The characters belong to Kitsis and Horowitz but right now it's time to play.
"Happy Independence Day, Jones!"
Will's voice was echoing through the apartment. Killian groaned and blinked up at the ceiling. He had hoped to sleep in and enjoy the extra day off the American holiday had given the entire town. Only two places remained open on the Fourth of July: the Sheriff's station, which had most of its officers either in the morning parade or supervising it and Granny's Diner, where the annual pancake breakfast was put on by the Coast Guard and Fire Department. Even the grocery stores and small shops were closed. It was an inconvenience to the tourists who knew nothing of the about it, despite the signs and banners that had been up since the beginning of June detailing what would happen.
"Come on, mate, we promised Robin we'd meet up at Granny's before headin' down to the parade start," Will said as he threw open Killian's bedroom door causing it to bounce off the wall.
"You made the promise, not me," Killian said, gaze still locked on the cottage cheese textured ceiling above him. "Perhaps next time you should ask me if I were actually interested in participating in a holiday that spits in the face of our homeland."
"I like to think of it as celebrating the fact that we dropped the colonies like a hot potato before they went and got themselves in a real bind."
"Because England has done so well for itself in the couple hundred years that's passed," Killian scoffed as he turned his head to look at Will. He was unprepared for the sight that greeted him. "Er, Scarlet, why are you wearing tights?"
Will was leaning on the doorframe to his room wearing a dark brown leather tunic, a white long sleeved shirt, green tights, some kind of brown leather shoe that was a cross between a boot and a moccasin, and to top it all off he was wearing a green felt pointed hat with a jaunty red feather sticking out of the brim. Killian tried not to laugh but then Will looked down at his nylon covered legs in confusion and he couldn't help himself. The man looked like he stepped off the stage of a local theater production of Robin Hood. Killian's laughter broke off suddenly when he realized he was probably in for the same fate.
"Tell me that you're just wearing that for a laugh and you'll be wearing something a bit more…star spangled and dignified," Killian said warily swinging his legs off the bed to sit up.
"There's nothing dignified about findin' new ways to turn a flag into clothing, mate. I've got your get up right here," Will smirked holding up a brown paper bag Killian hadn't noticed. "Couldn't have ya feelin' left out, now could we? Hurry up and throw your pride to the wind, we've made an accord and we honor it despite our thieving ways. Tally ho!"
Will threw the bag at Killian, laughing as he walked down the hallway. Killian opened the bag with trepidation to peer inside. Sighing in relief he saw only a lumpy mass of brown fabric, no tunic or tights in sight. His relief was short lived as he pulled the rest of the items from the bag. Along with a the brown thing that turned out to be a monk's cowl, there was a rope he assumed was to be used as a belt, a pillow with a real belt around it, and a wig that was more of a bald cap than anything. If he had known what was in store for him Killian would have told Robin to bugger off and watched the humiliation from the sidelines.
"Come on Tuck, time's a wastin'!"
Groaning Killian began getting into the costume. Due to the shapeless form of the robe Killian was able to wear normal clothes underneath, something that gave him relief, knowing that he could immediately defrock once they reached the end of the parade. He hunted down a pair of flip flops, not quite keeping with the theme but he figured not many people would be looking at his feet. Stuffing the pillow and wig back in the bag Killian emerged from his room and walked down the hall to find Will lounging on the sofa waiting for him.
"Bless me Father for I have sinned," Will said grinning.
"Fuck off, Scarlet. You could have warned me at least," Killian grumbled, shoving Will's shoulder and walking into the kitchen.
"What, and ruin all the fun?" Will laughed as he followed. "Wouldn't dream of it. Besides, you never would have agreed to it otherwise and we'll finally have a Friar Tuck joining our band of Merry Men."
"I still don't understand what this has to do with American Independence," Killian muttered as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Nothin', which is the beauty," Will remarked, adjusting his hat. "It started as a way to annoy the Mayor, you know a bunch of ex-Brits walkin' in the Big Fourth Parade, but then Robin got it in his head that wearin' Robin Hood costumes and tossin' out chocolate coins to the kiddos would be even better. Plus he was tryin' to woo his lady love at the time and she loved nothing more than pissin' off her mum. Now it's sort of tradition. It's not so bad, the tourists love it and the kids are always happy to get free candy. Plus there's somethin' about a man wearin' tights that drive a woman wild."
Killian hummed into his mug, not wanting to delve any deeper into discussions of what Will used to woo a woman. This was his first Fourth of July celebration and he wasn't exactly sure what to expect. Sure, he had a vague idea from movies and television but he figured it wasn't all mass alien attacks or a grand orchestra performing patriotic marches while an over the top fireworks show lit up the night sky.
Storybrooke was lucky enough to be one of the towns where it was legal to sell, buy, and set off fireworks. He'd already been warned by Anton and Will that the town would slowly become overrun with tourists leading up to the big day and by the time the sun set on the Fourth it would be hard to move without fear of minor burns through the main part of town. Killian didn't have to worry too much about that, he already had plans.
Robin had invited him to spend the holiday at his house where he was hosting a barbeque for his and Regina's employees along with their families and a few other people from town. It would be the first time he would be face to face with Emma Swan again since the tattoo expo. At least, the first time he would actually be able to have a conversation with her.
Two days earlier he had decided to head to work early. There was no reason for it, he had no large orders and they weren't expecting a delivery from the nursery until after five, he just had the impulse to get an early start. As luck would have it he had found a spot to park his truck right in front of the store and as he was locking the door he heard the delicate tinkle of wind chimes.
Killian had turned towards the sound and was immediately greeted by the sight of Emma walking down the sidewalk towards him. Before he could even formulate a greeting she blew past him, a look of vexation and distraction on her face. She didn't even notice him standing there. He watched her walking with a purpose until she turned the corner a few blocks up.
In retrospect he was glad she hadn't noticed him. He had been trying to figure out what he would say to her to apologize for his behavior at the expo, for not telling her that he was the guy arranging her order, and to try and extend a hand of friendship to her. It was a daunting task that he would have botched up if he had tried to talk to her without any kind of a plan. So he had set his sights on Robin's party as the time he would approach Emma and try to strike up a conversation.
"You know they have coffee at Granny's, don't ya?" Will grumbled impatiently.
"Of course, but what are the odds that the coffee they're serving is actually good?" Killian asked, taking another slow sip from his mug.
"Slim to none, I think the fire brigade just dumps the ashes of their fires into a Folger's can and uses that. Their pancakes are always better quality than the piss poor things the Coast Guard doles out, though, which is why we should get a move on," Will said, edging towards the front door.
"Keep your tights on, Scarlet," Killian laughed. "I would hate to deprive you of higher quality flapjacks."
After grabbing the bag with the rest of his costume from his room he and Will made their way to the heart of Storybrooke. Many of the streets along the parade route were blocked off and townsfolk and tourists alike were already lining the sidewalks holding spots for the family and friends who would join them. The closer they got to the center of town and to Granny's Diner the thicker the crowds became.
Killian was only mildly embarrassed by his getup. In fact, with the overabundance of red, white and blue outfits he felt drab and a little like he was thumbing his nose at the spirit of the holiday. Will on the other hand was walking with his head held high, winking at the women he caught staring, and sneaking chocolate coins into the hands of the eager children they passed.
When they finally made it to Granny's there was a line spilling out of the fenced in patio and winding halfway down the block. Will groaned from behind Killian as he stepped into the queue. They had pre-bought tickets and it was only eight in the morning but apparently no one believed in lazy summer days when it came to the celebration of their country's independence. The line moved quickly, however, and soon Killian and Will had full plates in their hands and were searching for Robin and the others they would be walking in the parade with.
Will was the one to spot the group of equally ridiculously dressed men huddled at a table that was meant for four and not the seven crowded around it. Killian recognized some of them from his brief stint at Locksley's, like John Naylor and Alan O'Dayle, but most were just faces he'd seen around town or stopping by the nursery from time to time. Robin, for his part, was trying to get his son, Roland, to finish his food and not get syrup down the front of either of their tunics.
"If you eat one more bite of pancake then John will let you ride on his shoulders for the parade," Killian heard Robin say as they walked up.
"No, Papa, I want to walk with Regina," Roland stated emphatically while standing up in his chair to make a grab for the cup of juice on the other side of his plate.
"Only if you have one more bite of pancake," Robin agreed quickly handing Roland the cup and sliding the plate off to one side. Glancing up he noticed Killian and Will and shrugged apologetically at the lack of eating space. "I'd say sorry but if you can't drag your sorry butts out of bed then you don't deserve a flat surface to lay your plates."
"Ah, don't worry 'bout that, mate," Will said grinning. "I have a feeling you'll be taking Roland to wash up in about ten seconds."
Before Robin could reply Roland let out a small gasp followed by a sheepish 'oops'. Will laughed as Killian and Robin watched the last drops of orange juice fall onto Roland's feet from the upended cup. Heaving a sigh Robin scooped Roland up, making sure to keep his dripping feet angled away and shooting an annoyed look at Will before heading into the diner to use the washroom.
"You know you could have stopped him," Killian said as he set his plate down in the center of the table and grabbed a handful of napkins to mop up the juice on the seat of Roland's chair.
"What and ruin the joy of fatherhood for Robin? Wouldn't dream of it," Will remarked as he sat down in Robin's vacated seat and dug into his pancakes.
A ripple of laughter made its way around the table as Killian tossed the soaked napkins into a nearby bin and sat down on the edge of the chair. He ate quietly as the conversation wound around him. He hadn't realized there were that many people who had relocated from England to Storybrooke or that he actually missed the variation of lilting accents from across the isles.
"Will Constable Graham be joining us as well?" Killian asked, looking around and wondering if would be donning a Sheriff of Nottingham costume.
"Nah, he keeps tellin' us that he can't because of work," Will scoffed. "Like it's that hard to keep an eye on the town when we're all gathered here for the next four hours."
"He's just happy to have a ready made excuse," Robin chimed in from behind Killian, having returned from the restroom. "He'll be at the house later, though."
"Really? Thought he'd use the crowd control excuse to get out of the whole day," Will smirked.
"Ruby threatened to take away his key if he doesn't show up. He'll be there."
The men turned to see Regina holding Roland as Robin tried to wrestle a clean pair of shoes onto the pair of small wiggling feet. She was wearing a Renaissance style dress in white overlaid with a lace design and beading with flowing, sheer sleeves that allowed her impressive tattoos to be seen. Killian had only had a few interactions with Regina but he knew that she wasn't one to dress in costume for fun. The thought that she did it solely for Robin and Roland made him smile.
"What's so funny Killian?" Regina asked narrowing her eyes at him.
"Nothing, just wondering how Robin roped you into this charade as well. I thought you'd be wearing a high collared gown with a crown on your head leading the rest of your workers down Main Street," he answered sitting back and crossing his arms.
"This parade is for the community and the families that populate it, Queen's Quills isn't looking to prey on them for new clientele. Besides, almost everyone else is walking with other groups in the parade. Emma, for instance, will be with Mary Margaret and the summer school kids," Regina said pointedly as she set Roland back on the ground, shoes in place.
Killian's mouth dropped open in surprise. He hadn't even mentioned his preoccupation with Emma to Will, let alone Robin. The fact that Regina had made a comment meant that Emma had talked to her about it and Killian wasn't sure what to make of that information. He quickly shut his mouth and avoided the questioning looks both Robin and Will were shooting him.
"We better get to our place at the parade start," Robin cheerfully announced, clearly trying to put Killian at ease. "Roland wants to walk with you Regina."
As Killian watched he saw Regina's face soften until she was almost unrecognizable. He didn't know the full story but he had heard enough from others that Regina wasn't always the kindest of people. Robin had even told him, after a few too many drinks, that they couldn't stand each other at first but something had drawn him to her again and again. Killian could easily see that Robin and his son had had an equal effect on her.
Their group left Granny's behind as they walked towards the park where the parade started on one side and would finish on the other. To Killian the men were almost a pre-parade at the rate some of them were greeting people saving seats and passing out chocolate coins as Will had been doing earlier. He almost contemplated slipping on the pillow and wig but figured it would best be saved for the actual parade.
When they reached the park it was bustling with activity. There were masses of people lined up along the roadside next to flatbed truck that had been turned into a makeshift announcer stand and judges' table. The park itself had been turned into a sort of community fair with booths for local businesses, people who had homemade crafts to sell, and various food stalls. They would all open once the parade was over but it didn't stop people from idly looking over what there was to offer.
"So," Will said nonchalantly from Killian's side. "Are you going to explain what the hell Regina was talkin' about back there?"
"Nothing to explain, mate," Killian tried to sound unfazed. "Apparently, I've been doing the orders for Emma and didn't realize it until we went to that expo. Emma didn't know who I was either but apparently she does now."
"Hmm, right. I wonder why that is?" Will asked, voice dripping in sarcasm. "Could it be that Emma Swan has finally opened your eyes to the possibilities out there?"
"We both know I'm well versed in what possibilities await," Killian said suggestively, hoping to derail Will's interrogation. "Emma Swan is just one of the many customers I have to deal with."
"Sure, a 'customer'. Next you'll be tellin' me that she's got a nice friend I should meet. Face it, mate, you're a goner."
Will darted away before Killian could land a blow to his shoulder. Looking around he was glad no one else was privy to their conversation. Robin was his main concern. He wouldn't use humor to temper the conversation and Killian wasn't exactly ready to examine what he was going to do in regards with Emma.
Killian spent the rest of the morning avoiding both Will and Robin. He walked the three mile course of the parade between John and a man named Phillip who wouldn't stop talking about his fiancee. He was surprised to find that he enjoyed himself, especially after the parade when it took Anton five minutes to realize it was Killian under the horrible wig and pillowed stomach. The crowds of people didn't faze him as much as they would have normally, even after he ditched the costume and the anonymity it provided.
After an hour of meandering around the park he caught a ride out to Robin and Regina's house in the back of John's truck with almost all of the other 'Merry Men'. They had waved cheerfully at Graham as they passed, knowing he wouldn't pull them over for reckless driving. The ride was relatively short and soon Killian was hopping out of the truck bed onto the gravel driveway in front of the house.
It was a large colonial style house, set back from the main road with the woods that surrounded a majority of the town marking the property line on two sides. Killian had been there a few times but he still marveled at the stately home that seemed to blend into its surroundings with it's cream colored wood siding, dark brown trim, and wrap around porch nearly hidden by the creepers and vines that had claimed the railing as their own. Even the bright red front door didn't seem out of place.
The Locksleys had returned to the house right after the parade, Robin making his excuses about making sure everything was set up for everyone who would be coming over. At the time Killian had rolled his eyes, thinking he had wanted to get Roland home for a nap, but seeing the few cars already parked in the driveway and the ones pulling in behind the truck he had ridden in he realized Robin wasn't lying.
"Don't let the grandeur throw you for a loop, Jones," John said, clapping him on the back. "Robin only agreed to buy the house because he could escape to the woods with nary a fuss."
"Don't let Regina hear you saying that, John. She'll drug your drink and you'll wake up with a drawing of a dick on your forehead and it won't be done in Sharpie," Alan teased, coming up on Killian's other side.
"Or you'll just never wake up. I hear she brews up a drink strong enough to keep any man down, even a giant like you Naylor," Killian smirked as he started walking around the side of the house to the backyard.
The sound of hearty laughter followed him as he rounded the corner of the house and entered the backyard. It was a sloping lawn that led right to the woods and had close to two dozen people already spread across the green expanse or milling about the back porch. A group of kids were crawling over the playhouse Robin had built for Roland the previous summer. Killian spied Roland tagging along behind an older boy with shaggy brown hair, clearly having the time of his life.
He watched as the boy and Roland climbed up on the porch and made their way to another group of kids surrounding something on the porch. Walking towards the porch himself he realized the kids were standing around a seated female figure waiting to get their faces painted. He couldn't make out who the artist was right away, their head was bent and hidden behind a little girl, but he could see the edge of their hip and make out the flames tattooed on it, visible above the waistband of denim shorts.
Suddenly the little girl moved and he realized it was none other than Emma Swan. Her blonde hair was plaited into a queue the fell between her shoulder blades. Killian could make out a the edge of a second tattoo poking out from the collar of her faded red tank top, the tip of a bird's wing from what he could tell. He smiled to himself as he changed course and headed across the lawn to where he spotted Will and August talking to Robin who was setting up a fire pit for later in the evening.
Killian bided his time and stayed out of Emma's line of sight. He knew once she saw him she'd probably avoid him the rest of the party and he wanted to be able to say his peace first. The afternoon wore on and the group of kids surrounding her dwindled until it was down to the last little girl who was getting her face transformed into a white rabbit. Under the pretense of grabbing a beer he stepped up onto the porch and approached the makeshift face painting station.
Emma's attention was distracted by August who had apparently caught on to Killian's plan because he had forced her to turn almost completely away from the yard as they talked. Not wanting to dwell on how obvious his behavior had been Killian slipped into the small chair, one of Roland's, and nodded subtly at August. Lacking any subtlety himself, August pointed at the space in front of Emma and made his escape as she turned to look at her latest subject.
"Hello, Swan," Killian smirked as he watched her eyes widen and her nostrils flair in surprise.
"Killian!" Emma choked out breathlessly. "What are you doing here?"
"I was invited, I'll have you know. Thought you might have figured out who I really was by now," Killian teased, unable to help himself.
"I figured it out the second I read the card that came with that ostentatious bouquet you sent over," Emma said, visibly getting ahold of herself.
"Oh, so you do read the cards. I was beginning to wonder."
Emma blushed lightly, tipping Killian off that she hadn't been reading the cards at all. At least not until after the expo.
"Whether I read them or not, Jones, it still doesn't answer my question: what are you doing here?"
"I'm both offended and intrigued, love. I have every right to be at the this party as you do. Robin's a good friend and can invite whomever he wants to his celebratory barbeque. Now, what has me intrigued is the fact that you've found out my surname. Which means you've been asking about me round the town. I feel honored," Killian winked.
He watched as her blush deepened along with the scowl that was beginning to form. From the corner of his eye he saw Will and Robin edging closer to the porch and elected to ignore them completely. Killian knew he was behaving in a vastly different way than they had seen before. What they didn't know was that he was finally feeling more like his former self, like the man he had been before the accident that had destroyed everything.
"I didn't mean that and you know it," Emma's voice brought his attention back to her. "I meant why are you sitting in that ridiculously small chair talking to me instead of acting like an adult and mingling with the other adults?"
"Perhaps I wanted to get my face painted? One can never be too young at heart."
"Hmph," Emma snorted, looking at him with curiosity dancing in her green eyes. "Do you always talk like you've popped out of a BBC period piece?"
"Not on purpose, my lady," Killian preened and altered his accent to mimic the uptight upperclassmen he'd heard at secondary school. "I would hate to think that my habit of speech has caused you offense."
Emma's lips twitched in amusement and Killian dropped the act, happy in his success at putting her at ease. He smiled genuinely at her and gestured at the face paint.
"Alright, Swan, transform me. I know it will be a challenge but I'm sure you're up for it."
"What did you have in mind?" she said, playing along. "I'm thinking a crocodile would be perfect for you. All green and scaly."
"You wound me, Swan. I was hoping for something a bit more, dashing," Killian lifted his eyebrow and leaned forward. "Maybe a regal lion or a noble wolf?"
A flash of inspiration crossed her face and Killian was suddenly wary of the slow smile she was giving him.
"I'll do this under three conditions. One: I get to decide what to draw, no input or complaining, two: you have to close your eyes until I'm done, and three: you can't wash it off until after the fireworks show is over," Emma said challengingly.
Killian could tell she was expecting him to back down, to stand up and walk away with a weak joke that would serve as a half-assed apology and a nail in the coffin of getting to know her. Squaring his shoulders he looked her straight in the eye with steely resolve.
"Agreed. Do your worst."
"Oh no, Blue Eyes. I'll be doing my best."
A.N.: It's okay if you imagined Will and the rest of the Merry Men looking like the chorus line from Robin Hood: Men in Tights because I totally did and Regina's dress is based off the one she wore in the flashback scenes of "Quite a Common Fairy". The Fourth may be over for us but it's just warming up for Killian and Emma.