prompt: Killian giving Henry tips on how to get the girl and Emma listening and giggling

a pirate's guide to romance

She's running late.

Sitting on the edge of her mattress, stuffing her feet into shoes that will match this little black dress she's donning for the special date her pirate boyfriend has been secretive about for the past week, Emma scowls. It has been kind of a rough day to begin with. Henry had been staying with them and he'd ended up being late to school because of a technical error on her part. Then she'd gone into work with Killian and they'd been bombarded with a hundred and one problems.

On a Thursday. In Storybrooke.

Well, she supposes, it's probably fitting.

A part of her would like to curl up on the couch tonight and watch Netflix with takeout and not go out on a mystery date with Killian, but he'd been so excited and insistent that she couldn't say no.

And it's not entirely his fault that her shoes have decided to either not work or to break after she puts them on. It's just the nature of the beast.

She pulls herself to her feet and grabs her clutch from her dresser, giving herself a once over in the mirror, before she walks toward the living area down the hall. If she can just get through this date tonight, then she can cuddle in bed later with her warm hunk of man and fall into the land of dreams, where everything is good and not working against her in every manner possible.

She stops walking when she hears Henry's voice.

"Killian, how did you win my mom over?"

She bites at her lip, a soft smile stretching into her cheeks. This should be interesting. She leans against the wall and listens for Killian's response.

"Well, that's a bit of a loaded question, don't you think?"

She imagines Henry must be shrugging, by the lilt in his tone. "I guess. It's just… I kind of like this girl in my class and I want to…" Henry trails off and she hears Killian chuckle.

"You want to woo the lass, do you?" Killian pauses. "Well, persistence is key. Don't give up or lose faith. If it's meant to be, it'll happen."

Henry must smile, just as she is. "Is that what you did with my mom?"

"Aye," she hears him smiling, "that and a bit of good old fashioned charm."

Emma rolls her eyes and bites back a laugh. Without fail, he brings up his charming looks and cunning personality.

"What do you mean, exactly?"

"Well, it just takes the right attentions where they're needed." Killian's voice is excited and thoughtful, "Offer her a coat if it's cold or an umbrella when it's raining, talk about things she's interested in… bring her flowers, give her hugs, hold her hand, and be there when she needs you to be."

Emma's heart flutters and her smile widens to her eyes as she considers how everything he's saying is exactly, entirely accurate. He certainly did not give up on her, even when it would be easy to.

Henry hums and there's a pause. "Just like that?"

"Well," Killian pauses, "it's as I said before. It's a bit of a loaded question. Just be yourself. She'll like that, I'm sure."

Emma's heart fills to the brim with warmth and she closes her eyes as her son responds. "Yeah, Mom really likes you for who you are. I can see what you mean."

She bites back laughter as her cheeks heat up.

Killian laughs, deep and happy. "I quite like your mother as well."

"I know." Henry chirps. "Otherwise we wouldn't be having this talk."

"Speaking of-" Killian clears his throat, "Swan? You about ready to leave, my love?"

Emma takes a breath and steels herself before entering the room with a wide smile. They're sitting at the kitchen table as she walks into the room and Killian's face brightens up at the sight of her.

"Sorry. I changed shoes like three times before I was happy with how I look."

Killian rises to meet her and gives her a look. "Swan, you look stunning, I dunno what you're on about."

Emma smiles, his words resonating real and true within her chest, and permits him a quick kiss before turning to her son. "Okay. Homework done?"

"Just about." Henry grins. She opens her mouth to tell him more direction, but he shakes his head. "I'm almost fifteen, Mom. I think I can handle staying home alone. No TV until I'm finished and no cooking except for popcorn. Grandpa's on speed dial in case of emergency. Go. Have fun with Killian."

Emma releases a relenting sigh before nodding and looking to Killian, who offers Henry a wink. He looks at her and smiles. "Are we ready, then, love?"

She hums. "Yes."

He takes her hand after they get outside and they walk side-by-side through town toward his secret date night spot.

"So I heard you and Henry talking,"

He lifts an eyebrow. "Did you?"

Emma nods. "Good advice. Though, you could've laid it easy on the physical intimacy. He's in high school."

Killian gives her a look. "Nonsense, Swan. The boy's trying to woo this girl, not befriend her." She shoots him a look right back and he chuckles, leaning in to kiss her temple. "Henry's a good lad, love. He won't be foolish."

She smiles at him when he moves back, looking down at her with pure, unadulterated love in his eyes. "You're good for him, Killian. Thank you for being there."

"It's my honor."

Emma squeezes his hand. "I really love you, you know."

He grins, like a little kid in a candy store. "Aye. I do know it."

"I'm glad you didn't give up on me. It would've been so easy to. I wasn't the easiest shell to crack."

Killian tilts his head at her and lowers his voice to that soothing, gravelly tone that sends jolts to her core.

"When it's real, you know it in your heart," he promises, "and that's why I couldn't just leave you be."

Emma laughs gently. "Thank you for being patient."

His thumb strokes over the back of her hand. "Always, love."