A/N: This chapter, the bar that Killian has been working on since coming to Storybrooke opens, and we get some more insight into Ruby's newfound happiness and how well things are progressing for Emma and Killian. Hope you guys enjoy!
"I have to hand it to your guy, Emma, this place is amazing. How did they do this so quickly?"
Ruby was clearly impressed with JR2, as were a large amount of the legal-aged townspeople in attendance tonight. The tavern that had stood here before was barely recognizable. Gone were the faded colorings and outdated wood choices, and in their stead was a sleek but approachable atmosphere coupled with an insane amount of variety in the liquor listings. Combine that with the amazing food that Emma knew was here, and Killian had a certified hit on his hands. She was so proud of him for that and happy that he was going to have such success after uprooting his whole life just for her.
"A big part of that is thanks to Graham. Killian couldn't have finished this on time without him." Ruby's smile was huge at the compliment to her boyfriend, and she flipped her hair over her shoulder.
"Yeah he's pretty fantastic. But his best body of work comes when he works with that body of his." Immediately Mary Margaret's hands went over her ears and the pixie-haired woman began humming to herself. Emma looked over at Tiana, who over the past few weeks had endeared herself more to the three friends and the two shared a laugh.
"Again, Ruby, we love you, but we don't need to know every sordid detail of your love life with Graham. We're subjected to enough of it in person." Ruby rolled her eyes.
"What are girl friends for if not to tell graphic, detailed stories of our sex lives to each other?"
Emma shrugged. She had heard most every detail from Ruby on their own time, so she knew Ruby was just trying to make Mary Margaret squirm, but this was their thing. If you wanted to talk love, you went to Mary Margaret. If you wanted to talk sex, Ruby was your girl. Emma meanwhile had the happy pleasure of being the go to for both. Lucky her.
"Speaking of love lives," Emma said as she pulled Mary Margaret's hands from her friend's ears, "Tiana, anyone special in your life?" Tiana groaned and took another drink of her beer.
"Absolutely not, because at my school, you fall into one of three types of men: wonderfully charming and respectful and gay, forgettable and strange and so introverted you cannot speak to members of the opposite sex, or crazy hot and stupidly entitled. There are no men who fall in between those three polls."
The description of the last group made Emma think that Tiana had a specific guy in mind, a guy she wished she wasn't attracted to for other reasons. She caught the eyes of Ruby and Mary Margaret who silently portrayed a similar interest before prodding for more information.
"That third group is always a headache." Jackpot, Tiana instantly confided more.
"I know! This guy in my design class for instance. He's like insanely hot, stupid hot, but such a self-absorbed jerk. He just prances through life with his Daddy's money and no ambition, no drive, no respect for what everyone else is going through."
"But he's hot…" Ruby prompted and Tiana drank more again, nodding despite herself.
"What's his name?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Naveen." Well that wasn't one you heard every day. "His parent's are some sort of diplomats or something from some small principality in Europe. So add that entitlement to the mix."
"And the intrigue." Ruby sighed as if she was fast devolving into daydream, and from what Emma knew about her and Graham, her friend may have him pretend he was a rich diplomat tonight. That was fine, both Graham and Ruby were clearly over the moon that they were together, and for that Emma was happy.
As her friends continued their discussion on the merits and pit falls of college dating, Emma's eyes wandered to the segment of the wall where a five-dollar bill that was hung up in a place of honor. It had a golden frame and fancy edging, making it appear like this most valuable item. Her lips turned up in a smile, as she remembered giving it to Killian the night before.
…..
"This place is amazing."
Emma was surprised she could even get the words out in the face of the sight before her. Not only was it beautifully redone, but the entire space was almost exactly like the bar where they'd met. Emma felt tears stinging at her eyes, knowing that Killian had done this for her. There was clearly no end to his thoughtfulness.
"You like it then, love?" Emma turned to see his face again and nodded. He moved closer, placing one hand on her waist, the other against her cheek and looked deep into her eyes.
"I love it."
He ducked down to lay a kiss to her lips that Emma fully immersed herself in. Even though they'd been together for a few months, now, and even though she'd come to terms with the fact that they needed the time apart to be here and now (which was a fantastic and wonderful place to be), this gesture of building the bar symbolized something. It was a physical manifestation of a second chance, at least in Emma's mind, which was why she loved the name so much.
JR2. Killian could have gone in a completely different direction, pulling from the other locations he had back in the UK or starting with something from scratch, but he'd specifically chosen this. Now every time Emma came here, she'd think about how far they'd come to get to where they were, and how it was worth it. He'd made a sad separation a symbol of hope and to Emma that was beautiful.
"Come on love, I was hoping you'd have the first drink." Emma smirked at him as he pulled her to the bar itself.
"If you think I'm not paying for it, then you're crazy, Jones."
Killian laughed at that as he poured her a glass of wine. Unsurprisingly it was delicious but when Emma asked him how much he wouldn't respond. In the end, Emma pulled out a five-dollar bill, the one bill she had in her wallet that wasn't crumpled or dirty. Then she broke the rules, pulling out a pen and writing something on it. She did a good job of concealing her message before flipping it over and sliding it across the bar. Then, to the surprise of Killian, she grabbed her jacket and headed out.
"Swan? Emma?" She flashed him a smile over her shoulder but didn't say anything as she continued on her way home.
All it took was twenty seconds, twenty seconds for him to catch up to her outside just past the taverns walls. She felt his hand come around her arm and spin her around. She moved her own hands to his chest to steady herself and was convinced he was going to kiss her again, but he stopped a breath away.
"Did you mean it, love?" Emma nodded, she had meant her words, of course she had, and as Killian still held it in his hand, she glanced back down where in her handwriting it read 'Killian, this place is perfect. Sincerely, the woman who loves you.'
"Yes, I love you."
"Then why run?" He looked so confused that Emma couldn't help but kiss him lightly.
"Because you worked really hard on your new bar and I didn't want us getting carried away..." Now his grin returned full force as he pulled her even closer to him.
"The tour wasn't quite over, Swan. See I've got that covered."
Then he was pulling her back behind him into the big wooden doors of the bar. Down a back hallway, they moved quickly until arriving at Killian's office, which not only housed a big desk and comfortable looking chair, but a lush couch as well. Content that they could do limited damage, Emma and Killian took their time, and filled JR2 with a boatload of memories of the best, and most satisfying variety.
…..
As Emma was fantasizing about the expert use of Killian's tongue in the aftermath of the five-dollar bill exchange, someone began clinking on a glass to get the bar's attention. When Emma turned, she found it was David, and she smiled. As Killian's best friend here, it made sense that David would say some words to the crowd, but Killian still seemed surprised as he stood beside him.
"Hey everyone, before we go on with the evening, I'd like to say some words of congratulations to my friend Killian." The bar broke out into a more raucous cheer than Emma would have expected, which brought a smile to her lips as she clapped too. "Alright settle down people, he may be charming, but he's still a man." Everyone laughed at that.
"Is he though?" Tiana asked the table of them, keeping her eyes on Emma who quirked her mouth up.
"Is he just a man? No, he's the best man." Her friends' chorus of 'awws' pulled the rest of the crowd's attention and slightly embarrassed Emma. She spoke to David to deflect the attention.
"Get on with it, David. We don't have all night." Luckily everyone laughed again and David went on.
"Though he's only been here a short amount of time, I think it's safe to say that Killian Jones has carved out his place in this town. He's found the love of one of the town's favorite citizens and brought us a place to drink, so really he's two for two." More laughter but then David's face sobered a bit.
"Truly though, we are lucky to have you Killian, and may this bar and your life in Storybrooke be everything you hope for. To Killian!"
The whole bar raised their glasses and as Emma raised hers, Killian was looking right at her with a grin. She put the wine she'd ordered to her lips and watched as his eyes flashed with that fire inside that could never seem to be put out with him. It stirred the same flurry of emotions in her and she broke their eye contact to check the old-style clock on the far wall. Only 9:03, they couldn't cut out now. Could they? When Emma looked back up, she was startled to find Killian just before her.
"Ladies," he did that slight bow to her friends that she'd noticed he sometimes did before dipping low to whisper in her ear. "Thoughts like that will get you in trouble, Swan." Emma gulped and looked at him before whispering back.
"I've got a thing for trouble it would seem."
Emma was a little disappointed that he was able to keep himself in control, but relished the press of his lips to hers that he did allow himself. She felt herself go breathless from the minimal contact and after whispering that she looked stunning tonight, Killian walked away as she watched after him. With anyone else Emma would be ashamed of showing the world how into him she was, but with Killian she knew this love was real and that it was safe and good to be this open with her emotions.
"Girl you are so gone over him." Ruby's words pulled Emma's attention back to the table but instead of blushing or deflecting she just smiled.
"You love him!" Mary Margaret was practically exploding with energy.
"Of course she does, didn't you notice the frame over there?"
Tiana motioned towards the five-dollar bill and upon seeing it, Ruby and Mary Margaret were sent into a tizzy again. Yet, as pleased as she was, Emma had something else in mind other than breaking down every detail of how it had come to be, and when exactly she'd known this was love and not a mere attraction. Quickly she excused herself, moving through the crowd of people, and to the back hallway. On her way, she passed Tink, one of the bartenders that Killian had hired to manage the place.
"Hey Emma!"
"Hey Tink. I bet you're making out like a bandit tonight." Tink grinned.
"You wouldn't even believe. I'll likely be in the store tomorrow. Finally going to splurge and get that necklace I saw last week." Emma knew exactly the one she was speaking of, and made a mental note to wrap it up tomorrow for Tink as a gift. She deserved it after all she did for this place.
"He in back?" Tink nodded before heading back into the fray as Emma continued on to the office.
It was a stark contrast back here to the front of the place, and Emma could barely hear any of the rowdiness going on in the bar itself. By the time she was at the door, poised to knock, it was nothing but a faint noise in the distance. Before she could knock, however, the door flew open and there was Killian gazing at her with barely restrained desire, his hair all disheveled as if he'd run a hand through it recently. Wordlessly he pulled her inside and locked the door behind them.
"Expecting me, were you?"
He growled low as he pulled her in for a rough kiss that spiked Emma's wanting. His tongue was demanding, his need evident as he moved against her and she felt his arousal pressed against her. Her own hands twined in his hair where it nearly touched his collar and she arched for more closeness, needing more from him right now.
"Took you long enough to find your way, Swan." His hand rose up her thigh, past the hem of the red dress she'd worn tonight and she couldn't think about anything but needing him right now.
"Fuck, love, you're bare under here." The words were uttered out with hoarseness as they passed his lips, as his fingers sank into her waiting heat and his thumb brushed across her needy clit. "Tell me your mine."
"I'm yours Killian, always."
That was all he needed to hear and he carried her over to the desk, which Emma noted was already cleared of most of its contents. Placing her down, and widening her legs, he knelt before her and Emma sharply inhaled. She knew that in seconds his mouth would be exactly where she wanted it, and had a second-long fantasy about how it would feel, just to experience the real thing, which was so much better. Where he was rough and demanding before, he was slow and meticulous this time, driving Emma crazy. She wanted hard and fast, and she knew he knew that.
"Killian, please." He smiled against her and she nearly groaned out loud. He loved doing this, loved drawing things out so that she was practically begging, and though right now she hated it, it was really only fair, since she always did the same.
"As you wish love."
He returned to his task with a renewed purpose, kissing and sucking and nipping at her tender flesh when his fingers came to join. It took no time at all under the new rhythm for Emma to break apart, and though his name left her lips louder than she should have let it, she didn't care. All she cared about was getting him inside her right fucking now.
When Killian had righted himself, Emma immediately moved to the button of his pants, making quick work of lowering them and the briefs beneath, then, without warning, she pushed him back onto the couch and watched as his eyes flared with more desire. Much as he liked to be in charge, she knew he wanted her in control just as much. As crazy with lust and love as she was, he was just as bad, and she took advantage of that as she straddled him. She moved slowly, taking him inch by pain staking inch and Killian growled low.
"Fuck, Emma, not tonight, love. I can't do slow tonight." She nipped at his bottom lip and smiled.
"You were all about slow before. Made me beg and everything."
"For the love of all good things, Swan, I beg you to have mercy on me."
She chuckled low at that, but then he thrust upwards and it turned into a sharp moan. Killian had a good point, slow sounded really lackluster when he put it like that, and so she did show mercy. Hard and fast was exactly where they went, and all it took was a soft brush of her clit by Killian at just the right moment to have her tumbling over the edge and him following right behind.
"We just did that." Emma mused after they'd cleaned themselves up and Killian grinned, kissing her lightly on the cheek.
"Aye love, just as we did last night." Emma shook her head, her eyes growing wider.
"No, but this time there were people out there. What if someone heard us?" Killian's gaze changed from humor filled to serious and was that… anger?
"No one heard us love. And if they did, and anyone makes any remarks, you tell me and I'll handle them." His ferocity shouldn't have been this hot, but it was. Her hand came up to his chest and she smiled once more.
"It wouldn't be the worst thing, you know. Everyone would have an idea of just how much you belong to me and vice versa." That had Killian's seriousness melting a little bit and she pulled him by the collar of her shirt for another kiss.
"We should probably be good for the rest of the evening, though." He nodded and extended his hand, to lead her back out.
"How about a dance then, love? I may have to be the gentleman, but I don't think I can go the whole night without you in my arms once more." She followed him back down the hallway and smiled.
"A dance sounds great."
Post-Note: The fluffiness of this fic (and the smuttiness that always seems to follow) made writing it so fun. It's somehow just as enjoyable to read it the second time, however. I forgot all of these little details, and being reminded is always the best. Anyway, thank you all for reading and I hope you have a lovely weekend!
