Chapter Nine

The restaurant had closed up for the night. All of the tables and booths had been cleaned, dishes were done, and the counter at the bar had been wiped down. Mary-Margaret was sitting at the freshly-cleaned counter going over the night's receipts while David joined Robert, Brennan, and Regina at the small table by the kitchen for their weekly card game. Sometimes they played cards more than once a week but their Saturday gatherings always happened.

They called themselves The Minus One Club because each of them had lost someone very dear to them. For Robert and Brennan, it was their wives. For Regina, it was her husband, Daniel. Although David does not fit into this particular classification, because Mary-Margaret is alive and well, his mother passed away a few years ago and he was very close to her.

What usually happened during these gatherings was the four of them would sit, enjoy some beer, and talk about various topics. Some of these discussions would become heated when they argued about their favorite singers or athletes. This time, the discussion was about who they considered the best singer of all time. Each person had their favorite. For David it was Dean Martin, while Robert backed Frank Sinatra, Brennan vouched for Bobby Vinton, and Regina was eternally devoted to Bing Crosby.

David dealt the cards for a new hand. "Dean was obviously the best. He had his own television show." He told the others.

"That doesn't mean anything," Robert replied as he gathered his cards. "Frank was a frequent guest on many of those shows. Besides look at how many movie roles he had."

Brennan organized his cards. "Well Bobby had his own style. That's what makes him great." He told the others.

Regina rolled her eyes. "He was the Polish King. You know who he was popular with? Polish people. There are millions of people in the world who aren't Polish." She told Brennan. "Besides Bing was the forerunner for these guys. Both Frank and Dean were influenced by his singing style."

Mary-Margaret rolled her eyes at them as she sipped from her glass of moscato. "Will you guys give it a rest? You've been having the same argument for years and no one ever wins."

David turned to look at his wife. "These men may be gone, darling, but their legacies live on and they must be discussed." He gave her a smile and then went back to the game.

Mary-Margaret playfully shook her head. "Well, excuse me." Then her focus went back to the receipts.

There was a knock at the door and five sets of eyes landed on it. "Who could that be at this hour?" Mary-Margaret asked.

David stood up. "Don't worry. It's probably a tourist wondering if we're still open." He said as he walked towards the door.

He opened it to find a well-dressed young man standing on the other side. "Now either you are very late or you're very early. What can I help you with?" He asked the stranger.

Killian was somewhat disappointed. He had hoped Emma would be the one to answer the door, but given the late hour he realized that would have not been a good idea. "I came to pick up my phone." He told David. "I think I left it here last night. Someone called, I believe a young woman." He told him, hoping that he could get some information about Emma.

David welcomed him inside. "It's probably behind the bar. I'll get it." He told him. "In the meantime, why don't you have a pint while you wait?" David offered.

"No, but thank you." Killian told him.

"Oh, do you have to get home to the little wife do you?" David asked, hoping the man would take it as a fun joke.

"Um, no." Killian responded.

David continued. "She didn't leave you, did she?" He did not understand why he was so curious about this man's personal life. He has always been a friendly person, however, he was not one to ask these kinds of questions. It was too late to take it back now.

Killian shook his head. "No, she…uh…passed away." He told him.

David turned towards him. "Oh, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, that's very sad." He offered. "I'm very sorry to hear that, being a young man yourself. Well, come on in and we'll have a pint on it." He ushered Killian towards the table. David was very sympathetic towards the young man and David knew that Killian had something in common with Regina. She was very young when her husband passed away. Besides, he would be a perfect new addition to their club. David could tell he needed some social interaction.

They walked passed Mary-Margaret, who had just returned with a full glass of wine. The restaurant was closed on Sundays so she figured she would enjoy a second glass. David and Killian stopped in front of her. "Mary-Margaret, I want you to meet…" David realized he did not know the man's name.

"Killian." He told David.

"Right, Killian. Killian this is my wife, Mary-Margaret." David said. "And you can call me David." He realized that he had not introduced himself.

"It's nice to meet you, Killian." Mary-Margaret said. She took the opportunity to look the young man over. He seemed nice, clean cut, well put together. He would be perfect for Emma, she thought. However, she kept these thoughts to herself. So many people were sticking their noses into her daughter's love life and she vowed that she was not going to be one of them.

"You too, Mary-Margaret." Killian said.

David began to usher Killian towards the table. "Come on, I want you to meet our friends."

The others looked over the newcomer. Then David spoke again. "Killian, I want you to meet Brennan, Robert, and Regina. Everyone, this is Killian. His wife is dead." He told them.

Robert and Brennan immediately stood up to shake the man's hand. "Hey Killian! How are you doing?" They exclaimed.

Regina chuckled. She extended her hand. "Welcome to the club." She told him. Killian had no idea what they were talking about but he took a seat at the table where he was given a glass of beer and they dealt him into the next hand.

"I don't know how to play." He told them, knowing it was a lie. He learned how to play poker when he was ten years old, but he wanted to make a good first impression.

"You got cash?" Brennan asked. Killian nodded. "Then you're in." He told him.

Belle walked in with a fresh pitcher of cold beer. She looked over at Killian. "How did you get caught in their net?" She asked.

"Belle, his wife is dead." Robert told him.

"Oh, welcome." She replied, knowing they had found a new member for their club.

"Thank you for the beer, Belle." David told her.

"You're welcome." She said. Then she put on her coat. "Who's taking me?" She asked the group.

Robert rolled his eyes. "You live two buildings over, dearie. Why do you need someone to walk you? Are you afraid that someone is going to kidnap you?" He asked her, sarcastically.

Belle did not miss a beat. "I hope someone does so you'll have to live with the guilt for the rest of your life." She jabbed. The truth was that Belle did not feel safe walking home by herself. One night, when she was working late at the library (her other part-time job) when she thought someone she was following her. Turns out that someone was. She hailed the first cab she saw and got into it. Ever since then, she takes a cab home from the library when she works late. When she finishes her shift at the restaurant somebody walks her home. Most of the time, it is David or Brennan. Secretly, she hopes that Robert would offer one of these times. She had been dropping hints for quite some time but it seems the man could not take the hint.

David stood up. "Don't worry, Belle. I'll walk you." He told her.

"Thank you, David." She said. "You are always a gentleman." She looked straight at Robert when she said it.

"Goodnight, everyone." Belle said as she walked towards the door with David.

"Night Belle." They said.

David turned to his wife. "I'll be back in a few." He told her.

"Be careful." She told him.

"Always am, dear." David planted a kiss on her forehead. Then he left to escort Belle home.

Brennan leaned towards Robert. "You should've walked her home, mate. I think she's sweet on you." He told his friend.

"What are you talking about? I've known her for five years she has never gave me any indication that she feels that way." Robert replied, trying to not let his true feelings slip out.

Regina rolled her eyes as she groaned. "That's because you don't know how to read women." She told him.

"Let's ask the new guy." His gaze landed on Killian. "What do you think? Do you think I should've walked her home?" He asked.

"Uh, yeah." Killian responded. "She was acting just like my wife did before we started dating."

Robert smiled. "There you have it." He said to the others. "A real man with a real answer. This guy has got some class and knows how to help. I can't count on you two hobos."

David came back a few minutes later so they could resume their card game.

/

Emma was sitting in front of her armoire. She was dressed in a black silk robe and she was wearing a pink shower cap on her head. Ever since her surgery, she has only washed her hair every other day as she is trying let it grow out. Also, the medication she takes has a side effect of hair loss so she does not wash hers as often to prevent more from falling out. She had on a low-cut nightgown underneath her robe and her scar was visible. She could not stop herself from looking at it and rubbing her thumb over it. This scar has caused her to become more self-conscious. She knew that she should not be. The scar was the physical proof that she has been given a second chance at life. Even though Emma is grateful for this gift the scar still makes her paranoid about what others might think.

The doors, which lead to the balcony, were open and Emma could feel that the wind speed had picked up. She decided that she should cover her flowers. In the Windy City, the gusts have proved to be dangerous. When it came to her flowers, she was not willing to risk her beauties spending the night without any protection. She headed down the stairs.

/

The card game was in full swing. Killian kept his poker talent a secret, by letting the others win a few hands. However, his present hand was too good and he knew he had put it all in. There was a lot of money in the pot. "Um, I'm not very good at cards but I think this is a good hand." He said as he laid a full house on the table.

"Oh geez." Robert groaned. The others threw their cards down while Killian scooped the poker chips towards him, wearing a big smile on his face.

Just then, Emma entered the room. "Hey Mom, Dad. I'm going to cover my flowers. It's getting windy out there." She said, not realizing that Killian was there.

Killian stood up the moment he saw her. He could not hold back a smile as he looked her over. She looks beautiful in anything, he thought to himself. He was admiring the robe and shower cap she had on.

Emma had a surprised, yet happy expression on her face when she saw Killian. Then that expression changed to embarrassment when she remembered that she was wearing a shower cap. This point was made clear when she put her hand on her head.

Mary-Margaret saw her daughter's expression. Emma was intrigued by this man, so she knew she should help her daughter in this somewhat embarrassing situation. Mary-Margaret walked over and stood next to Emma across from Killian. She put her arm around her daughter's shoulders. "Killian, this is our daughter Emma. Isn't she lovely?" Mary-Margaret commented.

Killian was smiling. "Yes she is." He said, hoping he was not being too forward. "I don't if you remember me from yesterday but I left my phone. I was here with….the water lady." He chuckled at his last comment.

Emma smiled but remained tense, not knowing how to get out of this embarrassing situation. "Yes. It's nice to meet you Killian. Now, if you'll excuse me I have to go cover my flowers." She told him as she tried to leave.

"Do you need any help?" He offered.

"No I got it."

"Are you sure?" He persisted.

"Yup." She said as she walked out to her garden.

Killian turned toward the others. "Should I help her?" He asked them.

They responded with a unanimous yes, although David remained silent. Killian smiled and left to follow Emma.

"What about your phone?" David called after him.

"I'll get it later." Killian yelled. As he left Regina moved over to his seat. "I'm going to play from the hot corner." She told them.

"You're always looking for an edge, aren't you dearie?" Robert asked her.

David turned towards his wife. "What are you trying to do, dear?" Questioning his wife's involvement in that scenario.

She gave him a peck on his cheek. "Nothing." She said, with a smile. Then she went back to her glass of wine.

/

When Killian reached Emma she was already pulling the plastic covers over her flower beds. "Do you need a hand, love?" He asked.

"Is that a joke?" She asked, sarcastically. The wind had really picked and she was struggling to cover the flowers.

"No, I can see you need help. I was just trying to be polite." He told her as he grabbed one of the covers from her.

"So you're a gentleman?" She asked.

Killian gave her a flirtatious look. "I'm always a gentleman."

She smiled back at him. She did not know why she was being so snarky with him. He was just trying to help. It boiled down to that she was embarrassed by her current appearance. "Look I'm sure the guys put you up to this. You don't have to do this. I can handle it." She said, wondering if he would take her opportunity to make a quick exit.

"No, love. I want to help." He told her. "You bought me dinner, which was very good by the way." This made Emma smile, again.

They moved on to the next set of flower beds. "Be careful, with those ones." She instructed. "The petals fall off very easily."

He acknowledged her words and precariously placed the cover over them. "It's so beautiful out here, to see all of these flowers growing in the middle of the city. It's like a garden." Killian let out a groan. What a stupid thing to say, he thought to himself. There was no way to take it back so he tried to cover his mistake with a compliment. "You look nice this evening." He told her.

"Thanks, but that compliment would mean more if I wasn't wearing a shower cap. I mean I would take it off but then I would have shower cap hair and that wouldn't be good. I mean, you've seen my hair before…I mean not that you were looking, but that you might've noticed it. I mean you would've seen my head…I mean my hair…I mean my head of hair." She shook her head. Amazing, she thought. One compliment and I turned into a babbling idiot.

Killian stopped what he was doing and just stared at her. This beautiful woman intrigued him. No matter what she did or said it sounded like music to his ears. He wanted to know more about this woman, to spend time with her. Then, he did something that he had not done in the past fifteen years. "Will you go out with me?" He asked.

"Yes." She said, hoping it came out with a happy tone but it sounded more like she was questioning him.

Killian picked up on it. "Is that a question?" He asked.

"No, I mean it is a yes….yes." She told him, trying to clarify.

"Tomorrow night?"

"Yes."

"Eight o'clock?"

"Yes."

Killian smiled. "Pick you up here?"

"Yes."

He let out a chuckle. "You're a very difficult woman." He said, jokingly.

They continued to stare at each other until Killian said, "You should go in. I can finish this up."

"Okay," she said, having a strange feeling that she could trust him with her flowers. "I'll find your phone."

"Okay." He responded.

Emma walked back inside wearing the biggest grin that had not made an appearance in a very long time. She walked in to find that everyone was missing from the table. Apparently, they felt that she would need privacy. "Mom, Dad, Regina…guys?" She called out.

"We're not here!" She heard Regina yell and she knew they were hiding behind the kitchen door. Emma rolled her eyes as she walked behind the bar to find Killian's phone.

Killian rejoined her a few minutes later. "Well, love, all of the flowers are safely tucked in for the night." He told her.

Emma handed her his phone. "Thank you for your help." She told him.

"It was no trouble, lass." He said with a smile. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow night?"

"Yeah, I'll be ready." She replied, trying not to sound over-eager.

"I'm looking forward to it." He said as he headed out the door. "Goodnight and tell the others the same for me." Killian did not know where they ran off to but he did not care because all he could see was Emma. He thought about her but he knew it was too soon.

"Goodnight, Killian." She said as she closed the door behind him.

Emma's parents and the others emerged from the kitchen. Both Mary-Margaret and Regina were smiling. The suspense was killing Mary-Margaret. "Did I hear that correctly? My daughter is going out on a date with that nice young man tomorrow night?" She asked.

"Mom, you know eavesdropping is not very ladylike." She said, neither confirming nor un-confirming.

"Emma, you live with your parents." Regina said. "There is no such thing as privacy."

"I don't know if I like this." David chimed in.

Mary-Margaret rolled her eyes at him. "Honey, you were the one who invited him in." She reminded him.

"Yeah but I didn't know he was going to move in on my daughter." David defended.

Emma interrupted them. "Look, I'm an adult and I am fully capable of making my own decisions. He seems like a nice guy and he asked me out to dinner, all on his own." She told them. "No one fixed him up with me." She looked straight at Regina.

David walked over to his daughter. "I just worry about you." He told her.

"I know, Dad. But I'm a big girl now. I'll be okay." She gave him a hug. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight everyone." She said as she walked away.

As soon as Emma was gone, Regina turned to Robert. "Killian knows how to read women." She said with a smirk on her face.

"Oh shut up, Regina." He replied while everyone else laughed at him.

/

It was after midnight. Elsa was in the kitchen getting a drink of water when she heard a knock on the door. Liam was fast asleep and that made her smile, knowing she had wore him out.

She headed towards the door. "Who is it?" She called out.

"It's me." The voice said.

"Who?" She asked again.

"It's Emma." The voice answered. Elsa opened the door.

"What's wrong?" Elsa asked. It was not like Emma to show up at her house in the middle of the night.

"Nothing." Emma replied. "I have some amazing news tell you and I didn't call because I didn't want to wake the kids."

Elsa stepped out onto the porch. "What is it?" She asked as she wrapped her robe around her more tightly.

"I met someone." Emma said with a great big smile. "I just wanted to tell you in person."

Elsa mirrored Emma's smile because she was so happy for her sister. She knew Emma would meet someone on her own.

Emma turned to leave. "I've got to go. Dad doesn't know I snuck out."

Elsa nodded knowing how over-protective her adoptive father was of Emma, even though she's a grown woman. "Do you want me to drive you?" She asked.

"No, I've got my bike." Emma replied. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay, bye." She said as she watched Emma ride away.

/

"I think you'll like her Sydney." Killian said with a mouthful of French fries. He had snuck into the zoo because he had to talk to someone and all of his human friends were sleeping. Well, he did not actually sneak in per se, he bribed the night guard twenty bucks to let him in.

He slid a fry through the cage to Sydney, which the gorilla graciously accepted. "She is the first woman I've ever been attracted to…I mean as a man. I don't know if Milah told you this but we were teenagers when we started dating, and I was just a boy. Emma is the first woman I've wanted to be with as an adult. It's a big deal. Don't you think?" He asked. Sydney responded with a nod.

"We're building you a great place, Sydney." Killian told him. "You're going to love it." The man and the gorilla ate the rest of the fries in silence.

/

A/N: Hurray! CaptainSwan is going out on their first date! Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I know it is a bit of a long one. I had so much fun writing this chapter. Thanks for the reviews. I love reading them. Up next, Killian and Emma's big date with some familiarity. You'll know as soon as you read it. Thanks you all for continuously supporting my story.