Emma casually looks over the stand of colourful sweaters as Henry snakes through the racks of men's clothing at the other end of the department store. He's growing so quickly that he needs new clothes every few months, but this time he insisted that he is old enough to choose his own now, so she lets him go look without his mother hovering (he still wants to use her credit card though).
She doesn't usually enjoy shopping but the mall is quiet on Tuesday evenings and the lack of other people makes it more peaceful. She's just browsing through the t-shirts when her phone vibrates in her pocket and she wonders if it's Henry asking her to pay when she sees Mary Margret's name on the screen.
'Hey Mary Margret, what's up?' She asks when she answers the call.
'Hey Emma. I was just wondering if you and Killian would like to go on a double date with me and David on Friday.' Mary Margret replies, and Emma stops walking and frowns. She hadn't exactly imagined her second date with Killian would include their neighbours.
'And where exactly did you get that idea?' Emma hedges, and she hears her friend laugh on the other end of the line.
'Well I just thought it would be a good way for us all to get to know each other and spend time together. I know I would like to get to know the guy that makes you smile ridiculously.' Mary Margret says, and Emma scrunches her face in embarrassment.
'Okay, I'll ask Killian what time he gets off work on Friday and text you if we can come.' Emma replies before she can change her mind. Mary Margret squeals on the other end with excitement and Emma shakes her head and laughs as she says goodbye.
Emma begins heading towards the checkout to wait for Henry when a dress catches her eye. She doesn't need a new dress for the date, but she hasn't indulged herself with anything material for a long time and despite her initial reaction she is actually looking forward to double dating on Friday.
She finds the dress in her size and goes to find Henry before she can put it back (she doesn't look at the price tag and is grateful the cost is not heart-attack inducing when the woman at the checkout scans it).
They head home with several bags of clothes as Henry attempts to justify why he needs the same shirt in three different colours and Emma hangs up the dress in her wardrobe with a smile.
Killian is admittedly nervous about the double date tonight. He had agreed to go and wanted to spend time with Emma but double dating with another couple was always a strange concept to him. David stopped him in the hallway and let him know that they were going to a seafood restaurant in town (one he knew was rather expensive) and that they would pick Emma and Mary Margret up at 7:30 for reservations at 8.
He sits at his checkout waiting for Emma, feeling more confident about it now that she was his girlfriend and not a stranger. He sees her pushing her cart up one of the aisles and his stomach flips when she looks over at him and smiles. He hasn't seen her since Sunday and he misses her her already.
It had been perfect that day, watching movies with her and laughing and kissing. He hadn't had a day like that in almost ten years and he had forgotten what it was like to be with someone. Emma gives him a sheepish smile every time their eyes meet as she passes him and he just wants to run his hand through her blonde curls and kiss her.
She finally finishes her shopping and comes to his checkout and he wishes he didn't have to be professional right now.
'Hi lass.' He says with a grin.
'Hey there.' She replies, their hands grazing as he moves to grab the items she unloads.
'Are you looking forward to tonight?' Killian asks her, raising his eyebrows when she scoffs in response.
'Honestly I didn't think we'd be spending our second date with another couple, but otherwise yes, I am.' He's glad she feels the same way about double dating but he doesn't voice his own opinions on the matter. 'I'm just glad to see you.' She adds, and he forces himself to act casual.
'I'm glad to see you too, love.' He scans her items slowly, both to spend more time with her and because he is distracted by her smile. He feels like a lovesick fool grinning at her but he's actually happy and he's embracing it after feeling down for so long.
'So I thought about what you said, about the job situation, and I've signed up for a cooking class. It's nothing fancy but it's a start, right?' Killian tells her. She's smiling when he looks back up at her and he laughs.
'Killian that's great.' She curls her hair behind her ear as she looks at him and it melts his heart.
'I also put your name down, if you were ever interested in coming with me.' Killian scans the last item through and fiddles with the machine before looking back up at her. She is still smiling but it's different this time. It's something he wouldn't have necessarily noticed in someone else but he seems to be quickly catching onto her personal expressions and gestures.
'I'd love to.' Emma says genuinely.
'Great, the first class is on Monday.' He replies as Emma takes her card out the machine after paying.
'Sounds good, and I'll see you tonight.' She tells him quietly as another customer comes up behind her. They share a smile as she leaves and he misses her already.
'David just messaged to say they're parked outside.' Mary Margret says as Emma slips on her heels. Henry had already eaten dinner and was playing his video game happily as Emma prepared to leave.
'Okay kid, we're leaving now. I'll be home in a few hours, call if you need me.' She feels strange saying this to him so many times recently, having never really had a social life like this before. Henry nods before returning back to his game, clearly more interested in battling zombies.
She heads down with Mary Margret and smiles when she sees their dates waiting in the lobby. Mary Margret and David hug and share a quick kiss as they greet each other and Emma sees Killian turn around to face her.
'How is it you look more beautiful every time I see you?' He whispers in her ear as he puts his arm around her and kisses her cheek (which flames with heat at his compliment despite only saying it loud enough for her to hear).
'Well your attractiveness accelerates just as much, trust me.' She responds, biting her lip when he laughs softly.
'Are we ready to go?' David asks, pulling Emma back into the reality of being in the company of people other than Killian. She nods and they follow David to his car, where Killian opens the door for her (with a ridiculous bow and hand gesture that makes her snort and roll her eyes).
Their neighbours chat animatedly in the front while they drive and Emma is grateful that they aren't forced into a group discussion just yet.
'I was thinking about introducing you to Henry, properly this time. Maybe the three of us could do something next weekend?' Emma says quietly. The middle seat is left empty between them in the back of the car but she can still feel the heat of his body like they are touching and it drives her crazy.
'I'd love to, but only if you're sure?' Killian replies, taking her hand and lacing their fingers together. His thumb is brushing over her skin and she can feel his eyes on her and she truly wishes they could be alone right now.
'Yes, I'm sure. I'd like you two to get to know each other. I don't want either of you thinking I'm hiding you from the other, and Henry seems keen to know you.' She makes eye contact then, his blue eyes still bright even in the darkness of the night outside.
'Really?' Killian asks, and he sounds genuinely surprised.
'He said he wants to know the person who is making his mother smile more.' She tells him, and the way his eyes soften makes her heart clench.
'Then I'd be honoured to spend time with your son, lass.' Killian says and she exhales shakily and smiles just as David reverses the car into a spot in the parking lot.
They enter the restaurant and the waitress takes them to their reserved table in the corner. Killian moves her chair for her before sitting opposite her and grinning at her from across the table. They order drinks and Emma begins to relax as the conversation drifts to how each of their days went.
'I had to deal with the world's crankiest cat today. Let's just say I needed to wear thick gloves before I gave it the injections.' David says, and Mary Margret laughs hysterically as he recreates the moment.
'I had a much more peaceful day actually. I gave my students a creative writing challenge and they were all so into it they forgot it was time was recess.' Mary Margret tells them as their round of drinks arrive.
'Well I have Fridays off, so I had a wonderful day not being at work.' Emma says, and they all groan exaggeratedly in jealousy before David turns his attention to Killian.
'And what about you, Killian? Anything exciting happen at work today?'
Emma watches Killian as his expression changes. He glances over at her quickly before clearing his throat.
'Nothing out of the ordinary. The best part of my day was getting to see Emma actually.' Her cheeks are definitely red now, but she ignores the noises coming from Mary Margret to look at Killian. He's looking at her in a way that makes her inhale sharply and she's grateful for the waiter coming at that moment to divert everyone's attention.
After their orders have been taken their discussion moves on to more casual topics, but Killian keeps looking over at her throughout the conversation.
'What do you think about it, Emma?' She hears Mary Margret ask beside her and her eyes widen. She feels like she's been caught daydreaming and she takes a drink of her wine before speaking.
'What do I think about what?' She feels Killian's leg brush against hers under the table and swallows thickly as she tries to ignore the contact.
'The mayor is trying to tear down the popular kids park in town and all the parents at the school are going crazy about it. She's defending herself by saying its old and unsafe and a new one will be built but the kids love that park. Do you think it's a good idea?' The question reminds her why she avoided being on the PTA at Henry's schools but she keeps that to herself.
'Well I'm sure if the park Henry loved when he was younger was getting torn down I'd be angry but I suppose their safety is the most important thing right?' Emma has no idea what everyone else's views on the matter were and she is not up for a debate but Mary Margret nods in agreement and Emma relaxes. She's never been very good at this sort of conversation.
'Oh that's right, Mary Margret mentioned you have a child. How old is he?' David asks.
'He's 12, turning 13 in a few weeks actually. He's at an age where he's more interested in video games than play parks.' She knows that they are all calculating how old she was when she got pregnant because it's what everyone does when she mentions having a child.
Emma also knows that Killian wouldn't and doesn't judge her on such matters, but she doesn't really know David. He smiles warmly at her and she's surprised for a moment at his lack of disgust that she was a teenage mother, but then she remembers Mary Margret gushing about him and if any of it were true he doesn't sound like that kind of person.
She decides that he is a nice guy and returns his smile (he also wins further brownie points when she notices the way he looks at Mary Margret when she isn't looking, he clearly adores her friend).
For all his internal moaning about double dating Killian is actually rather enjoying himself tonight. He's learned that David is a pretty great guy and that Mary Margret is sweet and kind and perfect for his neighbour. They finish each other's sentences and both care about animals and children and the environment.
He's also learned that had he and Emma not met each other in the supermarket their neighbours probably would have set them up together eventually anyway, which makes Emma scoff and turn red as she looks at him.
Emma has already told him that she was interested in him the first few times they saw each other but hearing it from her friend makes his stomach flip. Emma had told Mary Margret about him, and for someone who doesn't share a whole lot with people it means something that she mentioned him.
David and Mary Margret are busy sharing their dessert when Emma reaches for his hand across the table. Her touch surprises him but he grips onto her and smiles, squeezing her hand when she laughs lightly. He feels the words creep up on him again and he swallows thickly to push them down. Those words are definitely not appropriate after one week of dating.
They stay for a while after finishing their food and drinks and chat about what they would like to do when they retire (golf is David's guilty pleasure and Mary Margret would like to take up bird watching) before Emma suggests they make a move (he notices her avoiding the question).
He takes her hand as they leave the restaurant and pulls her close, wanting to be closer to her the entire night. She rests her head on his shoulder in the car as they drive back to her apartment and he kisses the top of her head, causing her to hum happily.
David parks the car but doesn't move to get out and Killian takes the hint.
'Come on lass, I'll walk you up.' He says to Emma, who frowns before nodding in understanding.
'It was great to meet you properly David, Mary Margret has definitely found a keeper in you.' Emma tells David from the backseat and smirks when her friend side-eyes her from the front.
'Well thank you Emma it was nice to get to know you too, a woman's best friend is just as important to win over.' David laughs, causing Mary Margret to playful smack his arm.
Emma shifts across the seat and Killian moves around the car to open the door for her. They walk slowly towards the apartment building, his arm resting loosely across her shoulders.
'You never answered the question about retirement, love.' He muses out loud, and he feels Emma's shoulders move beneath his arm.
'I don't have any retirement plans, is that something all 30 year olds should have?' She jokes, and he kisses her temple before opening the building door for her.
'Not exactly, but haven't you ever pictured what you would be doing when you finish working?' He says as he presses the button for the elevator.
'Honestly, no. I don't like thinking past what I'm going to eat every night. The only time I ever thought about the future was when I was in jail and I focused on getting out.' Emma says quietly, and he realizes she's being serious. It was the first time she had mentioned she had been in prison but he doesn't question her on it.
The elevator doors open and once they're standing inside he takes her hand again.
'The future doesn't have to be scary you know.'
The doors close and suddenly Emma's lips are on his. She's pressing him against the wall and her hands are in his hair and across his neck. He holds her to him, his hands moving across her waist and resting on her hips. Her moans are muffled against his lips and feels heat course through his body.
He vaguely hears the ding of the elevator reaching her floor and she pulls away from him and walks down the hall to her door. He follows her out and walks beside her, noticing the way she brushes down her hair.
'I wish it had just been the two of us tonight because that would have happened a lot sooner.' She says with a shy smile when she turns to face him. He laughs and she pulls him by the lapels of his jacket and sways into him.
He leans the rest of the way and kisses her, celebrating the fact that he is now close enough to feel her warmth and smell her perfume. He hears voices from down the hall and reluctantly breaks away from Emma.
'I can't wait to see you Monday.' She whispers, and he brushes his nose against hers as he nods in agreement.
'Until then, love.' Killian watches as she retreats into her apartment and he exhales. He's got it so bad for this woman.
A/N: Just a regular message to say thank you for the amazing feedback on this story!
And who else is loving adorable Captain Swan moments in the new episodes?!