Disclaimer: None of this characters are mine. No Killian Jones, no Emma Swan, no Graham, no Ruby. Nope. If they did, we'd all hang out and I'd probably spend my days staring at their prettiness and perfection. Sadly, they all are owned by Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, along with OUAT. Bastards.
What the hell am I doing here.
She still couldn't wrap her mind around that question. But, after reliving every detail that had happened since the night before in her head, everything became a jumbled mess with no sense at all and she desisted to even try. It'd give her nothing - except for a glorious headache, that is: apparently, her cards had been dealt and they read her fate was entwined with these guys'.
She'd have never imagined something like this even if she had attempted to. Especially the rockstar fake boyfriend bit.
Sitting beside Ruby and wringing her hands nervously on her lap while Mr. Gold finished explaining what they had earlier discussed in his office downtown, she tried not to look ahead of her, where her lovely to-be boyfriend – ugh – sat, lap free of adorable kids this time. She still had to come to terms with that display - how was the smirking, innuendo-spouting asshole capable of being the spitting image of the perfect daddy-oh, braid-twirling, charming guy? She had been so astounded, she had lost track of what she had been doing and actually stopped on her tracks. Thank God for bringing Ruby with her - at least she knew how to bring her back to the present without realizing it.
Though she sure as hell knew how to drop the least-welcome lines in the whole world, as had been the "holy fuck, the daddy act is panty-dropping alright" she had murmured earlier before such scene.
Or the dorm-singing fiasco memento, for that matter.
She really loved her friend, but sometimes she wished she didn't remember every tiny detail concerning their lives. And, you know, that she used actual filters when talking about them. Especially around strangers and potential idiots who would surely use them as ammo against her.
She suddenly felt a hand on hers, holding it and squeezing - Ruby's. She looked up to see her giving her an encouraging smile. She responded with one of her own - if not a bit forced, but an smile nevertheless. Thank God she had come - she wasn't sure she'd been able to come here if it hadn't been for her. Even with her excessive fangirl attitude and screeching after she had explained the situation, she really needed the support in that moment.
She wondered how Killian had known she would be more comfortable with her friend by her side.
Oh God, had she really thought about him as Killian?
Emma mentally slapped herself.
Feeling a tug on her hand, she turned again to Ruby until she realized most of the table occupants were looking either at her or at her 'partner in crime', aka Irishpants. Gold was silent, so she guessed she had missed the whole let's-explain-the-kids-everything-we-have-planned- for-these-two-mwahahaha part. Well, it wasn't as if she didn't know it already.
She waited for someone to say something, but they all seemed to be speechless after Gold had dropped the bomb.
This was awkward.
Without even raising his head, staring intently at the bottle of water sitting in front of him in the table as if it held the answers of the universe, August finally cleared his throat. "So, let me get this straight - you two are going to pose as if you're an actual couple?"
Trying not to appear totally clueless, she answered him. "That's the plan your rep came up with, yeah."
At last, he looked right at her, and seemed to hesitate before talking. "But... you two hate each other."
She barked out a laugh and heard her friend by her side following her lead. Fair point, August.
"I wouldn't say 'hate' but you know, I've been told I'm a fair actress, I'm sure if this finally takes place I'll be able to make it look as if I have no problems with your friend here."
The one guy in question rolled his eyes at her. "Don't sound so excited, Swan, I may not make it."
She didn't even consider responding to him - even though she had the silliest urge to stuck out her tongue at him, like a five-year old would. He apparently brought out all the childish attitude she had neglected in her youth during the foster system period, didn't he?
August turned to his friend again, frown in place. "But wait, Killian - you sure about this? Is this something you'd do? After... everything?"
He shrugged again, as if he didn't care at all about this. Liar, she thought. She had seen before in that balcony his true feelings about this - hell, he had even needed a smoke after they'd been told. What was this guy really thinking?
"I already told Gold and blondie here - I would leave the decision on your hands."
...And all hell broke loose.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
"What?!"
"Why would you think something so stupid?"
"It's Jones, come on, he's bound to make the stupidest decisions, we know this." This Victor guy was kind of funny - if he kept coming with lines like this about the Irish bimboman, she believed they'd be great pals. She would even give him her blessing to pursue Ruby.
Before the bandmates started biting their frontman's head off after his confession, Gold's voice stopped them from further harassment towards his persona. "It's no time for jokes, boys. Jones decided earlier that, seeing as it had been mostly his fault the problems the band had been encountering lately with its bad press after these incidents, he should give you the opportunity to choose wether it'd be on his hands to bring it back to its former glory - not just via this proposal, of course, but starting on some media damage control, as we could call it."
The youngest one - Philip, was it? She really should have asked Ruby before they came, even after being formally introduced to them she had been half in a daze and hadn't been too focused - looked positively agitated.
Emma thought it was cute.
"But - Gold. We shouldn't be the ones making the call here."
Killian dropped his hand on the table, startling everybody - her and Ruby included - and addressed the whole group. "Guys. Just, what do you want me to do? I just need to know if you think this is a good idea. If you really, truly think this'll help, then I'll do it. Forget about my personal involvement in it. Think about the band. About the outcome."
Silence fell again. Emma was starting to regret coming here - this felt too private for her to witness. These guys were debating on something huge about their future as a group, as friends and as their goals as musicians. Of course it involved her - hell, she was half of the deal itself and it depended on her decision if this went through or not - but it still felt a bit wrong to be there seeing them arguing about it.
Nor should Ruby, but apparently her friend wasn't having such an inner self pep talk as she did - she was entirely too focused on the climax of the matter at hand. Her eyes came and went from one bandmate to another, as if watching a ping pong match - she was just missing the popcorn. Damn her.
She felt eyes on her, and she looked up to see August fixing his stare on her. She shrugged her shoulders at him as if silently asking 'what?'. He dropped his eyes to her chest.
Oh my God. What was wrong with these guys? Couldn't they stop with the innuendo and flirting, for fuck's sake? She hadn't pegged August as his friend-to-be-fake-boyfriend, but maybe it was some sort of boyband thing or something. She was starting to get flushed as she readied herself for a berating speech about perverts and women rights when she spied the band's logo on the hoodie she was wearing.
Oh. Oh.
That was what he had been staring at.
The flush that had crept her face before had nothing to do with the full-on blush that came over her. Well, that had been awkward alright. Nervously tugging a lock of her hair and trying to put it back on the messy ponytail she had fixed earlier at Ruby's, she took her time to actually return her gaze to the keyboardist. When she did, he saw his risen eyebrow, and she repeated her shrug and silently shook her head in Killian's direction.
Let him take the fall for that. After all, it had been him who had offered it to her, not the other way round.
She got back to the conversation at hand: Philip was still arguing with Gold and Killian. He seemed to be quite upset about this whole mess - and she couldn't blame him. The funny one - Victor? The one who had been checking Ruby out - looked quite interested in what they had to say, and piped some questions here and there, mostly the same ones they had answered when they had had their meeting with Regina. Grace's father, on the other hand, just kept to himself, quietly tapping his fingers on the edge of the table but contemplating all of their reactions silently, like a predator ready to fall on its prey.
This was quite a weird bunch of guys. She couldn't believe they were such a huge thing.
Or maybe she was just being awfully prejudiced, taking into account she was meeting them just after they had been told their frontman may have to fake dating an actress he had met the night before in order to save their music career.
Yeah, well, this probably wouldn't be their best day, now that she thought about it.
"And what is Emma's - may I call you Emma? - call in all of this?" Jefferson asked from his seat. Great, when the closed-off creep decided to talk, it was to put her in the spotlight. Thank you, Mr. Your-Daughter-Is-Adorable-But-You-Are-Kinda-Creepy .
All eyes again on her, she let out a huff and looked up at the ceiling. "I came here to discuss it with you - your friend over here wouldn't decide anything without hearing your input about this, and seeing as my opinion is as much influential as yours, I guessed I wanted to know what your take was. I have no idea what this would entail or mean for us - but apparently the great superminds here," she signaled to Gold with her head "believe it is the perfect solution. So." She lifted her hands, as if waiting for them to come up with some answer to their dilemma.
"Well, your choice of wardrobe sure tells us what you've decided." August added from his place on the other side of the table, cue to everybody on the room turning to her and observing with curious glances the hoodie she had borrowed.
Bastard.
Turning her head in Killian's direction, she spoke directly at him. "Your frontman was just being the gentleman he claims he is, and lent it to me when we were discussing this earlier. We agreed I'd give it back when we met here. It's no biggie."
Ruby chuckled beside her. "Well, you bet your pretty ass if someone has seen you wearing it, everyone's bound to believe there is something going on between you two." She pinched her cheek affectionately. "I'm so proud, Emma Swan: wearing guys clothes as if you came from their place after spending a naughty evening? Nice."
She slapped her friend's hand away, her face paling and eyes searching for Killian's. Oh God. Why hadn't she thought of this earlier?
Had she unconsciously agreed to this without noticing? Was she going mad?!
His face was closed off, not giving anything away. She couldn't read him. Damn it. Had he been planning all of this beforehand? That if she took the hoodie that'd be some kind of trigger that'd put everything in motion? What if this was some kind of twisted plan he had designated with his rep and she was just falling into it?
He seemed to read her mind, on contrast with her inability to find out what was going on in his, and tried to placate her. "I didn't think at the moment when I gave it to you that it could have any effect on this, I swear."
She focused her gaze on his. She saw no lies there - though, for what she knew of this guy, he could easily find his way around mostly anything - or anyone, for that matter. But from what she had observed in the meeting and their brief talk downtown, he had nothing to lose.
So she believed him.
Sighing again, she spoke to the rest of the group. "Look - we may not have to decide today, but this is about our future. Your friend is willing to do this for you - and I," she gulped, mustering all her courage before continuing, "I am too. If you all agree, that's it."
Ruby touched her arm, concerned. "Emma..."
"No, it's fine. I haven't signed or talked to David or Mary Margaret or," she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, "anyone apart from you yet. I know you want me to do this - though I'm still not sure if it is because you want me to hung out with these idiots or because you actually think this is a good idea." She needed to let that little admonishment out, her friend deserved it after all.
Ruby laughed a bit and smiled sweetly at her, patting her hand with hers."Emma - you know I have always wanted to be a real groupie, but this has nothing to do with that." At her stern look, she gave her a mischievous smile. "Well, not all of it. But as I told you - you're always complaining about how awful it is to have to pretend to be someone you're not, to fake to be interested in people you don't care about, the ass-kissing, the party-mingling and all just so people may notice first your face, and if they do, they'd maybe come to notice your talent. By doing this, you could surely sidestep half of that process - you can bet they'd be sending you scripts and roles offered here and there after some promo with him," she said, signaling Killian with a nod. Finally, she added, full of enthusiasm: "And boy, won't it hurt to go around parading with such hot stuff around!"
That earned her a couple of chuckles and head shakes from the boys sitting around them. Finally raising her head, she cracked a smile at her, trying to convene all of the gratitude she felt at that moment in it. Crazy or not, she wouldn't trade Ruby for anything.
She just hoped her brother and Mary Margaret would be on the same page as her, or so God helped her, she'd be in real trouble.
"Okay, so - this leaves the choice to us, then?" Jefferson intervened at that moment. Gold nodded and spoke to Killian. "That's Jones' call. But I'm sure he'd like to hear what you have to say about it. As we've stated, this is something not just about him, but about all of you. It wouldn't be fair if he got to decide anything without your consent or favor. And I'm sure he'd greatly appreciate your input, as Miss Swan has said."
She gave the Irishman a curious glance from the corner of her eye. He seemed different here. Not a bad different - like, a more relaxed, himself different. She guessed it'd have to do with being practically home, as Ruby had informed her about how the studio they were having this reunion was were they had recorded most of his albums.
And, apart from spending most of his musical career between those walls, she knew more about home being the people you choose to be around than four walls surrounding you keeping you safe.
And Killian, right now, was home. Well, excepting from Ruby and her, that is.
Philip nodded at Gold's words and passed a hand over his face. "I don't know what to say. I - I would never be able to do something like this. I know you guys like to tease me about my romantic side or whatever but - I just, I wouldn't." He sent Killian a pleading look. "I'm not sure what else you want me to say, dude. I mean, I have your back. Even though I, myself, would never agree to do this, I know you and I have not the same conception about relationships, so if you believe you can do this and it will help us, then, by all means, go with it. But you have to be sure - I don't want you doing this just because you think you owe us something."
"Doesn't he?" Jefferson said from his side. His calculating gaze was focused on Killian at the moment, and she was perplexed to see that the last one looked a bit ashamed at that remark. Sighing, the drummer shook his head, exposing a long scar on his neck. Yikes. "If Jones is going for it, he has my full approval. As far as I know, being linked to a relatively unknown star - for now - as Emma will be beneficial for us, not as when it was all blonde bimbo on his arm here, alcoholic actress fling there." She heard Killian groaning and she had to cover up the smirk that was threatening to escape her lips. Oh, how long had she waited for his turn to be embarrassed.
Ha. Take that, smirky asshole.
August followed his mate's lead and nodded with his head. "I'm with these two. It's all down to you in the end, Killian. I accept it does sound promising, but what I'm worried about is you two." He shifted his gaze to Emma, and she could see a bit of concern there. She was slightly moved and confused at the same time - this guy didn't even know her, why would he be worried about her?
Killian stared back at his friend, his face guarded. He dropped a hand on his leg and rubbed his forearm nervously, nearly lifting his sleeve. Wait - did she spy ink there...?
"Don't worry about me, okay? I got this." His voice dropped a bit at the end. Sure, great show, man. You totally got this.
Like hell he did.
He was so scared as she was, he had no idea what they were getting themselves into - yet they were willing to do it. What was wrong with them, really?
At that moment, Victor let his palm drop on the table, making them all jump in their seats and gawk at him, alarmed. "Can we all of us please address the most important matter of this conversation?" They all exchanged confused glances between them. Emma shrugged at Ruby when she sent her a perplexed look. What was he referring to? "How is it that Zanessa is not real?"
It was like someone had opened a window in a closed-off room after months and letting fresh air in. They all seemed to breath at once, exhaling and laughing at the hilarity of such a scene. Even Gold seemed to relax - as much as a man like him could, she mused.
Ruby was more than happy to follow Victor's line of thought. Those two were hitting it off alright. "Oh my God, I know right? I am crushed! Has my youth been all a lie?"
As they both kept bantering on and on about how this piece of news had changed their whole lives, she peeked out from under her lashes at Killian, expecting a pensive look or some kind-of-depressed-slash-emo pose. None of that. He was quietly smiling at his friends, as if he was used to moments like these. Philip had brought his bass up to his lap, unconsciously drumming a chord here and there while he talked to August, and Gold piped something from time to time in whatever they were discussing.
Feeling a chill run down her spine, Emma knew he was the one now looking at her. She stared back, and at his wondering eyes and smile tugging at his lips, she admitted to herself that it wouldn't be so bad to hang out with these guys after all.
When the meeting was officially done, Gold announced he was leaving with Belle to start the arrangements of the contract and possible media outcome after the proper announcement - whatever that meant. He left the room after wishing them all good day and a kind goodbye to Emma and Ruby, asking Emma to call him if she needed anything and promising to see her the day of the signing. She was quietly talking to Ruby about the day in question when the brunette girl that had met them at the reception place when they had arrived earlier and had taken Grace out during the meeting entered and made her way towards them. Emma stopped talking and waited for her to come closer, when Victor whistled from the couch.
"Hey Belle - how long?"
...What?
She saw this Belle girl - it was a pretty name, and appropriate, too - roll her eyes and throw an accusing finger at him. "One day I'll not be here and you'll have to do all of these things by yourselves, and then, you'll miss me, mister."
All of them laughed at that, as if this was something they were accustomed to. "Come on, Bells - you know you love being our mom."
"As if I hadn't enough with Bae, I have to put up with you five children." She shook her head.
She saw Philip come from his seat and wrap an arm around her shoulders. "But you love us anyway, don't you?" Belle tried to maintain a cool face until he tickled her on her back and she bursted out laughing. "Okay, okay - it'll be here in 10."
Emma and Ruby exchanged identical clueless looks. What the hell were they talking about?
Sensing their discomfort, Belle closed the distance between them and dropped in the seat right beside theirs. "We usually have take away when we have meetings here - I took the liberty of ordering for you two as well, if you don't mind." Her grin was genuine, and though Emma was about to reject the offer and go back home to try to come to terms with the fact that she'd have to tell Mary Margaret and David about all this mess she'd been thrown into - how did one start that conversation, anyway? Oh God, headache was coming back - the other young woman's warmth and chipper attitude tempted her to accept. Sensing Ruby's eagerness to stay, she smiled back to her. "We'd be glad to join you, it's so sweet of you to invite us."
She just waved a hand at her. "Nonsense. I hear we're going to spend a lot of time together, so we'd better start on good terms, right? Especially you and Killian." Emma tried not to let the shiver that ran through her at the thought show. Belle clapped her hands excitedly. "I wasn't sure what you'd like from the menu - I ordered a bit of everything, I mean, I know what they want," she said, pointing with a finger over her shoulder to the band, who were all gathering on the couch looking at some paper full of music arrangements, "as they always order the same, but you girls... I had no choice but to improvise!" She laughed a bit and went on about the dished she thought were the best ones and whatnot. Emma was a bit dazed after all that had transpired since the night before, and wasn't paying too much attention until a small shape found her way beside her seat. She turned, surprised to find Grace putting on a tablecloth in front of her, and she rushed to help her out. "Wow. Aren't you the best helper ever? I'm sure your dad is thrilled you're such a good girl." She praised her while they both tried to smooth the wrinkles away from the cloth. Grace smiled, pleased, and she remembered what Jefferson had said about the girl loving compliments.
"Papa is very helpful too. They all are, but I try to help when they're working so they don't have to. I like taking care of them."
"And she's the best mum one could ask for." The Irish brogue came from behind, startling them, and a shriek from the girl followed as he took her and carried her on his arms, holding her in place. He slowly let her land on her feet, cheeks flushed with joy. Emma smiled despite herself - he was good with kids, she'd give him that.
She saw how Ruby suddenly got up with Belle and ran to the door - the food was here. Huh. That was fast. She looked for the clock she had spied in the wall while they had been discussing things and she had been a bit distracted. It had been at least a couple of hours since they had first arrived there.
Well, maybe not that fast.
When Ruby came back, arms full of plastic containers, napkins and cans, she run to help her while Belle payed to the funny red cap-wearing guy waiting at the door. She fixed the things on the table while the rest of the boys made their way to the table.
Classic move. Food shows up - so do the men. Like honey to bees, really.
She approached Grace - and Killian - again. "Where are the forks, spoons and knives, miss? Or are we going to eat truly Lost Boys fashion, hands dripping in sauce, slurping and all?" She ignored the eye-rolling her soon-to-be-fake-boyfriend was sending her way.
"This way, come you two!" She imperiously demanded, guiding them to an armoire full of drawers in one corner of the room. She opened one of them, where there seemed to be cutlery for when they decided to have lunch or dinner there. She wondered they did eat there pretty much - after all, they worked there most of the time, sometimes night and day.
She took a bunch of forks and knives, counting them mentally while she did - Victor, Philip, Jefferson, August, Killian, Grace, Ruby, Belle and her, that made nine - and made to pass them to Killian when Grace's voice caught her attention.
"So - are you two dating?"
She was so startled, a couple of the items fell from her hand to the floor with a clunk. She was on her knees before she knew it, quietly muttering under her breath and trying to hide the blush that sure was taking over her face at the moment, and suddenly realized she was not the only one on the floor - Killian had dropped to his knees too, helping her picking up the dropped tools. He was laughing quietly and then helped her stand up, offering his hand to her. She took it without realizing it, and the same electric feeling that had been there that morning when he gave her his jacket passed between them. Trying to ignore the feeling this time, she tugged at her hand, trying to free it from his, but he held on.
"You've cut yourself."
Oh, no.
Of course she had. Dammit, Swan.
Holding her hand close to his face, he inspected it, his hot breath on the bleeding skin of her palm sending sparks through her. She held her breath and counted to ten in her mind, trying with all her might to ignore the reaction her traitor body was showing to his actions.
A frown marring his forehead, he whistled. "We have to clean this up. There's a first aid kit in the other room - come."
What? No way. Not playing doctor time for you, buddy.
"What? No, don't worry, it's nothing, I'll just put a napkin around it or something."
He gave her an unimpressed look. "Swan: we live in the 21st century. We have things such as penicillin, band aids and probably soon we'll even have flying cars. So - shut up and come."
He tugged at her other hand and dragged her through the room until they reached the door. Before the door clicked shut behind them, though, she could hear Grace's frustrated voice. "But they didn't answer me!"
Extra, extra! These two are killian me!
...well, that's not much of news for us, but really - how come they keep giving me feels, I'll never know. UGH.
More meetings and band/girls stuff! Like? Dislike? Laugh? Cry? Tell me! I'm all for your lovely words!
I have to add this 'cause I forgot last time - I HAVE NO ACTUAL PROOF OF ZANESSA BEING A LIE, DON'T BLAME ME FOR YOUR CRUSHED SOULS. I just read it was one of the most rumored ones for being a fake ship, so I used it. *hides behind Archie's umbrella* Don't kill me!
...is someone spying some parallel Tallahassee scene in the horizon? *raises hand* we'll see! Even tho this is an AU/AH, I love introducing tidbits from the show here and there, as you've all probably noticed, you smart gents. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this!
Loads of Maroon 5 while writing this. And by loads, I mean, all of their freaking discography. GAH.
