, but on a night like this one when the moon was full and the stars were out in full force, and when the old lanterns the house boasted were lit and lining the pathway to the front steps, this was a truly spectacular view.

"Want to go inside?" Killian asked when he'd parked the car and Emma was still just staring at the house. She nodded, allowing him to grab her door for her and lead her towards their destination.

The interior of this home was no less amazing than the outside, but Emma was amazed to find that it wasn't a home or a hotel, but a restaurant. The sign at the door read Arendelle Café but that last word didn't do this place justice. It was torn from the pages of a historically accurate period piece set here in New England, but it was also warm and inviting. The fireplaces were lit, and the seasonal decorations remained while the house was filled with a smell of really yummy, and exceptionally comforting food.

"There's something I should probably tell you before we begin, love," Killian said, suddenly sounding a little nervous and Emma looked at him with a smile, kind of enjoying his being thrown off balance.

"Oh?" Emma prompted, but before Killian could respond, a small woman with big eyes and a very expressive face arrived, looking positively joyous at their coming.

"Killian, you made it! And you must be Emma. We've heard so much about you. I'm Anna. And this is…" Emma watched as the woman looked around and then rolled her eyes. "My husband Kristoff was here a second ago, but with that man he's here one second and distracted by something shiny the next."

Emma swore she heard Killian cursing under his breath and muttering about Anna being too pushy for her own good, but Emma just gave him a look before extending her hand in greeting to the woman, who though very enthusiastic, was also kind and easy going.

"It's nice to meet you, Anna. This place is beautiful. Is it yours?" Emma asked and Anna beamed with pride and nodded in response.

"Sure is! It's been in the family for a long time, but I finally convinced Elsa to let me make it into this. It wasn't like she and Liam were ever going to move out of the city, and a home like this one deserves to be lived in, even if people only stay for a little while at a time."

"Liam?" Emma asked, this time to Killian and he scratched behind his ear. That name had come up a few times in their drive up here, but never in regards to their date specifically. What did Killian's brother potentially have to do with this?

"As I was trying to tell you love, Anna here is my brother's wife's sister. Though I was informed that she and Kristoff were off tonight."

Well shit. Did that change things? Emma wondered. Because now she was meeting his sort-of family and it was only a first date. Then again, Killian had already met her Dad, and he hadn't been nearly as excited or inviting as Anna was being right now. The way Emma saw it that were probably even.

"We are off. We just wanted to see the girl you've been chatting up so much to Elsa. I swear we were going to be sneakier about it, maybe just do a tiny bit of spying from the back when you guys walked in, but then there was a scheduling issue and I was out here in the open. Next thing I knew you were here," Anna offered, like all of that was totally normal to say to someone. Emma couldn't help smiling though, because even if it was bizarre, she had to admit there was a definite humor wrapped up this reception.

"A likely story. Now, Anna, I beg of you, can you just show us to our table and put me out of my misery? Here I was half way to convincing Emma I'm a catch and then you come and muddle it all up."

Emma rolled her eyes at Killian's claim (even if he was technically right about her being closer to accepting that this attraction between them wasn't going to be fading away any time soon) and the gesture pulled a huge grin to Anna's face. She seemed about to make more comments when a man came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. From the easy affection between him and Anna, Emma assumed this was Anna's husband Kristoff.

"I think we've done enough damage tonight, Anna. Let's give them a fighting chance, alright?"

"Oh alright. It was nice meeting you, Emma," Anna offered honestly and Emma nodded.

"You too, Anna."

From there Killian made his goodbyes to Anna and Kristoff and then an attendant brought Killian and Emma to their table. They were completely alone here in a private room with a wall of windows in antique design clearly made new. That theme of restoring tradition while adding a timely feel carried through all of the furnishings here, but the best part of this space was they had a view of the water here, but also the intimacy of one of those fireplaces crackling off to the side. Emma had to admit it was incredibly romantic. As someone who largely avoided romance, she was stunned at just how nice it was without being too exaggerated or over the top.

"Be honest with me, love. How dismayed at you over that display? I knew it was a risk bringing you here, but I hoped to avoid all that and just show you a good time." Killian posed the question as he pulled Emma's chair out for her and she immediately thought back to Ruby's words from earlier about what made something a real date before sending him a smile.

"It was actually kind of nice to see I'm not the only one with a family who doesn't know how to respect boundaries."

Emma's words allowed for a clear sense of relief to settle on Killian's features, and Emma was glad to give him that. She was so eager to see him enjoying himself actually, that she reached for his hand across the table much to both of their surprise, but he didn't pull back, instead running his thumb across her knuckles lightly.

"Is that a typical problem in your world, Emma? I know the comparisons to their success have caused you trouble, but don't tell me they're also – what's the term – helicopter parents?" Killian's musings pulled a real laugh from Emma, because he'd hit the nail on the head with that word choice.

"You have no idea. Don't get me wrong I love my parents, but they're just ever-present, you know? They hate thinking that there's something about me they don't know and my mother is a world class detective, so there rarely ever is."

Emma left unspoken how this date was even more risky in that regard because Killian already knew that. It was why he'd taken her out of the city, and as someone who had lived here for only a brief amount of time, Emma was amazed that he'd found them somewhere so beautiful to go, even if it did have a tie to his family. This was perfect, and Emma was already feeling her old worries of being found out easing away.

"Aye. I think if we put them in a room with my brother and Elsa, it would be a show down of who can love their family more. I'm not sure who would win."

The idea made Emma laugh again because she'd seen Killian's brother and sister-in-law in passing at the state house on the rare occasions that her testimony brought her out to that district in the city. They were both hard working from what she knew, and damn good ADAs. There was even talk of Liam ascending to the District Attorney position some day, but who knew? Maybe Elsa would be the one to take the job. Either way it was funny to think of her parents taking on two lawyers and trying to prove they loved her more than Liam and Elsa loved Killian.

At that moment the waiter came to take their order and Emma realized she hadn't even looked at the menu. She ended up deciding to trust the special as Killian did, and she accepted the glass of wine that came from the bottle the chef recommended with that dish. It was a perfect blend, not too sweet or too dry, but just right, and Emma felt herself relaxing as she stole a sip of it. Meanwhile, Killian watched her curiously.

"Something on your mind?" Emma asked, and Killian took her question as permission to launch into an unexpected confession.

"Look, Emma," Killian began, his sincerity and seriousness showing on his face. "I want you to know that I'm not sitting here fearful of your parents finding out about us or about this. I don't need this to be a secret. I'm not worried about my job or reputation or anything of the like. But I know the position you're in and that there are still some walls I've got to get past before you can trust me enough to choose me. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but someday I'm hoping you'll be sure enough in me to do so."

Emma hardly knew how to respond to that. It was an abrupt stream of honest feelings from a man she was still getting to know, yet who seemed so sure of her already. It perplexed Emma how Killian could appear so certain. He was talking about choices and by association commitment, and Emma knew that if she asked him the same question he'd choose her without hesitation. But he also seemed to respect that she wasn't someone who moved so quickly, at least not in instances where her heart was truly engaged. It was almost like he needed to be honest with her, and she respected that even if his ability to give himself away so freely scared her a little.

"So you're planning to stick around long enough for me to make that choice?" The idea was so foreign to Emma, because she just didn't have romantic interests in her life who stayed. Recently that was her choice, but there were a couple of guys in her past who had ended things before she could, either because of her parents or because of their own asshole tendencies.

"Aye." That one word held so much promise that Emma swore she felt the impact in her chest.

"And you're ready to say that, even though we've barely even started this date?" Emma asked, her voice thick with emotion.

"I was ready to say that since that day on the fire escape, love. Granted I didn't ever think to myself that we'd be fake dating at the same time I try to woo you for real…" Emma laughed as Killian trailed off and then he raised her hand up to kiss and finished his thought. "But I did think you were different and I knew I'd never forgive myself if I didn't try and chase that feeling I found with you out there that day. That same one that keeps cropping up every time you're near."

"And what feeling is that?" Killian's thumb ran along her wrist, pulling a flurry of sensation from her and a tiny shiver of desire as well.

"Like this is right. Honestly I'm out of my depths here, love. Until last week I thought myself content with just my work and nothing else. But now that's all changed."

"Because of me."

Emma filled in that part definitively, but saying it out loud didn't make it any less remarkable. It was so much for him to say so early, but even if his hints at making this last triggered old anxieties, the resounding feeling in Emma's heart was relief because she trusted Killian and because she valued his not making this a game. These weren't the words of a man going after his Fire Chief's daughter just because. They were those of a person who was risking a bit of himself to potentially find happiness with her.

"Yes, because of you. Now, tell me I haven't just made a huge mistake in saying all that," Killian's eyes portrayed a desperation that his tone concealed slightly better.

"You haven't. I'm still here right?" Emma asked, squeezing his hand lightly.

"Astonishingly yes." Emma smiled at Killian's tone of wonder, like it was some kind of miracle that she wasn't sprinting away form him. Come to think of it, it just might be given her track record.

"Well for the sake of honesty, you should know I don't do this," Emma admitted.

"What have dinner?" Killian joked and Emma smiled.

"No, I don't have dinner with guys who openly admit to liking me and wanting to build something with me before we so much as hit the salad course. Call it a quirk, but it's not my usual M.O." Emma didn't know what he'd do with her blunt statement, but the laugh that Killian rewarded her confession with made her feel so much better.

"I think it's fair to say we're wading through an unusual situation, love."

Emma felt the same pulse of excitement at his use of that endearment. It always caught her by surprise, but the way that word sounded falling past Killian's lips warmed her up inside. She was in serious trouble, but the only comfort for her quickly slipping control was that Killian seemed to be right there with her.

"Is that what you'd call it? I'd say it's more nightmarish. I mean you realize that tomorrow it's going to be me, you, my parents, and about a hundred other cops who all know me and my family, right? Some of these people have known me since I was a kid, and most of them are going to be overbearing and nosey in a monumental way."

"I wasn't speaking of that particular element, Emma. I was thinking more of the two of us. This spark between us isn't your run of the mill, fleeting interest, at least not on my end."

How any one could maneuver Emma from the disgruntled worries she'd slipped into from mentioning tomorrow's banquet to this soft, melting person so quickly Emma didn't know but Killian had done it. He managed to pull her from the mire of the mess her parents made and back into this date. No one else had ever brought her clarity like this, and it was intoxicating, to feel so much and yet not be totally petrified into making a run for the nearest exit.

"So you don't go hitting on women on fire escapes very often?" Emma asked and Killian shook his head.

"You're the first," Killian confirmed and Emma smiled.

"Good. Let's keep it that way, Sergeant."

Emma's flirtatious words set them off into the rest of a beautiful evening and the night that followed blew all of Emma's expectations out of the water. The food was fantastic, the wine just as good, but Killian's company was the best part of all. He was witty and funny, kind but able to give himself and others a fair bit of grief in the stories he told, and more than anything he knew when she wanted him to listen and when Emma began to feel slightly too exposed. It was astounding, watching him navigate every topic like an expert in her and her wants and needs, and by the time dessert was pulled away, Emma felt like she'd given Killian a view into her world and her mindset that very few people had.

"I have one last place I'd like to show you if you're interested," Killian said when the food was all cleared away and Emma could see that he was looking to her for opinions. One signal on her part that she didn't want this and he'd toss aside his plan, but Emma did want this and she wanted to see what final thing he had in mind that could top the rest of this evening.

"Lead the way," Emma said, accepting his hand again and following Killian through different corridors he seemed to know and up three flights of steps and into a final room that Emma never would have expected.

Like the room downstairs where they ate dinner, this room was home to a multitude of windows but not just along the walls. There were extensive skylights that were crystal clear, and though this structure posed a clear difference from the original design of the house, the end result was amazing. There were a sea of stars above them, and from this height the overlook out into the sea was further. At this vantage, the shores around them could be clearly seen cast in that same pale white light from the moon, and looking almost ethereal in their pale glow.

"I'm told sunrise over the water here is breathtaking, but to be honest, I've always preferred the stars." Killian's words were whispered, but with him standing so close, Emma could feel the rumble of his chest and the vibration of his cadence singing through her.

"Yeah, I've never been a fan of early mornings," Emma replied in an attempted joke as Killian led her to the best spot by the gorgeous overseeing windows. In that spot there was a perfect view of the sea and stars together, and with the light pollution of the city far enough away, Emma swore she could see every constellation.

Emma took it all in, marveling at everything up here, but it only took a few seconds for her to be distracted by Killian's closeness and the way it felt good to have him here. He was this strong, imposing presence, but there was no threat in his being so near. It felt good. Better than good actually. It felt like Killian had been entirely correct when he said this thing between them was right. It worked for whatever reason, and Emma didn't feel the need to question it. Instead she wanted to explore it.

"What did you used to wish for?" Emma asked, turning back to Killian and seeing his eyes had never strayed from her face. "As a kid, when the first star appeared in the sky?"

"It varied. Sometimes I wanted my Mum to buy more dessert than she was given to and for her to bestow it all to me before Liam could find it and eat it all as he usually did. Other times I wanted school cancelled for any old reason. It didn't matter which one as long as I didn't have to sit through history or Latin." Emma laughed at his choices, knowing she'd had a fair share of similar wishes.

"No ponies or puppies for you?" Emma asked and Killian smiled.

"Definitely no to the former, but I think I asked for a dog once or twice, and by once or twice I mean a few dozen times," Emma chuckled again, knowing she'd asked at least a hundred times for one. But her Mom was allergic, and by the time she was out on her own Emma was working crazy hours at the precinct.

"Sometimes I wish I could go back to that age, when everything seems possible. When the most ridiculous wish has a shot of being answered just because you want it bad enough." Emma admitted, thoughtfully. She expected agreement from Killian, but instead he moved closer to her, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek.

"And what do you want, Emma? In your heart, what's the one thing you want most right now?"

The question filled the space between them, and though there were arguably dozens of things that Emma might want in her life, there was only one thing she could think of right now. She decided to go for it and see if maybe she might make her wish a reality. She moved closer to Killian, pulling him down by the vest he was wearing and kissing him the way she'd wanted to since first stumbling into him on that fire escape.

To call this a kiss was almost too tame, for the fire behind it was intense and burning brighter than anything Emma knew. It was the culmination of all the back and forth they'd had going for a while now, and it delivered every ounce of interest, and every drop of chemistry that had been flowing between the two of them all that time. Emma felt branded by his lips on hers and the way Killian pulled her flush against him, inciting her whole body into a flurry of unbridled need.

Never had a first kiss held so much promise and so much satisfaction. There was just something about the way Killian tasted and the way he gave as much as he took that set her whole body aching for more. Yet that didn't compare at all to the look in Killian's eyes when they broke away. There, swirling in the dark blue pools that Emma couldn't get enough of, was so much feeling and emotion and heart it made Emma believe in things again. Things that she hadn't ever considered (about finding the one person who was right for her or who could make her world better) since she was a little girl who loved fairytales and stories about magic.

"Did that answer your question?" Emma finally asked, watching Killian's triumphant grin appear when she did.

"Aye, love. It certainly did."

After a little while longer spent there under the stars talking and stealing a few more of those invigorating kisses, Killian and Emma both decided it was time to head back. But when their drive back into the city came to an end, and Killian had walked Emma up to her front door once more, there was a feeling of not wanting things to end just yet that Emma knew they both felt together. Her hand was in Killian's, and she tilted her head up to meet his gaze, seeing the same barely restrained passion on his face that she felt simmering inside her.

"You know we never got to have that drink that you mentioned at the gala. We could remedy that now if you want to come in," Emma proposed, knowing that there would be a whole lot more than a drink if he said yes, and not caring in the slightest. Sex on the first date was totally fine with her. Actually it was pretty damn necessary given all the things that she was feeling.

"I thought you'd never ask," Killian teased and Emma opened up the door, letting him inside, and the second the door shut behind them they were on each other again.

This kiss was able to move faster than the one before, and the slow perusal they were allowed back at the restaurant, gave over to something more demanding and needy on both sides. Emma reveled in the feeling that she was swept up in Killian and he was just as wrapped up in her. It was a total rush, but still it wasn't enough. They moved to the couch, and the next thing Emma knew, Killian was above her, and she was arching closer, needing things to speed up and for him to meet her at the edge where she was already residing. The feeling of his hands on her body and his warmth above her made Emma crave so much more.

"Emma, much as I might like to continue this, I think maybe we should -,"

Emma knew he was going to say something about waiting (because if ever she'd met a guy who would play the gentleman card it would be Killian), but before she could try and convince him to live a little dangerously, the buzzer to her apartment went off, announcing someone's request to get in from downstairs.

"Expecting someone?" Killian asked humorously and Emma shook her head, assuming it was maybe someone for another tenant, before hearing the voices that crackled through the speaker.

"Emma, honey, it's Mom and Dad. Your car is out front and the light is on in your room so we know you're up. Let us in." Her mother's voice was way too chipper for this time of night and it cut through the moment she'd just been enjoying with Killian so quickly, Emma felt like she had whiplash.

"Shit!"

Emma jumped up from the couch, trying to figure out what the hell to do in a dreadful scenario like this one. There was no second way out of the building currently because of construction in the back alley, and the snow outside meant Killian's shimmying down the tree by her bedroom window was also out. Crap! Emma never had a situation like this before. Hell she'd never even had a guy in her room at home all those years. She had no experience to go off of, and a rapidly dwindling window of time to find a solution.

"How do you want to play this?" Killian asked and Emma found herself rushing around trying to figure out what to do. In a second a plan formed, but it was bad. Honestly it would probably fail miserably, but it was the only one she had and she needed Killian to go along with her on this. She grabbed his hand and pulled him into her bedroom, putting him in there and pushing him down on the bed, ignoring the continued smile on his face when she did.

"Look we've got two choices. Either you are super quiet and stay in here for five minutes while I get rid of them-," Killian cut her off with a smile and a joke.

"You're sure I can stay in here, love? Perhaps the fire escape would be more appropriate." At another moment Emma would no doubt find that reference to their first meeting to be sweet or hilarious, but right now she was damn close to a full-blown panic.

"Or you explain to my Dad why you're in my apartment late at night after a first date." The humor from Killian's face drained somewhat and he nodded.

"Good thinking, love. I won't make a sound."

"Emma?" Her mother's voice came through as the buzzer sounded in her apartment again and Emma groaned as she opened her drawers up looking for the tools she needed to look un-date like in thirty seconds.

"Why don't you just use the key?" Emma's father said through the speaker, reminding Emma on some level that even if this was a nightmare it could have been so much worse because her Dad had a good point – what would have happened if her parents just walked in? Emma couldn't stand thinking about it.

"I can't find it," Mary Margaret countered through the speaker.

"Can't find it? But you never lose anything," David said skeptically.

"Well there's a first time for everything. Emma?" Emma ran back to the intercom.

"Hi, guys sorry. Come on up." She pressed the button to let them in without another word and then ran back into her room.

Emma tried to make herself appear as normal as possible in the thirty seconds she had. She threw on a ratty pair of sweatpants and grabbed her bathrobe quickly, not even bothering to take off her dress as she tossed her hair up in a messy bun. She didn't have time to wash off her makeup or anything like that, but she did spare Killian one last look and a truly apologetic expression.

"If we survive this, remind me to tell you how sorry I am and to thank you for everything that happened before this moment," she said, shutting the door to her room before he could respond. She quickly turned on the TV and took one last glance in the reflection she saw in the window and sighed. God how had everything gone so wrong so quickly?

Just a moment later her parents knocked at her door, and Emma took a big breath in. She wasn't well versed in lying to her parents by any means. Emma always preferred honesty and felt like to deserve the truth you had to speak the truth, but right now she was on a different level. All she could think about was getting them out quickly and none the wiser of her evening, and if she could pull that off she would finally be able to breathe again. She opened the door, ready to face whatever may come.

"Oh Emma, there you are. But look at you - you're all red! Are you feeling all right?" Emma nodded, jerking back before her mother could put a hand on her forehead and check her temperature.

"I'm fine. Just really tired. What are you two doing out so late?"

"You make us sound so old," Her Dad said hugging her quickly. "Your mother wanted cannoli and so we got some. We thought you might like some too."

"Okay well thank you," Emma said taking the box as her parents came in and made themselves comfortable. Emma noticed then that Killian's jacket was still out here and she immediately ripped it from the couch before either of her parents saw it and chucked it to the ground behind her.

"You don't want to eat it now?" Her Dad asked curiously, turning back to Emma. "You love everything from Mike's."

"I know, but I was actually all ready to get to bed. That much sugar so late and I'll be up all night."

"I didn't think you were working tomorrow," her mother replied, looking around the house as if searching for something, her eyes finally landing on Emma's bedroom door, but she looked away and then Emma believed she might actually be getting away with it.

"I'm not but Ruby and I have plans so…" That wasn't technically a lie, right? Especially since after this fiasco, she'd need grief counseling from her best friend to survive the mortification of this moment.

"Well in that case we won't keep you. But we'll see you tomorrow night, right?" Her father asked and Emma nodded.

"Yup. Wouldn't miss it," Emma replied, feeling profound joy as her Dad turned towards the front door.

"Her and Killian, David. Don't forget, our Emma's got a date" Mary Margaret added, looking downright gleeful at the thought of Emma on a fake date with the man who was currently hiding in her bedroom.

"How could I forget?" her father grumbled, giving Emma a hug before heading into the hallway and leaving Emma with just her mother.

"I'm sorry honey, we shouldn't have come over unannounced like this."

"No Mom, it's fine, really -," Her mother squeezed Emma's hand affectionately as a kinder way of cutting her off.

"It isn't. We should have called first instead of assuming you didn't have plans. I'll try to remember for next time, okay? I love you." With that and a final pat on Emma's cheek, Mary Margaret Nolan left to meet her husband in the hallway, leaving Emma shaken but also slightly hopeful. Maybe she'd gotten away with this after all.

The moment that Emma closed the door behind her parents she felt herself slumping against it, totally and completely frazzled. On the one hand she was thanking every power in the universe that they (or at the very least her father) hadn't realized Killian was here, but on the other she was so angry and terrified that they'd come at all. What they believed would be a thoughtful, well-received surprise had just thoroughly upended a night that was going really well. Now Emma had to face the music of that and hope that Killian wasn't about to cut and run.

Turning around at the sound of her bedroom door opening again, Emma didn't know what to say or do, but then she saw Killian's smile and she froze. Wait was he laughing right now?

"Well I think I can safely say that's not where I imagined the evening going. But it does make for a hell of a tale," Killian said easily, and though he appeared rather laid back given the circumstances, Emma still felt a swell of anxiety.

"I'm pretty sure this is the part where you run for the hills and tell me that this is way more than you bargained for," Emma said, resigned to the fact that this would likely happen, but then Killian was moving towards her and taking her into his arms again. His hand gently moved her chin up to look at him, and Emma held her breath in anticipation of what he would say.

"On the contrary, this is the part where I tell you that despite the familial surprises I had a wonderful time tonight. I can't remember a better evening to be honest, twists in the road and all. It's also the part where I beg you to consider more dates with me in the future because I don't think one night like this could ever be enough."

Emma responded to that request with the only answer she could fathom, another kiss that silently sealed her want to do that too. She poured a lot into that kiss: gratefulness for his being so cool about everything, joy at the fact that they'd come out of that relatively unscathed, and the bit more trust he'd earned by proving himself to be a good guy in this moment. Still, when Emma pulled back, she thought Killian deserved to hear her agreement as well as feel it.

"I'd like that. But maybe next time we go to your place at the end of the night?" Emma asked and Killian laughed. Emma knew he'd just found an apartment to move into since he'd mentioned it at dinner, and though it seemed inconsequential before, it was suddenly such a necessary turn of events.

"I think we can manage that," Killian confirmed, his hand running over the small of her back soothingly. Emma immediately regretted this damn bathrobe, but she was too happy at the fact that he was still interested to feel truly bad about it.

"So I'll see you tomorrow?" Emma asked.

"Tomorrow it is," Killian agreed and with one last goodbye, he was out the door and Emma was left alone to replay what had easily been one of the best (but also craziest) nights of her life.

Post-Note: So there we have it. I am having a lot of fun with this AU so far, mostly because it's not like anything else I am writing or have written before. This chapter was a little closer to stories I have done in the past (because first date fluff is always a necessity), but between the ending and the banquet which I will be writing about next chapter, I am putting CS in the line of some interesting obstacles. Hopefully you guys are enjoying the story and let me know what you all thought!