Author's note: So Emma's outfit is based off what she was wearing at the end of New York City Serenade when she was cooking breakfast. It's always bugged me that she was massively overdressed (how did she drive in those shoes?) and I wanted to put the outfit to good use, the dark colour and high neck also fit with her current mind post Dark One. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint those who have been looking forward to it. Thank you so much for the reviews and follows.

...

Chapter ten

Killian turned the corner of the road and saw Emma waiting by a row of cars. Her hair was loose tumbling over the shoulders of a dark checked blouse which was tucked into a tight ruffled skirt that was coupled with stiletto high heels, which made her legs look incredible. Against his will his eyes scanned over her and kept getting drawn back to the hem of her skirt and the curve of her thigh as it disappeared underneath. He gave himself a shake. Get it together man, you're better than this.

"Time to try building something Jones." He said to himself and walked calmly towards her, fighting his feet's desire to speed up.

Emma tapped her toes against the sidewalk. She would have waited in the loft but she wasn't ready for Killian to know where she lived. Not that she thought he'd do anything bad, but if this became a disaster she needed somewhere safe to go to without worrying he might turn up. It turned out to be a good thing anyway as her mother had hovered around the entire time she'd been getting ready, trying to put her in pastel dresses and tying her hair back.

Emma understood, they'd never got to go prom dress shopping or have bonding sessions over makeup and hair, but Emma had been independent for far too long and she only lasted an hour before she'd had to escape.

Hearing footsteps she looked up and was momentarily speechless. Damn he looked good. Suspiciously new looking black jeans that hugged his thighs in a way that promised her a good view from behind with a charcoal grey buttoned shirt with just enough buttons undone to tease her with a glimpse of dark chest hair.

"Enjoying yourself doesn't mean instant doom Emma," she told herself and concentrated on relaxing as he reached her.

"Hi." Killian's smile nearly ruined her control on her nerves.

"Hi." One word and he almost forgot to reply.

"You look stunning," he said, congratulating himself on keeping cool.

"Thanks you look… good too," she replied embarrassed that he was having such an effect on her.

"Thanks, Mary wanted me to ditch my coat," he said plucking at his ever present leather jacket.

"Oh no I like it," Emma assured him. "I might not have recognised you without it."

"I was afraid of that." They smiled at each other. Well the awkward forced small talk portion of the date was well underway then. Emma noticed what looked like a CD and a single red rose in his hand.

"So, you really went all out huh?" She said, nodding at the gifts.

"Oh oops, I should have said at the start," he said wincing. "This is for you." He tilted his hand so the rose was toward her, she slipped it from his fingers felt a small thump in her heart at the gesture. "This is for Henry," he explained waving the CD.

"Henry?" She asked. Her date brought a gift for her son?

"Yeah," Killian said rubbing behind his ear, probably realising it seemed odd. "He helped us out today, this is just to say thank you. It's just a few clips we cut together of us on the boat."

"Henry went out on a boat with you?" Killian just smiled realising it'd be wiser for him and Henry if he didn't answer. "Well," Emma continued when he didn't elaborate. "Henry's at Regina's, do you mind if I leave it in my car for now?"

"Not at all...that's your car?" Killian asked staring at the bright yellow beetle she was unlocking.

"Something wrong?" She asked, clearly challenging him to pass comment.

"No no, you just keep surprising me Swan." Emma normally didn't like people calling her by her last name but somehow he made it sound like a compliment. "So," he asked as she relocked her car. "Which of Storybrooke's two fine drinking establishments are we going to?"

"Actually I've been recommended a new place," she said. He held out his elbow and she only hesitated a moment before looping her arm with his and leading him down the road.

…..

The new place turned out to be a cosy Italian restaurant on the edge of town. It was mainly set out for diners but a small section by the bar had been furnished with high tables and chairs, perfect for a quiet drink and a chance to get to know someone. Emma was so relieved, as romantic as her parents were, they weren't exactly go out for drinks type people. She owed her dad an apology for doubting his suggestion.

Killian is just the right amount of gentleman, holding the door for her without running ahead to make a point out of it and pushing her chair in after she has to hop to get onto it in her skirt. They both deftly handle the first drinks order by daring each other to have a cocktail of the other's choosing. Both drinks are disgusting.

She's laughing at the look of dismay his bright blue concoction has put on his face when she realises they've already been out for forty minutes. Forty minutes in which she's hasn't once thought about fairy tales or dark magic or villains. Her only concerns have been whether or not her date is having a good time, or if she's giving him the wrong signals and deciding exactly what she thinks of him anyway. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this normal. Maybe this was a good idea.

…..

"So, directing? Childhood dream?"

"I have a natural eye for the finer things," he smirks. She returns his raised eyebrow with an unimpressed eyebrow of her own. "Okay," he says, dropping the flirting and speaking plainly. "The truth is, it was completely unplanned, I sort of found myself doing it. Which sounds terrible because so many people spend their lives dreaming of it and never get there."

"So you're lucky," she stated.

"It certainly feels that way…that was wasn't a line, I meant that." They both laugh and it's not forced or insincere and just like that the awkwardness is broken and the rest of the evening passes in soft smiles and easy conversation.

…..

"Oh god. I'll never be able to look at Smee the same way again."

"How do you think I feel? I share a room with him."

….

"I don't believe you."

"I swear on my life Swan, it was ten feet high."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

"It's a good thing I've got video evidence then."

"Of course you do."

…..

"I'm really lucky, I know I am. I could be alone but instead I've got this crazy extended family."

"David's certainly protective of you."

"Yeah, he's like the dad I never had."

…..

"Go on get it out the way," he said, staring at the ceiling in mock surrender.

"I don't ...OK how'd you lose your hand?"

"Firework exploded when I was holding it."

"Oh my god really?" Emma can't imagine how awful that must have been, she imagined a younger Killian messing about stupidly with his friends, but before she got very far he spoke again.

"Nope, I got it caught inside a printing press."

"Oh... Yeah?" Emma scrunched her face a little. What was he playing at?

"No, I had to sell it to pay off my student loan." He continued, as straight faced as before. Emma rolled her eyes. Fine, if he wants to joke around, it's not like she has any right to know. A niggling whisper at the back of her mind tells her that it must be something really awful if he doesn't want to talk about it.

"No, no, a shark ate it," he said hurriedly as if he'd just remembered. Emma laughed, the whispers fading under his charm.

"I like that one best. Though maybe something more dramatic than a shark."

"What's more dramatic than a shark?" He looked relieved that she was willing to let the topic go, and she's surprised to find she doesn't mind either. What difference does it actually make? She was kind of overstepping asking about it.

"I dunno, let me think about it."

…...

There's a couple of times when Emma feels such strong déjà vu it completely distracts her. When someone on the next table knocks over their wine and again as she happens to meet his gaze as she pours them each a glass of water.

"Ah you know what they say...It's just a glitch in the matrix," Killian said when she admitted to the sensation.

"As if I don't already have enough to deal with," she sighed.

"The rigors of small town crime?"

"You have no idea."

"Tell me then." Emma hesitated. Talking about work was perfectly acceptable date material, she'd just adjust some bits to leave out the more magical elements.

She starts out with difficulty but he's so receptive and good humoured she soon finds the stories flowing from her with barely any editing. She's pretty sure she let slip a few magical terms she shouldn't have but he doesn't point them out. Maybe he thinks it's all part of some eccentricity of hers.

Before she knows it she's talking about the evil trio and stumbling as she thinks of Cruella. That was the start of it all wasn't it? Make the savior dark to find their happy endings, but her time as the Dark One hadn't brought anyone happiness. His warm hand dropped onto hers and she jumped. He looked concerned, she must have been sitting there in silence lost in her thoughts. What must he think of her?

"Sorry," she said pulling her hand away.

"Nothing to be sorry about," he replied. She saw him flex his fingers before dropping them back in his lap.

"I don't know about that," she said ruefully. He hummed not agreeing or disagreeing about things he doesn't know about, a move she really appreciates.

"From what I've seen," he said carefully. "The town seems to love you and trust in you to protect them." She blinked at him in surprise. How did he know she was doubting herself? And then how did he know what to say? He wasn't telling her to get over it or trying to reassure her that everything would turn out fine, like she'd expected.

"Oh god this is just terrible date conversation," Emma said, wiping the corner of her eyes. "Quick say something small talk like."

"Er...I met my fairy godmother today?" He tried. Emma almost spat her drink onto the table.

"You what?" She asked.

"Yeah, I always thought they'd be old and frumpy, not pretty blondes with a love of the colour green. Disney has a lot to answer for huh?"

"He sure does." Emma knew a certain Neverland fairy that'd be answering some questions too. "So what did she want, your fairy godmother?"

"To give me a sword for tomorrow. I gotta say I think I prefer it. No offence to your colleague but the one she gave me is much lighter and easier to use one handed. Think David'll mind if I use hers?"

"No, I think he'd just want you to not get hurt."

"He's not the only one."

"No he's not. Why the hell did you agree?"

"I'm not sure. That may be my one great flaw Swan. I'm not the type to walk away from a fight."

"Your one flaw?" She asked pulling a sceptical face, but for once he wasn't looking at her to appreciate it.

"There's something about that man, I just-" He snapped himself out of it before he said something he'd regret. Hate was a strong word after all. He hadn't known he was capable of judging someone he just met so viciously and he certainly didn't want Emma to know.

…..

Of course he gives her his jacket as they are walking home and naturally she accepts it. His lingering warmth and scent surrounds her and she feels a blush in her cheeks that's nothing to do with the alcohol they've been drinking. At some point she'd forgotten about hiding where she lives and she's let him walk her all the way to her door. Giving him a coy smile she slipped off his coat.

"Thanks for walking me home," she said.

"Technically you've been walking me home, Granny's is only just down the road."

"And I thought you were being a gentleman,"

"I'm always a gentleman, but I am lost in a foreign country, someone might take advantage of me." Emma groaned as her words were repeated back to her making her sound even more cringe worthy, but as she looked up at him she saw a spark light behind his eyes and she's struck by the certainty that he would devour her right there in the street if she let him.

She felt her whole body flush at the thought, her skin thrilling at the image her mind conjured. He leaned closer to her and she felt herself match his movement drawn to him like a moth to a flame, her eyes flicked from his stunning blue eyes to soft lips, her hands resting gently on his chest.

The street lights over his shoulder flickered and brightened just a fraction. Emma reeled back and stared in building horror as the light continued to intensify and popped sending a shower of plastic and sparks to the ground.

"Are you alright Emma?" Killian asked, his hands moved to steady her, rubbing gently against her side. She took a deep breath, internally backing away from the intensity of the moment, the magic she hadn't noticed building also receding. She met Killian's eye and gave him an apologetic smile, only managing a nod to his question.

She couldn't believe she'd slipped up like that. It'd been so long since she'd lost control of her powers. She'd become so careful to clamp down her emotions. Emotions were dangerous, and emotional connections were strengths only for those who deserved them. Emma had to remind herself she was not one of those people anymore.

Killian's lips are as warm and soft as she'd imagined as he kissed her gently on the cheek before leaning away. It's just the distraction she needs to pull herself together. His hand finds hers and gives a squeeze and her heart hurts at the disappointment that covers his face. She doesn't let him go when he moves to pull away.

"I had a great time, you made me forget my troubles." She bit her lip and then bobbed lightly forward to give him a small peck on the lips before dropping his hand. It still wasn't going to be close to what he was hoping for, but she couldn't risk giving him more in the state she's in.

"Goodnight Emma," he whispered with a smile that somehow managed to banish her disappointment at herself while restoking the heat in her belly. She almost called him back, almost, but instead she just stands there watching him disappear down the road, giving him a beaming smile when he looks back to her.

…..

Author's note: So Emma's pulling a bit of an Elsa here but she's kinda justified right? Hope you enjoyed. Leave a review and let me know if I laboured things a bit. I will confess it has been a long time since I had a first date with someone.