A/N: I looked back and realized that I never said that this was going to be one of those slow burn sort of fics. That's completely my fault. Well I did say that if you thought it was one thing, it might veer off to something else... So, please continue to enjoy my attempt at a real slow burn story, a true love story, a simple yet complex story with a lot of feelings, and a story that I guess isn't the fluffiest thing in the world but also my attempt at leaving out angst for the most part.


Chapter 8

"Wait, didn't you say that Killian's brother has a very nice and spacious house?" Ruby called out from the living room

Emma's eyes fluttered to the kitchen ceiling. Even from a room away, she could imagine the look on Ruby's face that would match the teasing of her voice.

"Ah… yes, he does," she called back.

She had appreciated the fact that Ruby and Victor had purposely arrived quite early to her place. It meant that they could be of some help with the food and setting up things. She wasn't surprise though that Ruby was also taking advantage of this time to grill Emma more about Killian.

"So," Ruby's started again, "why didn't you do this over there?"

Emma sighed, turning her attention back towards the oven. More important than Ruby's prying was the meal currently cooking around her. The smell of baked wings had long been filling the kitchen, enticing her with the need to check on them.

"It's my get together!" Emma reminded her.

She only took a quick look inside of the oven to survey the contents. Not quite ready, but looking well on their way. It looked as if her timing was correct and everything would be ready by the time everybody began dwindling in.

"Your get together. In your teeny tiny apartment." Ruby's voice was closer this time.

Emma turned around in time to see her enter into the kitchen, eyes wide as she made her way over to the stove herself.

"My idea, so my place," she told her friend as she stood up straight. Her eyes cut sharply on Ruby. "And my apartment isn't teeny tiny. We'll all fit without the slightest problem."

"Um… ten people, right?" Ruby asked skeptically. Her arm crossed over Emma so that she could pick up the large wooden spoon from the top of the range. Stepping closer once again, she leaned in conspiratorially closer. "You didn't have to invite the husbands, you know."

"I wanted to get everyone together, Ruby," Emma reminded her, watching the way her friend began stirring her pot of sauce. "And I don't think that it takes a formal dinner table to make that happen."

"Ten people, huh?" Ruby huffed out a sigh. She paused her slow stirring to look back at her. "Well there is standing room, at least."

Emma bit back her own smile. "Shut up, Ruby," she teased softly as she moved away from the stove.

"Emma, don't listen to her." Victor's smooth voice filled the room as he entered the kitchen. "This is great, and as long as the drinks are flowing, who seriously would complain?" To accentuate that point, his hands only slid over Ruby's waist on his way to the refrigerator.

"Well thanks for seeing it my way, Victor," Emma said, eyes pointedly on Ruby.

She shrugged. "I love the idea, Emma. I love getting the chance to meet your best friend for the first time. And I completely understand about wanting to get everyone together, I do."

'I can attest to that as well," Victor murmured softly. "So what is the story with this guy, Emma?"

She glanced back at Victor, seeing the way he leaned against the door of the refrigerator, bottle of beer in his hand and an eyebrow raise. She felt the way her lips parted involuntarily.

"Um…" Emma turned back around quickly, her mind twisting and turning at how to condense Killian and who he was into a simple story. When she thought of Killian, her mind went back to the beginning. Her mind conjured up the relationship that had spanned some fifteen years. Because that's who Killian Jones was. He was the shy new wonderful kid at school who had grown into a more confident and wonderful man.

Emma ran her hands down the front of her pants as she began to make her way over to the cabinets above the sink.

"Killian has just moved here from London only a week ago," she reminded Victor with an easy shrug. She reached inside the cabinet for a stack of the plates in front of her.

He nodded. "Oh, I know that part. I've been hearing about that part of the story for quite some time."

Turning around, Emma found Ruby right behind her. Her hands were already out in anticipation for the dishes being handed over to her, which Emma gratefully supplied her with.

"He's… a good guy." Thinking of Killian just then made her… tilt her head just so. "Maybe a little residual quietness from youth, but once you get to know him, you see it's not a bad thing."

The way Victor's eyebrow lifted again…

Emma turned quickly back towards the cabinet, grabbing the door and shutting it close.

"You two have been best friends for more than half of your lives, huh?" It was soft, but she wasn't sure if she was reading something into that question.

"Yeah, best friends." She looked back at him then. "You don't even want to know what I was like before your wife met me. Before Killian got his hands on me."

Victor pushed himself off of the refrigerator, the smile lighting his own face and the twinkle in his eyes was very reminiscent of how his wife had looked at Emma plenty of times.

"Ruby hadn't shared that part, him getting his hands on you." The smiled turned into a full grin in that moment. "Sounds interesting. And it sounds like a topic I should bring up to this best friend of yours. This Killian Jones."

Emma was sure it wasn't Victor's intent to make her feel as flustered as he had, but the truth remained the same.

"Victor." She attempted an easy laugh. "You're letting your Ruby show. I'd watched that if I were you."

"I wouldn't let her hear that, if I were you. She might take that comment the wrong way." He moved then, stepping back towards her. "Is there anything else that you want me to take out of this kitchen for you?"

Eyes scanning the whole of the kitchen, Emma settled back on the counter.

"You can grab those napkins. Most of the flatware- forks, spoons- are ready in the dishwasher."

He was quick to nod, quick to move and help out.

Emma smiled as she watched Victor make his way out of the kitchen. Her hands slipped over the front of her pants once more, only noticing then the moisture that had gathered there. If she let the silly questions and comments of her friends shake her…

She shook her head. Emma wanted whatever nervous tension coursing through her body to leave. Sweaty palms weren't wanted nor needed. The fact of the matter was that she was ready. For Killian to be here. For his brother and friends to be here. For her brother and friends to be here. Crowded apartment be damned. She was excited…


Maybe it was the newness of having him back in Boston. Maybe that's why her smile was practically permanent on her face. Whatever nervousness that she had felt was now gone, leaving her with the thought of how silly it really was to have felt that way at all. Killian was here, everyone was here, and it was everything that she'd wanted it to be.

Keeping the music at a low decibel, Emma was happy that the crowd (and yes, she could admit that it was a crowd) in her apartment didn't seem to be annoying any of her neighbors. She didn't mind that people drifted from the living room and into the kitchen or onto the balcony or even towards her bedroom. The point was that this mesh of people seemed to all be getting along and having fun together.

There were so many interesting aspects and dynamics around her. To see the four of them- herself, August, Killian, and Liam- together was quite the blast from the past. They had been kids- just kids- the last time that scenario had taken place. Adding in the new aspect of friends and seeing the success play out in front of her was one of the best feelings. So many things had changed in her life. But there was always that constant in her life as well.

"I think Ruby wants to know where you've been hiding these guys." There was a bit of teasing in Mary Margaret's voice as she took a seat on the couch next to Emma.

She thought that they would have crowded around her, the lot of these people. She was the glue, the person who they were all connected to. But it hadn't taken long at all for them to mingle amongst themselves.

"You know exactly where I've been hiding Killian," Emma said with a smile.

Mary Margaret leaned back in her seat, adjusting herself and trying to make herself comfortable. Both hands came up to cover the five-month swell of baby on her frame.

"Well, not Liam."

The mentioning of his name made Emma turn to search him out. She was happy, but not surprised, that he was having an easy time talking with everyone. That was one difference between the two brothers. Where Killian had always been awkward and shy, Liam had always been outgoing and easy. So it wasn't a surprise that it was Robin, David, and Ruby who held his attention at that given moment. Seeing them only made her want to seek out Killian next.

"Liam's a great guy." Emma looked over at her friend who sat next to her. "Being three years older, he was a lot of help to us. He never minded chauffeuring us around in the early days." Then her eyes were on the search…

"What about August?" Mary Margaret asked curiously.

"August… well, August had his moments." She found herself smiling at the sudden thought. "There were a couple more years in between that might have hinted to his being less eager."

Her gaze fell over the open door that lead to the outside porch. It was dark. Too dark to tell if it was Killian or maybe even August who was leaning over the railing. Alone. She was ready to place her bet on Killian…

"What we need to do is get these stories straight from the source." Mary Margaret's voice held that same hint of teasing as before.

Emma was being an awful conversationalist, she knew. She turned her attention fully back to her friend.

"Oh, definitely." She placed a hand down over her friend's as it lay in her lap. "I was somewhat of a mess back in the day, really. I'm not ashamed to admit it." Her eyes squinted at her own words. "Well for the most part, I'm not ashamed to admit it, at least."

Mary Margaret's laugh was light as she placed her other hand over Emma's.

Ah, if she only knew the half of it!

"Then we have to pull these guys out here and get the storytelling on," Mary Margaret said softly, her smile small.

"Agreed. I don't think that any of them would mind. Maybe in a while." Emma slipped her hand away from hers. "I think I am in need of a drink."

"Like," Mary Margaret's shoulder went up in a shrug, "a glass of white wine maybe." Her eyes looked up at Emma with sheer hopefulness.

A smile slowly crept across Emma's face. "I was thinking a beer. But… if you'd like, I'll have that glass of wine for you."

She was quick to place her hands back over her stomach. "Yeah, you go ahead and do that for me."

It made Emma's smile grow as she began to stand up.

"Will do then. I'll be back in a minute."

Emma's eyes fell across the span of the living room again. From her position, it became clearer to make out that frame that was standing on that porch. She felt the instant tug on her heart. She wasn't bothered by the… euphoric feeling that also came over her.

How long had he been out there? Alone? What had driven him to take solace? Those questions ached for answers. And maybe she ached a little, too, just to be near him again.

Hm, maybe he was thirsty, too.


August and Elsa were an interesting combination. It wasn't the one that she figured she would encounter when she walked through the door of the kitchen.

"Don't mind me," Emma said as she slipped over to the opened bottle of wine on the counter. "As long as you're behaving," she added, quickly turning a watchful eye on her brother.

"She means me," August whispered conspiratorially, leaning in closer to Elsa.

"I mean him," Emma agreed. She turned back to the wine. The glasses were right above her head and she reached for one quickly.

"Emma, I didn't know your brother was a writer," Elsa said, sounding a bit enthused by the idea.

"He's the reason why I do what I do." Emma turned back to look at the couple as the hunkered down over the small kitchen table.

"Knowing that I had any influence on her is what I live on." August's smile was cheeky and even had a hint of mischief in it.

"He's been regaling me with tales, Emma," she informed her happily.

"He's…" Emma's lost her battle at attempting to not roll her eyes at the nonsense going on in front of her. "Really good at that."

Emma poured an ample amount of wine into her glass before looking back at the two of them. She saw the smile on Elsa's face as she looked at August. She saw the twinkle in August's eyes as he returned that smile.

She waited until she had his full attention, his eyes falling on her.

"She. Is. Taken." Emma whispered, or more so mouthed, and enunciated each and every syllable clearly for her brother. "I'm happy that everyone seems to be getting along. I knew this would happen."

"This was a great idea, Emma." Elsa looked up at her, her smile light and easy. "I've heard the stories from Liam, but it is quite different to see all of you together."

"Better than even the old days," August chimed in.

It was easy to roll her eyes as she moved away from the counter and her drink.

"I'm happy it's been a success," she murmured as her steps lead her over to the refrigerator. She saw a beer in Killian's immediate future instead of the wine she would be drinking. The thought almost made her sigh.

"Hey... " August's voice trailed off immediately. "Oh."

"What?" Emma asked absently as she pulled the door open. Looking inside, it was a surprise to see the amount of alcohol still left chilling in the refrigerator.

She grabbed the one of the bottles, only barely paying attention to the conversation that was going on behind her. Slipping back to close the door, she felt the body that she was forced to bump into.

"I'm stealing you away." His voice was a murmured whisper close to her ear, taking her by complete surprise.

The beer bottle almost slipped completely from her hand as she flexed her fingers. Emma was quick to turn around in time to see the bottle being caught in Killian's own hand while the other wrapped around her now bottleless one. The speeding of her heart, she knew, was not due to almost dropping the bottle. Instead, it was from the surprise of having him sneak up to her, touching her, taking hold of her...

Killian was already tugging her along with him, not giving their audience any mind.

"One second." She didn't mind the tug, she just needed to… right her position in that moment.

He paused, his steps ending as he looked back at her.

"That was for you," Emma said, tipping her head towards the beer he held. "And that's my wine sitting over there on the counter, looking so lonely."

It was such a familiar circumstance, this moment. Her head filled with past moments of him taking her by the hand and pulling her along. Those moments were usually out of situations, Killian being the level-headed one of the two. This wasn't quite one of those moments.

He held out his arm, allowing her to reach out towards the counter and her glass. When it was securely in her hand, he was pulling her away again. This would be inappropriate for sixteen-year-old Emma Swan. Glancing up at him from behind, she wondered… just how inappropriate it was for a twenty-nine-year-old- Emma Swan to have these thoughts and feelings about her best friend...

"You thought about me?" It was asked as a hushed murmured just as she caught up to him. His eyes found hers and the mystery and wonder was easily read there.

Of course she had been thinking about him...

"I guess we'll leave that big 'group activity' of catching up for a little later," August offered lightly.

Emma blinked at her brother, seeing the cockiness in own eyes and disliking it.

"Soon," she sighed. "I promise." When she turned back…

Killian's eyes were on her, watching her closely as they made their way to leave the kitchen. She felt the need to sigh again. Only for different reasons this time.


It had been a week and… she just wanted to be used to the fact that he was actually there. That it wasn't some form of technology that made their connection possible.

It had been a week and… she wanted whatever this feeling that she has been feeling to go away. She wanted- needed?- a sense of normalcy. With him. With her best friend.

It only takes her looking over towards him on this moonless night. Because it is easy to see that something was on his mind. Something that didn't have to do with a good-sized get together between their family and their friends. It was something else.

"How are you getting settled?" Emma asked softly, her hair slipping away from her shoulders and onto her back as she tossed her head back.

The amount of space between them equaled about three feet. He was leaning over the railing of her porch once again. She had decided to lean against it, too, her back against the wood so that she could look at him.

Killian turned his head so that he could see her. She imagined a smile there, but could only count on the light spilling out through inside the apartment on the accuracy of that thought.

"I think… I need a break." The words he chose were thoughtful and careful, precise from whatever was going on in his mind.

"A break?" Why didn't that even sound absurd to her? It was because she knew him. It had been all of a week. No matter what it was exactly that brought him here to Boston after all these years, no matter how ready he had seemed for the change, she still knew that it had not been easy. It still wasn't easy.

"How is it working with Liam?" she asked softly, tilting her head in his direction. That brother dynamic would now be more interesting under the circumstances...

"Compared to my father?" Killian stood straight up then, turning so that his back rested against the railing.

"Compared to your father." It brought a smile to Emma's face even when it hadn't done the same thing for him.

"It's been a week." He turned again, lying a hip against the wood and facing her.

"You know how you said that you aren't Liam?" It was her chance to turn, matching his position and now being face to face with him.

"A difficult concept, or so it seemed sometimes." There was a smile in his voice this time. His foot took a step that the rest of him followed.

"Well, Liam isn't your father either, Killian." Emma shook her head, now being able to see more of him. "Take advantage of that fact."

This time, she could clearly see the smile lighting his face.

In person… those blue eyes…

"You're right." Killian lifted his chin just slightly. "It's not only my position in the company and being under Liam that I should be taking advantage of."

Emma's eyebrow lifted at his choice of words. Her hand tightened around the bottle in her hand as she found herself wondering more and more. In that same instance, she found herself leaning towards him. She found the rest of her body following suit, bringing them only a foot or so from each other.

"What else should you be taking advantage of?" The question was soft as she watched him, her eyes imploring.

"I should be enjoying this weather." His shoulder lifted in a shrug. "It's perfect boating weather. I rarely got the chance to get out and do some boating."

"You love it!" She knew it was a passion of his, and had been for quite some time. "Why did Donovan have a problem with that?"

His eyes squinted this time. "A distraction?" His shoulders hunched over. "From what is important?" Killian's hand came out to reach for hers. "You want to come with me? I can show you a part of this city, this world, that has been unbeknownst to you."

Emma slipped closer, bringing her body flushed against his. Her smile was small as she looked up at him.

"I'm up to it whenever you want."

"Then I'll make sure to accommodate your busy work schedule." His arm wrapped around her waist then, bringing her even closer so that he could hug her tight.

Emma felt the sudden purse of her lips as she let herself feel the hard and very male body of her best friend hugging her in an embrace. She slipped her arms carefully around his neck, pulling him even closer to her. Her eyes fell closed almost immediately.

I love you.

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't voice them. Not this time. She'd said them thousands of times to him, in thousands of different ways, but this time... This time they felt different. They felt like so much more. Emma snuggled closer to him and held tighter. They also felt wildly inappropriate given their situation. But still...

The feel of his lips sliding across the top of her head almost made her change her mind because… appropriate seemed to be at the top of the list of words of what she felt in that moment. So…

"I love you, Killian." She dug herself even closer into him, her eyes blissfully closed. The need to define those words… There was no need to. Her love for him was so encompassing, and now wasn't the time where she had to make it one thing or the other. Not now.

"I love you, Emma." It was a whispered sigh as his lips moved once again in her hair. His arms tightened even more, keeping her close.

Her eyes opened, blinking at his shoulder as her cheek pressed there. Yes, she shared an encompassing love with her…

Her best friend.