Thank you everyone for the nice reviews for the last chapter! It gave me the extra motivation to get this chapter ready! I hope you all like it! Next chapter there will be a bit of Killian's POV!

Enjoy!

Caro xx


The walk to her apartment was quiet and Emma appreciated more than ever Killian's comforting presence. He asked her only once if she wanted to talk about her break-up with Neal, and when she refused he let go of the subject respecting her wishes.

Emma had been so caught up with what she had saw earlier at the bar that she didn't realized that Killian was holding her hand, her body going stiff when she had noticed. He must have sensed the change in her demeanor because he quickly glanced at her before letting go of her hand. Her hand felt cold now that she had lost the warmth of his hand, and so she tucked her hand in the front pocket of her coat.

When they arrived at her building, their steps faltered until they both came to a stop and turned so they could face each other, the tension between them now high. Emma didn't know what to tell him besides 'thank you'. He may not know but she felt as if he deserved more than those two words with what had happened tonight, he had been his saviour, his knight in shining armor in a sense.

The thought of going back to her place alone was an unappealing concept since she already knew what was going to happen, she would ruminate until she start self-deprecated leading towards a vicious circle of self-hatred. She already done that lately, she could deal a night without it.

She was still deep in thought as she asked herself what to do when Killian cleared his throat.

"So…" He started clearly not knowing what to say himself as he scratched the back of his ear. "I guess this is goodnight."

He gave her one of his boyish smile which she found endearing and couldn't help herself from smiling back as she nodded her head.

"Thank you for tonight, and for walking me home."

A cocky grin now replaced that shy smile as he raised an eyebrow, his demeanor now a tad more relaxed and confident.

"Well love, I did once tell you I was gentleman, didn't I?"

"Yeah you did." She replied as she couldn't stifle the light chuckle that rumbled through her throat.

Killian shifted as he opened his mouth, probably to bid her goodnight once again, but before he could, the next words that came out of her mouth were completely unexpected for her and apparently him as she based on his reaction.

"Do you want to come inside for a drink?" She blurted out, as she felt her heart pound faster, making her blood race through her veins as it made her cheeks turn red realizing what she just asked.

Killian seemed to be as equally startled, his eyes widening for a brief moment, closing his mouth that had parted slightly.

"If the lady insist." His voice came out a bit hoarse, his comment making her eyes roll as she hid her smile, turning herself around and walking inside of her building, Killian just a few steps back.

The moment they entered her place, she told him to make himself at home while she went to grab two glasses and a bottle of Jack Daniel's she kept on the cupboard on top of her fridge. When she entered her living room, Killian was standing in front of her bookshelf as he was perusing through her books and DVD collection.

"You've got quite the collection here Swan." He told her not even turning around as if he had sensed her watching him. He finally turned around as she handed him his drink.

"Well, after an exhausting day at work it's always nice to watch a movie to help me unwind."

Emma made a beeline to the couch and took a seat, Killian nodding at her comment before joining her. They stayed silent for a moment, both sipping their drinks as she tried to figure out how to get rid of the awkwardness between them. As usual, Killian beat her to the punch and was the first to open his mouth.

"Talking about work, you know what I do but I still don't know what is yours?"

"I'm a social worker, I work in this center downtown."

"That's amazing. I always admired people like you who has the guts to deal with such delicate situations." Emma felt herself blush at his comment, her eyes fluttering for a brief moment before she managed to get ahold of herself. She didn't understand why everything that slipped out of his mouth made her so overwhelmed.

"What kind of cases do you handled?" He asked as he took a sip of his whiskey, his eyes locked with hers, and she could see that he was genuinely interested about her work and wasn't being only polite.

"I primarily work with young children and teenagers. Some of them have been through really difficult things, which they should never deal to begin with, losing their innocence way too young."

"Like what, if it's not too much to ask."

"Well, some of them are abandoned and some abused in every kind of way possible." She answered briefly, not wanting to get into too much detail. Somehow she was afraid that this man who could read her so easily would put two and two together and sense that some of those things happened to her.

Killian stared at her intensely as he was trying to read her which made her nervous and exposed. Emma cursed herself thinking that she might have already said too much.

"What made you choose that profession?" He asked once more as he moved his glass back to his lips while his eyes never left hers.

Fuck.

That was the question that she hoped he didn't ask, the one that would reveal her past if she decided to be honest. But then, she could still lie to him. Knowing Killian he might just know that she's hiding the truth and would push her to tell him the real reason. Or would he? He didn't seem like others who would push her to be honest. She suddenly had this feeling that maybe he would just let it slide and understand that she's not ready.

She took another sip of her drink to buy her some time as she still mulled over her options, when she decided to go for half of the truth.

"I didn't have the easiest childhood. I was abandoned, rejected, unwanted for the most part of my life. If I haven't met Ruby in high school I don't know where I would be now. I found someone who helped me get through some rough shit and I'm grateful of that. So, I told myself growing up that if I could help, even just a little, the life of those kids and help me regain a little faith, it would be a start for a better life for them. Hopefully."

She didn't tell him the whole story, just the main reason why she chooses that work. Emma still felt as if she was on display and took another sip of her drink to help her with her nerves.

"I think that what you do is pretty amazing especially considering why you decided to do that. I know what it is to lose faith and I know that I could have used some guidance when a was a lad." Killian confessed as she locked her eyes with his.

There was something behind those sparkling blue eyes, something that resembles a lot as genuine understanding and she knew that what he just told her was nothing but the truth. It made her feel as if she wasn't alone, as if he knew how wounded she was and that he was similarly as wounded as her.

Emma's breathing picked up when she noticed how close they were sitting. Her chest was now heaving, when she leaned just a bit, overwhelmed by his him and his revelation. Their knees touched, the contact sending a jolt of electricity through her body giving her the push that she needed to do the one thing she wanted to do but that she was afraid to do.

Before she could think more of it, his lips were pressed on hers. Emma held her breath for a moment forgetting completely how to breathe properly. They both stayed still until she finally responded to the kiss as she tilted her head to the side, her tongue caressing his bottom lip. His hands instantly went to cup her cheeks, as they let each other taste one another. As the kiss grew needy, she grasped the front of his shirt, needing something to hold on to and to have him closer as he lit a fire inside her that she never felt burn this intensely.

They both detached their lips as they gasped for air, forehead pressed together as she licked her lips wanting the taste to linger on her tongue a while longer. Emma was tempted on capturing his soft pink lips once more, but reason invaded her mind, panic not far away.

"That was…" Killian's voice came out a tad rough, his chest still heaving.

"...a one time thing."

She released the hold she had on him the moment the words slipped out of her mouth and got up as she tried to put as much distance between, fearing that she won't be able to stop herself if she stayed too close. The pull that she had towards him in this moment was confusing and it was something that she wasn't ready to comprehend.

His eyes followed her movements as he gave a look that she could only describe as puppy look. It broke her heart seeing him like this but it was for the best.

"I think it would be better if you'd leave now." She avoided to look at him as she went to grab his jacket that was draped on the back of her couch and handed to him. Killian got up but made no move to take his coat.

"I don't…" He baffled but she didn't let him time to finish his thought.

"Please." She begged him.

Killian sighed in defeat and finally grabbed his jacket and walked towards her door. His hand went for the doorknob and he let his hand rest there as he turned his head over his shoulder to look at her one last time.

"Goodnight Emma."

He opened the door, and all of sudden she was alone. She slumped back on the couch, as she let her elbows rest on her knees, head in her hands as she wondered what the fuck happened.