A/N- Bit delayed but I had serious block on this chapter, hopefully it came out okay and it is a lot longer than usual to make up for it. Enjoy and review if you can :)
At work the next day David kept giving her furtive glances, looking away quickly when she caught him. She have him plenty of chances to just say whatever it was she wanted to say before losing her patience, "David what the hell is it?"
"Nothing," he said quickly.
She shook her head, "You are staring a hole in the side of my head with your nothing."
"Its just..."
"Yes," she said impatiently.
"Its just you didn't say anything... about Killian."
"What about Killian?"
He sighed, flushed with embarrassment at the conversation they were having, "Well you never said that you were going out on the boat or on a date with him."
Emma frowned, "I didn't think you would want to know."
"Of course I want to know," David said indignantly.
She was a little taken aback, they were practically best friends as well as co-workers. Emma had his back and he had hers but in general they didn't sit around talking about their feelings. "Sorry I just, I guess we have never talked about that stuff."
"I talked to you about it the other day."
The other day, the only time she had talked to David about Killian was when she told him about Gold's shipment other than that... "You mean when you teased me a few weeks ago, that was you talking about it?"
David looked a little embarrassed, "I was giving you an opening."
"David you have known me for a few years now, I need more than that to tell you anything." She shook her head, he had straight out asked her about Neal, about Jefferson, about her past, she wasn't like other people. "I didn't think you would want to hear about my love life."
"To be honest Emma you haven't had one to ask about." She couldn't really argue with that one to be fair but she still scowled for good measure. "When the thing with Jefferson happened, it wasn't the right time but I was really scared. Scared for you and scared that I would lose you. We joke about it Emma but we are family as far as I'm concerned."
She smiled warmly, "Do people tell their fathers about new boyfriends? Or is it big brother?"
He huffed at her, "People do tell their friends about it... I just don't want to see you get hurt."
Emma nodded, "I think if anyone is going to do the hurting its me."
"He seemed to recover from your moment at dinner."
"You noticed that," she cringed.
He chuckled standing up from his desk, "The man wears his heart on his sleeve. But he seems nice Emma."
She nodded, "He does."
"It won't stop me killing him if he hurts you..." He let that sit with her for a while before he spoke again, this time more chipper, "Well I am getting some lunch, want me to grab you anything?"
He laughed as he saw her smile, "Why do I even ask?"
As he left the station Emma yelled at him to bring her a hot chocolate, David held up a hand to show her he heard. Emma contemplated the slightly odd conversation she had just had. Personal things just slipped out with David, he would whinge about Mary-Margaret, nothing serious as they were sickeningly happy, just whatever new health kick she was on, or the parenting magazine which had told her there was only one way to do things or Leo would turn out to be a serial killer. In turn she would talk about Henry or one of their crazy group of friends.
She had gone from the girl with no-one to this, someone who had people who cared, got annoyed when she didn't confide in them. Mind you everything that she said to Mary-Margaret probably made its way to David so he was getting annoyed over nothing really. Still maybe she would make an effort.
In the time David was gone she fielded calls from someone worried about Archie Hopper's dog Pongo who had decided to take himself for a walk... again. And two other people reporting a broken window from kids playing on the main street, she informed both of them that it had already been taken care of and that someone was due to fix it sometime today. She was pretty grateful when David waved a piping hot grilled cheese under her nose and placed the hot chocolate in front of her. "I love you."
"Noted," he said smiling. "How was it?"
"Whole town has turned to shit, rioting in the streets, can't cope without you," she said sarcastically.
"Har-di-har-har."
"Pongo is out again, we might have to fine Archie its the third time this month." They both looked up as the postman arrived with a large yellow envelope for David, he signed for it and frowned looking at the mysterious package.
"Open it you goof," Emma demanded.
David put down his own chicken sandwich to open the envelope and Emma still munching on her lunch came over to his desk to see what it was. He pulled out a wad of paper, "Shit Emma its from my guy."
There was a cover letter from his PI friend expressing that he thought David would be quite pleased with the contents. There was phone records, from the time of both incidents. The PI had highlighted that the days before the murders of Milah Gold and Hordor Morraine, Gold had been in contact with a number in the UK and in Washington. He couldn't find who he had been talking to in the UK but the Washington number was a well known investigator. He mainly outed cheating spouses and was notorious for having a particularly low moral standard. This was definitely interesting but not damning. The next part was, included were actual stills from Airport surveillance showing Robert Gold arriving in both London and Washington. "How could he be so reckless," David asked clearly astounded.
"He hated both these people, I get the feeling that our Rumplestiltskin doesn't exactly behave rationally when he is angry. That's just going off the assaults we know about." Her heart was racing, this was actually something. This was circumstantial but important. "We have to tell Washington PD."
He nodded, "Now or when we have more?"
She exhaled slowly, "I don't know, I want to hit him with as much as we can. You know anyone in Washington?"
He leaned back in his chair, "Just Kathryn."
Kathryn and David had been high school sweethearts, it hadn't worked out but its easy when you both moved on to someone who made you happy to be on good terms. "You think she would be okay to keep it under wraps?"
He nodded, "She is DA now, and Frederick is a detective I think. She doesn't have any ties to Rumplestiltskin, and she is a good person. Got into law to fight for the little guy."
"Our victim wasn't a little guy, not even a nice guy necessarily, but he does deserve justice," she noted.
"I will call her tonight, not from here though. I will need to send her copies of case files for the assaults, show there was bad blood between them."
Emma agreed, "I will make some copies, Regina said the vic used to bait him about his son. Bring up his running away."
"Enough to make it personal?"
"Could be," Emma mused. "That son of a bitch actually did it. No matter if we can prove it David, there is no doubt in my mind."
"We have to be careful, we both have too much to lose if we do this wrong."
Images of Henry, Mary-Margaret and Leo went through her mind. They could never really be safe with a man like Robert Gold around, it should have scared her but it just made her more determined. He had to be held accountable so he couldn't hurt anyone else.
"We should call the police in London as well right?" Emma didn't really know how that worked.
David shrugged, "I wouldn't even know how."
Emma picked up the phone and called Regina, "Hey Regina, just me I need to ask you something."
"Shoot," was Regina's quick reply. Emma could hear her shutting the door to her office.
"Just the investigation we are carrying out, I thought as you had already gotten information from the Police in London that maybe you would have a contact there who we could talk to."
"Oh?" she sounded cautious.
"It's just that we have some evidence they might be interested in, evidence that Rumplestiltskin was in the country at the time."
Regina sounded shocked, "Really? Hold on, I don't want to talk on the phone. You free to meet me outside my office, under the apple tree?"
"Sure see you in a second."
Regina hung up, David looked at her quizzically. "Regina wants to talk in person, you okay here?"
David nodded, "Go."
She put on her red leather jacket and took off, meeting Regina a few minutes later. She didn't take anything with her. Regina was waiting and Emma sat next to her, "So what have you got?"
"Records that show Gold was in contact with someone in London in the days leading up to Milah's murder, and more importantly proof he was there."
Regina couldn't believe what Emma was saying her eyes wide, "Are you sure?"
"We have pictures from Heathrow."
"He did it himself... I.. I just assumed he had hired someone. He killed her himself?!" Regina looked pretty gobsmacked as she digested this information.
"Seems like a long way to go just to watch, he was in Washington when Hordor Morraine was killed. He was killed too by the way. Same circumstances."
Regina frowned, "Sloppy. He always did have a temper."
"To be fair there was no evidence before that he and Hordor had any issues with each other, what with Graham taking all the case files. But its piling up a little."
They sat for a second, then Regina talked. "My contact was in the London police, the metropolitan police service. I imagine they are still there, probably best if I get them the information."
Emma nodded, "I can make you copies of the information, and the security footage at least was obtained legally."
Regina nodded, "I will stop by tonight."
"As a matter of interest, it can't be your office you are worried about so is it mine or...?"
"The phones actually, I regularly scan my office for bugs but I worry about the landline."
Emma nodded making a mental note to check the sheriffs station later, the place was monitored by security camera's but it would be worth checking. They went their separate ways with Emma first stopping off home and grabbing some of Gold's files, she photocopied it at the station and put it back in her bag to take home with her, passing David some of the files and bundling some others up to give to Regina. They still needed something that would allow them a warrant to check out his shipments but that was for another day. For now they would just collect all the evidence they could.
She went home and placed the files carefully in her secret spot, happy enough that no-one would look there. Regina stopped by that night and grabbed the wad of files from her, she sent Henry out of the room so they could talk. Regina opened up to the security footage, "Its really true."
"That he was there at the exact time Milah was killed, yeah."
"I suspected but... his own wife."
"Similar timing to when he and Belle were married too."
Regina looked up, "I hope she never has to know."
Emma nodded, "But she probably will. Belle talked to me at the party about him, said she left because she got tired of waiting for him to be a good man."
"Little did she know," Regina said darkly.
"We have to stop him Regina, I can't live in this town knowing he is doing what he is doing. Knowing what he would to me and my family if he knew what I knew." It was something she had hesitated to say out loud, the danger Henry was in right now if Gold found out.
"Sydney tells me that he think there is something going on at the town line, wanted to make sure he wasn't sticking his nose in my business before he reported it."
"He does actual reporting?" Emma asked with a raised eyebrow.
She gave a low chuckle, "I think he was just letting me know in his own little way, likes to remind me he can be useful."
Emma huffed, "Still trying to get in your pants then?"
"Most probably, but it has its perks. I'm handing you a possible lead Emma."
She nodded, it was as good as anything, "Any knowledge on when this thing at the town line happens?"
Regina took out her notebook, "At night, fairly regularly. Usually its about a week after shipments come in."
"That's insanely specific information."
"Sydney has always kept an eye on Gold for me, not for legal purposes but business ones. He has got pretty good at tailing the old man, still afraid of him. I don't think he had any intention of reporting on what he is doing for that very reason."
Emma nodded, "Well Killian said he has a shipment arriving tomorrow so I guess I will be doing some tailing of my own next week."
"Be careful Emma," Regina warned.
She sighed, the bad guys weren't supposed to scare the good guys out of doing their jobs. She tried her hardest to be a good guy, to show Henry that the good guy can win. That's what she needed to do to protect her family. "I will."
Regina left and Emma let Henry back in, he didn't ask. He didn't need to but when he looked at her that night sorting through her new hobby she could have sworn she saw pride in his expression. That was just the push she needed.
...
The following afternoon Killian texted her, basically to tell her everything was normal with the shipment and that this time it went through quickly.
K: No sign of Teach though, Silver picked it up again.
That was interesting, his court day was next week. Maybe Gold was keeping him under wraps until then.
E: Thanks I appreciate this
K: Sorry I don't really have anything else.
E: That's alright, I didn't expect them to act so stupid again
She didn't really, Gold would be on his best behaviour and he would expect his men to be as well. Teach really fucked up when he drew attention to Gold's business like that.
Her phone beeped again, she couldn't help but smile earning her a odd look from Lance. David had decided to take a trip to Washington, worried when Emma had mentioned Regina not trusting the phones. He wanted to deliver the information to Kathryn in person. Emma was pretty surprised at how quickly he had moved on it to be honest, but the threat to their families was spurring them both into action.
K: Is this the appropriate amount of time to leave before talking to you about our date swan?
E:Is there a wait period?
K:According to my brother who is a font of useless dating information owing to the internets noxious influence I shouldn't seem eager
Emma chuckled, same stupid bullshit she was worried about before they headed out on the boat.
K:I am very eager swan
She chuckled drawing another suspicious look from Lance. "Emma are you texting a boy?" He joked leaning forward on his desk with his hands cupping his face like a girl waiting for juicy gossip.
"Now that wouldn't be very professional of me would it?"
He smiled, "No but it would be comforting. If Emma Swan can finally let her walls down enough to let a guy make her smile like then maybe there is hope for the rest of us."
"I wasn't smiling like anything."
"Sure you weren't, I am going to go on a patrol."
She nodded, "I will man the phones then."
Lance patted her on the shoulder as he left, she heard her phone buzz again.
K: God he was right wasn't he
Ooops.
E: No not right I'm just at this little thing called work
K: Good, so date. Are you free this Friday Swan?
She was rarely not free to be perfectly honest, and she could probably get Mary-Margaret or Regina to take Henry.
E: I could be
K:Excellent well I will pick you up at 6:30
K:Dress nice
She cringed a little, he meant a date date. Looking pretty and going for dinner where everyone could see them. A little voice in her head reminded her he would find out soon enough, figure out how broken she was and head for the hills. Everyone else had figured it out soon enough except Graham, but she wasn't sure that dying before he could see what she really was could be counted as a win.
She stamped out the evil little devil in her head and texted back.
E: Great see you then
She took a breath, she felt sick, butterflies didn't seem like the right description for the urge to run to the bathroom. This was ridiculous, how did she get in this deep with Killian Jones? He was just so nice, so understanding, a shameless flirt but she found it funny when it didn't make her roll her eyes, and that didn't even take into account how absolutely gorgeous he was, smouldering at her with those baby blues. Fuck she was gone for this man already and they hadn't even kissed.
...
David got back two days later, Kathryn and Frederick had agreed to look into it quietly. That is they would gather all the evidence they could and hopefully be able to charge Gold with murder but keep it quiet until David gave the go-ahead. In turn Emma told David about what Sydney had said and they agreed that between the two of them they would keep an eye on the town line from now and gave two weeks until they would give it up.
David seemed to know a good spot to keep an eye on the road without drawing attention to themselves and dug out the department's camera for their use. Emma also wrangled Friday off this surveillance and Mary-Margaret agreed to keep an eye on Henry.
"So we are sorted, not sure what I want to find," Emma admitted.
"We just need enough to get a warrant, although as much evidence he is doing something illegal as possible would be great," David said as he picked up the phone to call his wife. "You sure now is the best time to be going on a first date?"
She glared at him, "You and your wife have been trying to force me to date for god knows how long and you said he was nice."
He grimaced, "I know, its just who knows what we are into here. I would hate for you to get distracted."
"Do I need to throw something at you?" She was annoyed and David ducked in anticipation. "I will not get distracted, do I seem like the kind of person who gets doe eyed and loses my mind over a guy?"
"No Emma you aren't that kind of person, ignore I said anything." He huffed then carried on calling Mary-Margaret not giving her any specifics on what was going on just that they had extra patrols and asking for her baby-sitting services for a few nights while Emma was working including Friday.
It hurt she couldn't lie, that David thought that she would fuck everything up because of a crush. She had never ever given reason for him to doubt her, never.
She went home early that day, she was on first watch so she was granted a few hours to nap and get Henry organised for the night. Before nightfall she trekked out to the spot, making sure she was well camouflaged and that the camera was working. She sat there till the wee hours of the morning, nothing happened.
She trudged home, Henry had just spent the night at the Nolan's. The house felt empty and eerie, maybe it was just an aftereffect of sitting in the dark all night waiting for nothing to happen but she felt a chill down her spine. She brushed it off, going for a shower to warm herself up then tumbling into bed. She woke up early, still knackered from the night before. She wasn't heading into work until midday but she wanted to take Henry to school and get him some breakfast. She knocked and David answered, he looked at her questioningly and she shook her head, "All quiet on the western front."
He nodded and showed her through to the kitchen, Mary-Margaret was battling with a fussy Leo. She smiled up at Emma, "He is still getting ready, sure you don't want to have breakfast here?"
She shook her head, "No its okay, feel like some of Granny's grease."
Emma gave Henry a hurry up, it was a little easier when he heard they were off to Granny's for breakfast. Soon they were walking through her front door, the little bell jingling as they walked to the counter. Emma ordered for the both of them having a little chat with Granny at the counter before sitting across the booth from Henry. He appraised her, "You look tired."
"Thanks kid," she said with a raised eyebrow making him chuckle. "I was out on patrol last night."
"Operation spinning wheel?"
She looked around the diner, there wasn't really anyone to worry about but still, "Covert mission remember." She said tapping her nose.
"Roger that," he said replicating the gesture.
Their meals arrived as well as Ruby who sat beside them, "I feel Emma that you are deliberately keeping things from me."
Emma took a sip of her delightfully cinnamon-ny hot chocolate, "like what?"
"Like I don't know super amazing news like a possible actual date..."
"Maybe because you can't be trusted to keep said information to yourself," she said back slightly snarkily.
Ruby ignored her annoyed tone, which Emma knew she would do anyway. "I can't help but be happy for my friends Emma, sometimes that means spreading the joy around. You know I am living vicariously through you really."
She rolled her eyes, "Just in future please keep it to yourself. Why would you need to live vicariously through me anyway?"
Ruby looked a little abashed, "No reason, just new love. Its so exciting, heart racing every time you see them, butterflies, that whole shtick."
Emma knew there was something off, but she had pretty much just this time to talk to Henry and didn't want to squander it. "Well that sounds like bull, feel like hanging out this weekend. I promise I will tell you all about tonight..."
Ruby lit up instantly, Emma felt a little bad for not telling her about the date truthfully but lately Ruby had been acting a little weird and Emma had been to preoccupied with her own shit to notice. "Sounds great, I not doing the Sunday shift this week. Feel like going for a hike?"
Emma nodded and Ruby left to go back to work while Emma continued to catch up with Henry. All plans to go straight back to bed were scuppered when she was dragged into the local flower shop by a fairly panicked looking Smee, he evidently did some part time work at 'Game of Thorns' and he was having trouble getting through at the sheriffs station and spotted Emma through the Diner window. Henry let her know he could get to the bus himself and she was off. She called David on the way to the shop , there had been a small car accident a few blocks over and he was currently sorting that out so Emma sighed resigned to the fact that she was going to be working whether she liked it or not thankful she had her badge in her handbag.
She showed up to a tense stand off between Mo French and Robert Gold, she couldn't get away from this man if she tried. Gold evaluated Emma as she approached and with the smarminess of a snake gestured at Mo who was blocking John Silver's entrance to the florist van. "Good, Miss Swan we need your assistance. Mr French here seems to be blocking me from seizing his property, alas as nasty a job as it is he has missed two payments and as such his loan with me is now defaulted."
He sighed doing his best to seem saddened by the turn of events as if Emma couldn't see the malevolent sparkle in his eyes, Mo had always disliked Gold. Going so far as to refuse to attend their wedding to register his disapproval. "The terms of his contract are quite clear."
Mo looked ropeable, he was on the verge of getting violent with Gold over this. He looked at Emma pleadingly, "I need this van, its my livelihood. Surely he needs a court order to do this."
She sympathised, but shook her head, "Not in Maine Mr French, he is entitled to take the van if in his view the loan is default."
He snarled, "Well he isn't fucking having it."
He squared up to Silver highlighting the obvious difference in their sizes, the smaller man tried but failed to hide his obvious fear. Emma had to stop this before it got worse, she looked Silver, "Can you step back for a second so we can try and sort this out without getting fists invovled."
"I will get what I am owed Miss Swan," Gold reminded her.
Anger filled her what he was owed was a trip to prison, "You certainly will." The malice showed through in her tone and he visibly flinched.
She took a step towards Mo, speaking low so only he could hear. "You don't want to do this, this turns physical I have only one choice and that is to arrest you for assault. You can try and get a court order to get the van back later but this here is going to happen whether you like it or not."
She saw his resolve falter, good, she was getting through. "I really don't want to arrest you, I would rather you win this fight but this right here, it isn't the way."
Mo hesitated for a moment, its hard for men like him to admit defeat. Mo was Australian, over 6 feet tall and built like a tank. It may have been muscle once but now it was mostly podge, either way if he wanted to he could do some damage. He was a proud man but he gave Emma a small nod.
She let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, turning to Gold she met his steely gaze with her own, "Now allow Mo here to take out any goods inside and you may take the van."
He wanted to challenge her but he was interrupted as Belle herself ran up to the scene, "What's going on?"
Mo was quickly directing Smee to get the flowers out before Gold could interfere his eyes snapping up as he heard his daughter's voice. Gold had his own fixed on Belle, he looked almost sad. Watching his estranged wife slightly out of breath as she took in all the players, Emma could see how much he felt for her. He recovered quickly as Mo started to yell, "This snake in the grass you married is trying to destroy my business is what's happening! Not content to ruin your life he wants mine too."
Belle frowned patting her fathers arm in an effort to calm him, it seemed to work which was good as Emma foresaw all the calm she had just achieved going up in smoke. She suspected that was what Gold wanted, Mo French taken away in cuffs. Although by the uncomfortable look on Gold's face he didn't want his daughter to witness it. Belle looked at Gold while she addressed her fathers assertion, "He didn't ruin my life dad."
Emma stepped in to fill her in, "He is seizing the van as Mo has missed some payments on his loan."
Belle sighed, "He can do that I assume?"
Emma nodded frustrated there was literally nothing she could do, "He can yes."
Belle looked at Gold, "Robert, I can settle his debt if that's what it takes."
He was obviously disgusted with the idea, "He made a deal and he broke it dearie, there is a price."
"There always is," she said sadly turning away.
Gold's eyes widened and for the briefest second Emma thought he would change his mind and let Mo keep the van but he stopped face hardening once again. Belle went to help Smee and her father finish unloading the van and Emma just waited, unsure that this would continue to go smoothly without her presence. Eventually with both parties in a tense stand off, Emma retrieved the keys from Mo to give to Silver. She warned Mo, "Go inside now please."
With a gentle nudge from his daughter he shuffled off inside. Gold walked towards he his cane tapping as he did, "thank you for your assistance Miss Swan. Your help was invaluable today."
"Maybe next time you can figure out a way to conduct your business without law enforcement being called, its getting a little old having to intervene in these matters." Emma couldn't help being terse, she was so tired and so sick of Gold and his shit. Not to mention the fact she was going to have to go to the station and write this incident down. She smiled, "Just a bit of advice of course it just seems like good business, but what would I know."
"Indeed," he said simply.
Without saying good bye he turned on his heel and went back to his shop leaving Emma standing outside the shop. She sighed, now that the adrenaline of the initial confrontation wearing off the full force of her tiredness hit her. She ducked back into Granny's on the way to the station to pay her bill and order a coffee to go needing a hit of caffeine.
David and Lance were evidently still at the accident when she got to the station. She turned on her ancient computer cursing that even though Regina and she were good friends it got her no-where in the way of budget requests for an upgrade. Annoying as it was, it was probably why Regina was so good at her job.
So she leaned back in her chair sipping her coffee unknowingly drifting off, she can't have been out for long as she felt David's firm grasp shaking her gently awake. "Hey Emma, what are you doing here?"
Emma yawned rubbing her eyes, "Coming to write up a report for the incident at 'Game of Thorns'."
"Did you have to arrest anyone?"
She shook her head, "Still warrants a report. Gold repossessed Mo's van, it got a bit tense." She said it quietly even though Lance wasn't there. She still hadn't got round to checking the station for bugs.
He nodded and she took another sip of her now lukewarm coffee grimacing slightly. Then she wrote up a report keeping as unbiased as she could, Mo was in the wrong after all. She then did what she had been meaning to do and checked the whole station for bugs, Lance gave her a few sideways looks but otherwise left her to it. Then Belle rang to ask about who to talk to about getting the van back and she chatted to her about her options and gave her some lawyers she knew who were fairly proficient in this area. In the end it was way too late when she left the station only managing to squeeze in an hour nap before she was up getting ready for her date. Numerous coffees and much under eye concealer she was ready to go, trying to ignore the sick nervous feeling in her stomach.
Killian was right on time knocking on her door, she opened it and his jaw dropped a little. She wasn't wearing anything special, well for someone who barely dressed up she guessed it was. She had her hair in a high pony and was wearing a light pink dress which usually she would consider a little frothy for her taste, except that the skirt did this swirly thing she liked so she accepted the frothy. Her makeup was simple in keeping with the dress. "Like what you see Jones? You did say to dress up."
He smiled rubbing behind his ear nervously, "That I did love, you look amazing."
She smiled, "You don't look so bad yourself."
That was of course an understatement, he looked fucking gorgeous. Skinny jeans, a charcoal grey shirt which showed a generous amount of chest hair and some charms round his neck. His hair was just rolled out of bed perfection and his eyes were rimmed with black. He raised an eyebrow, "Is not so bad the best you can do?"
She smiled despite herself, "Cocky bastard."
"Love you have no idea," he said taking her hand and placing a kiss to her knuckles. Fuck she was this close to telling his to screw the date so they could just screw. Instead she grabbed her bag and a shawl Mary-Margaret had bought her one Christmas she had yet to use, and let him guide her out of the loft.
"So there is like two restaurants in town and I assume you aren't taking me to Granny's so would we be going to Luigi's by any chance?"
He chuckled, "That was my initial thought... until I came up with a better idea."
She frowned as he guided her to a black jeep parked outside she assumed was his, "I am going to let you know now that I hate surprises."
"Noted, but you will suffer this small one for me."
She huffed but it wasn't real, she was far to curious about what he had in store. They drove out of town a little, then up to the highest point in Storybrooke. It was essentially a big hill with a little obelisk on top. The view was amazing, the twinkling of the town below and the Moon which was almost full lighting up the little harbour and the sea. Up here the light pollution seemed so much less, the stars so much more visible. She got out of the car taking in the view, happy the carpark was gravel so her heels didn't sink. "Like it?" he asked.
She smiled at him and simply said, "I love it."
He guided her down a little path to a platform, on it was a table set for two. There were candles set around it and even a little gas heater to keep them warm. He had gone to a lot of trouble and she found herself tearing up a little, fucking overtired brain. Killian looked a little panicked, "Love what have I done?"
She dabbed her eyes irritated with herself for getting so emotional then shook her head, "You did this, you did all this."
He gave her a half smile, "I wanted to spoil you Emma, I wanted you to know..."
"Know what?"
"That I mean this Emma, I'm not leaving, not buggering around. I mean this."
She nodded unable to form a coherent sentence, "and you set all this up?"
"I cooked all the food, Will owed me several favours one being bailing the sod out of the brig. So he set up the scene, did a pretty good job I think. When he clears up I think we will be square... I thought you might be a little more relaxed if we did something without the whole town watching love."
Emma couldn't really give a decent reply, she was so taken aback at all of it not least of all Killian giving a shit about the best way to make her comfortable. As it was, he made the right decision. Killian pulled out her chair for her to sit down, busying himself pouring wine for the two of them. First course was cheese croquettes, which Emma could have happily eaten all night, followed by some kind of Moroccan stew thing with cous cous. It was magical with music playing softly from a little speaker attached to Killian's phone and surprisingly easy conversation. He made her laugh, they shared stories just getting to know one another a little more. She couldn't work him out quite yet, but she was enjoying the journey which was nice but odd. Years of being a bail bondswoman coupled with her bad history with men, she was surprised she hadn't done a full background check on him before she had even considered a date, but for the first time she was going to sit back and enjoy the ride.
She sat on a picnic blanket further down the hill as Killian got their dessert, he promised tiramisu. Emma was happy for the extra caffeine. Of course while she was waiting for him lying back enjoying the view sleep beat her to another fix. She woke up with her head buried in Killian's chest, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She was bleary but she knew what she had done and groaned, "Killian I am so sorry."
He chuckled pressing a kiss to her hair, "Its okay, you looked like you needed it."
She looked up at him still leaning against his chest, "I did, sorry. I was on a stake out last night, operation spinning wheel. Unfortunately my plans for a nap went awry when I had to break up another fight caused by Gold."
"I heard from Will, its okay love. I hope you don't mind, the floor didn't look too comfortable so I volunteered my services as a pillow." He was a little sheepish, afraid he had crossed some invisible line.
She chuckled, "Do I look like I'm worked up about it."
His answering smile was so warm, then he traced the edge of her jaw with one hand, pushing aside some errant strands of hair that had come loose from her pony tail. She probably looked a mess but the way he was looking at her was as if she had hung the moon. No-one had ever looked at her like that. She looked up at him, the blueish light highlighting his features and she couldn't stop herself, didn't want to. She grabbed him, one hand on his jacket lapel the other tugging his neck just touching his soft black hair and she pulled him to her lips. She was worried for a second as his brain caught up with what was happening but then he started to move. What started slow quickly became more furious, caught up in the moment she licked his bottom lip gently and he moaned, fuck it was a beautiful sound. Suddenly he was on top of her, his body between her legs as he kissed her passionately, his tongue and hers exploring each others mouths. Then he was kissing her neck finding the sensitive spot beneath her ear quickly and eliciting a moan from her now.
He rolled his hips and she felt his hardness, it woke them both up. He drew back not stopping but the kisses turned gentler less frenzied, until he rested his forehead on hers. "Sorry love, probably not the time for that."
She giggled, like a fucking girl, "No probably not... It was..."
She couldn't find the words and he beamed at her, "My thoughts exactly."
He gave her another peck and got up onto his knees pulling her up too. "As you were just asleep a second ago, how about I get you home aye?"
She nodded feeling the back of her head, her fears confirmed as the nap coupled with that delicious make-out session meant her hair looked a mess. She did what she could before Killian came back with her shawl, wrapping it around her shoulders. She had to admit it felt nice to be looked after. As they walked back to the car she looked at the scene that was still set, Killian had blown out the candles and turned off the heater. As if reading her mind he spoke, "Already texted Will, he is en route as we speak to clear up."
"Debt repaid?"
He gave her a cheeky smile, "Probably but I might not tell him that just yet."
She laughed and got in the car, with much struggle she stayed awake for the ride back. Ever the gentleman he walked her to her door kissing her hand before turning to leave. She couldn't help but laugh, he turned confused. "I wasn't planning on inviting you in Killian," not that the idea hadn't crossed her mind. "But a goodnight kiss would be nice."
He grinned waggling his eyebrows, "Just nice love?"
Their fingertips touched, fingers intertwining and he brought his lips to hers. It was slower this time, both restraining themselves. It felt more exploratory, cataloguing how their lips felt on each others, how strong he felt beneath her fingers from his hands to his muscular arms, down his torso which was a tempting prospect then back up to run her nails gently through the scruff on his face. They both pulled away, both with pupils blown wide, wishing for more and not wanting to ruin it by giving in too soon.
"That was quite a lot better than nice," she mused a sly half-smile on her face.
He nodded, she saw his Adams-apple move as he gulped. "Good night Swan, does this mean I get a second date?"
She nodded, "I definitely think you have earned it."
He smiled as if he couldn't believe his luck, this was what confused her, scared her a little even. How on earth could this man who by all accounts seemed too good to be true look at her like she was the prize? Couldn't he see yet, or was she missing something? She tried to quell the rising panic, instead focusing on how perfect that date was and how for the first time in a long time she liked someone and it was mutual. He left giving her another little wave as he walked down the stairs which she returned. Emma fumbled with her keys to her apartment, then went straight to bed. She slept soundly the nightmares that had been plaguing her lately largely absent.