A/N: Hello my loves! Another long wait, I know, I know, but this is officially the longest chapter to date, so hopefully you'll forgive me! ;) Also, this chapter officially puts the fic at over 100k words and I'm actually shocked that it's gotten this long!
"I thought you said you just wanted to do hamburgers and hotdogs?" Emma asks as she picks through the shavings and tosses the last pile of manure into the wheelbarrow in the doorway.
"Aye, for supper, but there's still the matter of appetizers and dessert," Killian replies from the stall across the aisle.
Groaning, she spreads out the clean shavings and moves her wheelbarrow to the next stall. "I think you're making this a lot more complicated than it needs to be."
"How so?" He smiles at her infuriatingly, still working. "It's hardly complicated, love. I'm simply proposing that we make some of the food ourselves instead of purchasing it frozen, boxed, or bagged."
She pouts and whines a little, "But that's so much work."
"Perhaps, but more for I than you – you don't have to help me in the kitchen, I'm just asking for ideas – you've a better idea what your friends would like."
Abandoning her pitchfork, she crosses the aisle to lean against the door of the stall he's working in, watching his muscles flex as he sorts through the soiled bedding. "This whole thing was my idea, so obviously I'm not going to let you do all the work alone, I just think it would be easier to do chips and dip and maybe grab something premade from the bakery. We still have trail rides to do this afternoon," she points out. "How are you planning to fit this all in?"
He doesn't stop mucking, just throws another shovelful into the wheelbarrow and grins at her. "I plan to fit this all in by hastening through this morning's chores so we can run into town before lunch: an endeavour, darling, we should be able to manage if you'd quit gazing at me and get back to work."
He's teasing her, a stupid smirk on his face and she'd like to kiss it off, but instead she does as suggested and returns to mucking, rolling her eyes.
"I wasn't gazing," she retorts, too late and with nowhere near enough force, because Killian just raises a skeptical eyebrow.
She probably was gazing. It's hard not to, especially now that she knows the taste of his lips and the feel of his arms around her, his scent still clinging to the t-shirt tucked away beneath her pillow. Maybe spending a couple hours with him in the kitchen won't be such a bad thing. Maybe they'll actually be alone long enough that she can steal a kiss (or several) and pester him about his plans for their yet to be scheduled date.
Any plans she'd had to kiss him this morning had been instantly swept away in a wave of disappointment when she woke to find her parents already up and in the kitchen. And since then, her father has been in and out of the barn, restocking grain and doing regular maintenance on the tractor, never gone for long enough to risk losing herself in a kiss.
"Are any of your friends opposed to rhubarb?" Killian asks several minutes later when he returns from dumping his wheelbarrow. "I just noticed your mother's got some in the garden and I was thinking perhaps I'd make apple rhubarb crisp for dessert?"
"I'm not sure about Will, but as far as I know, everyone else is a fan." She almost salivates at the thought of it. "We should get ice cream to go with it. Ingrid has this cinnamon and vanilla bean flavour that is just..." she bites her lower lip, trying to think of the right word to describe it – orgasmic comes to mind, but in the end she goes with the safer option of "really, really good."
If she didn't know better, she'd swear Killian could read her mind, because the look on his face as he watches her is anything but innocent, and she takes the opportunity to turn his words around and throw them back at him. "Killian?"
"Aye, love?"
"Stop staring and get back to work."
He laughs and nods, pushing his wheelbarrow toward the next stall. "Yes, dear."
She makes a point of focusing after that, and it seems he does too, because they finish the stalls and are done sweeping out the barn before 10 o'clock.
Killian hangs his broom on the wall next to hers and brushes the dust and hay bits from his jeans. "Would you like to drive, love, or shall I?"
"You can," she tells him, following him out of the barn and toward the house. "The jeep has more room for groceries and beer."
Mary Margaret and Abi are in the living room, seated at the foot of the bed, chatting while Colin rolls around on the floor with Duke, squealing every time the aging dog licks at his face.
Killian grabs his wallet and keys from the table next to the bed and pockets them before crouching to tickle Colin and rub Duke's belly.
"Are you two done the stalls already?" Mary Margaret asks, looking at the clock.
Killian nods. "Aye, stepped up our game this morning so we'd have time to run into town for supplies and get some prep-work done in the kitchen before the trail rides this afternoon."
"This one here is insisting on homemade appetizers and dessert," Emma says, jerking her thumb in Killian's direction.
Mary Margaret looks impressed, Abi looks proud, and Killian just shakes his head. "We should get going," he reminds her, nodding toward the door.
"Just let me grab my purse."
She heads down the hall to her room and grabs it from the hook on the back of her door, checking her phone as she returns to the living room. Belle, Ruby, and the guys had confirmed right away to say they were coming, but she's still been waiting to hear back from Ashley.
"You're welcome to come into town with us," Killian tells Abi as he gives Duke one last rub and straightens.
"Nah, you go ahead, we'll just slow you down," Abi insists. "Besides, Mary Margaret is going to take us for a little hike to find a pond with some frogs and tadpoles."
Colin looks up and claps his hands in excitement. "Fwogies!"
Emma laughs, imagining the little boy splashing around in murky water; scaring off all of the frogs he has hopes of catching. "Have fun!"
"Oh, I'm certain we shall," Abi says, shaking her head and moving from the bed to scoop up her son. "Let's go get you ready, little lad."
They walk with Colin and Abi across the driveway and part ways at the jeep, and just seconds after she gets seated and buckled, her phone beeps and vibrates against her hip, signalling an incoming text. She pulls it from her pocket and Killian starts the car, heading up the driveway.
- Hey, Emma! We'll be there! Found someone to come in and check on the dogs this evening. Alexa is looking forward to playing with Colin again! Is there anything you need us to bring? -
Emma smiles and types out her reply, glad that they'll be able to make it. - Just yourselves! See you guys tonight! -
"Ashley and Sean found a dog-sitter, so they'll be coming and bringing Alexa," she tells Killian, reaching for his hand after she tucks her phone away in her purse.
"Ah, that's excellent; Colin will be thrilled." He links his fingers with hers and brings her hand to his lips, kissing each one of her knuckles while keeping his eyes fixed on the road. The stubble of his beard is coarse in contrast to the softness of his lips and she shivers despite the warm summer air gusting in through the open windows.
She briefly wonders if he has any idea of the effect he has on her; how effortlessly the smallest touch tugs at her heart and twists her up in knots. Judging by the small smile flirting with his lips, she suspects that he does.
"You didn't have to bring your wallet, love, I'm happy to pay," he insists, glancing over at her as he settles their joint hands back down on the console.
"No way am I letting you pay for it all. I'll get the alcohol, and if you must, you can pay for the groceries."
He chuckles and seems to accept it, so she lapses into silence and looks out at the blur of scenery zipping past, enjoying the scent of freshly mowed grass and morning wood fire.
Hanging her arm out the open window, she lets her fingers ride the roller coaster current while the wind does its best to unravel her braid, loose strands whipping against her face. She closes her eyes and breathes deep, letting the peaceful perfection of the moment wash over her.
"So, this date..." she begins, opening her eyes and turning her attention to Killian. "Where are you taking me and how long are you going to make me wait?"
"It's a surprise, and I'm thinking Sunday."
She leans over the console and sighs. "How will I know what to wear? And that's only two days away. We haven't told my parents about us yet; aren't they going to think it's strange if we just wander off without any explanation?"
She's probably worrying too much, but they're both valid questions.
He squeezes her hand reassuringly, understanding, without words, as he always does. "Dress as you normally would, nothing fancy required, and as for your parents, I've got it covered."
"Covered how?"
"I can't go into detail without ruining the surprise, love, but I trust me when I say that nothing will appear even remotely suspicious, all right?" he promises, and she does trust him, does believe him, she just wants to make sure.
"It's not that I don't want them to know, I just," she huffs and swipes the hair from her face, "I guess I just want to enjoy this – us, without any outside interference for a while first. I mean I'm pretty sure they're not going to do anything drastic like fire you, because let's face it, my dad practically worships you, but that won't stop him from doing the whole over protective father thing; frowning and lurking and making life awkward. And mom will probably jump right into picking out china patterns, and I'm so not ready for that. Besides, do I seem like the kind of girl that gives a crap about fine china? Is that even a thing still?"
He laughs and releases her hand to pull her as close as her seatbelt will allow. "Whenever you're ready, darling, we'll tell them, and not a moment sooner. There's no rush."
Leaning into his shoulder, she kisses his cheek. "Thank you," she tells him, meaning it. And then, to lighten the mood, she adds, "You won't even give me a hint?"
In an instant his fingers find the ticklish spot between her ribs and hipbone and she squeals, practically leaping all the way back into her own seat, looking at him like she's been betrayed.
"You're ticklish," he declares proudly, shit-eating grin lighting up his face.
"Noooo."
He looks away from the road for a second and raises an eyebrow. "Lies," he whispers accusingly, reaching out, threatening to tickle her again. He doesn't even make contact, but it's enough to send her into a fit of giggles that she can't quite manage to shake until they're pulling into the parking lot of the liquor store.
"Do we have a list, love?" he asks her as they walk toward the door.
She grabs a cart at the entrance and shrugs her shoulders. "Beer, maybe some wine. Whatever else catches your eye?"
They end up picking an assortment of canned beer and other mixed beverages; Canadian, Guinness, Sleeman, Jack & Lemonade, plus half dozen blackberry ciders. She also grabs a couple bottles of white wine that she knows her mother loves and adds them to the cart as they head to the check out.
The cashier rings them through without asking for ID and Emma's pretty sure it's only because she's here with Killian. Whenever she buys alcohol alone, without fail, they eye her like she's some under-aged delinquent and spend a ridiculous amount of time scrutinising her driver's licence.
Piling their purchases in the back, they choose to simply walk across the street to the grocery store. It's a small town and driving such a short distance just to find another parking spot seems silly. With the two of them, carrying the bags back to the jeep won't be an issue.
She grabs a cart and follows Killian through the store, wishing she'd thought to bring a sweater along. It's always been ridiculously cold with the air conditioning running in this grocery store and she bounces slightly on the spot while Killian picks out an assortment of vegetables, some of which she's not even sure she can name.
Stepping closer to him, she yanks the list from his hand while he's distracted selecting ears of sweet corn. He smiles at her and she quickly scans the list, ripping off the bottom half containing dry or packaged items.
"I'll grab these and meet you in the frozen section?"
"Sounds like a plan, love, make sure the kidney beans are canned, not bagged, aye?"
"Aye aye, Captain," she jokes, laughing when he shakes his head and does that damnable waggle of his eyebrows.
Grabbing a basket she piles in hamburger and hotdog buns next to a couple bags of flat bread. She's not sure what he intends to use it for, but she'd rather have too much than not enough. A can of white kidney beans, orecchiette pasta, and oatmeal are next on the list. She follows those up with a jar of salsa, tortilla chips, and a bag of Cheetos in an act of defiance she knows he'll pick up on.
She finds him in the frozen aisle a moment later, grabbing a box of hamburgers from the freezer shelf.
"What's left on the list?" she asks, transferring the items from the basket to the cart.
He snorts rather indelicately when he sees the Cheetos, but he chooses not to comment on her ridiculous choice of snack food. "Just the hotdogs and some sausage," he tells her, leading the way down the aisle.
She peeks into the cart as they walk, trying to guess what he's planning to make from the assortment of groceries he's selected. Whatever he has planned, she has no doubt it will be delicious. She's tasted his cooking before and it's a far cry from the disappointment of frozen dinners and leftover take-out that she got used to while living with Neal.
It's a welcome thought to know that someday down the road, if things go well and they end up living together, she won't have to visit her mother in search of a decent meal. It's also a little surreal and it brings up a boatload of questions that she doesn't have answers to, so she pushes it from her mind and focuses on picking out her father's favourite brand of all-beef hotdogs while Killian selects the sausage.
The grocery store is quiet this early in the day and they don't have to wait in line, which means it's not long before they're carrying the groceries back across the street and awkwardly juggling the bags so that Killian can open the hatch.
A quick trip into Any Given Sundae to pick up the ice cream, followed by an impromptu stop at Granny's for a take-out order of grilled cheese and onion rings to eat in the car, and then they're back on the road. She considers kissing Killian while they're stopped at the lights heading out of town, but Gus rolls up next to them, instantly recognises the jeep, and rolls down his window to say hello.
When they get home they put away the groceries, working around her father in the kitchen as he finishes up the breakfast dishes and makes himself a sandwich. Killian gets her to cut up an assortment of bell peppers, parsley, and radicchio while he browns the sausage in a frying pan. He pulls a second pan from the drawer and adds the chopped pepper and radicchio to that one.
She chops arugula next while Killian starts a pot of boiling water for the pasta and preheats the oven. He seems to be doing it all without any sort of recipe and even her father looks impressed.
After finishing his sandwich, David gets roped into peeling and slicing apples, and Emma fetches rhubarb stalks from the garden, washing them and dicing them into bite sized pieces.
When it's all said and done, there's a large apple rhubarb crisp cooling on the counter and a colourful pasta salad saran-wrapped on the middle shelf of the fridge. The sausage and arugula get tucked away to be used atop the flatbread later, and as 1 o'clock approaches, her father shoos them out the door, insisting that he'll finish with the clean up.
The afternoon is a blur of guests and horses, trail rides and familiar scenery, and by the time they've fed and settled all the horses back in their stalls for the day, she's looking forward to a shower and an ice cold cider.
"You shower first, love," Killian tells her as they trudge back to the house.
Outside, David is prepping the fire pit, and inside, Abi and Mary Margaret are seated at the kitchen table, conversing quietly. Colin is passed out on the pull-out couch next to Duke, and Emma pads quietly past them on the way to her room, grinning when she sees the small plastic terrarium complete with a couple frogs on the coffee table.
She braids her hair again after showering and dresses casually in jean shorts and a tank top, tying a flannel around her waist for later after the sun sets.
The kitchen smells fabulous when she rejoins the group and asks what she can do.
Her mother and Abi have already started on the wine and Killian helps her move the large cooler full of ice and drinks out to the porch, so all she has to do is pull the flat bread from the oven when the timer beeps.
Killian heads down the hall to shower and she grabs a cider from the cooler before taking a seat at the table. "I'm not sure why you like this whole party throwing business so much, mom. It's a lot of work," she whines.
Her mother laughs and places a mollifying pat on her hand. "It gets easier the more you do it."
Abi nods in agreement and they go on to talk about Colin's frog catching adventures, trying to remain quiet so that the exhausted boy can nap for a while longer.
The timer goes off and Emma stretches in her chair, reaching out to silence it quickly, but then a car door slams and Duke leaps off the bed and runs through the kitchen, barking loudly as he paws impatiently at the screen door. Seconds after that Colin starts crying and they all stand at once.
"I'll get the food," Emma says, pulling on the oven mitts.
Mary Margaret starts toward the door. "Dog."
"Screaming child," Abi laughs, heading into the living room.
Emma pulls the pans containing the flat bread from the oven and sits them on the stove to cool, and it's only because they're still steaming that she resists the urge to snag a bite. She assumes that Killian plans to cut them up into smaller pieces, but she'll leave that up to him when he returns.
Turning the oven off, she digs through the cupboard to locate two large chip bowls, plus a smaller one for the salsa. She stacks them on the table next to the grocery bag with the chips and does a small spin, looking around the kitchen and trying to determine what else needs to be done.
The corn is already soaking in the sink, and outside she can see that her dad has a fire going in preparation for cooking it, so she steps into the living room to see if Abi needs a hand with Colin.
The boy is sitting up now, snuffling quietly and Emma walks over to the coffee table and crouches to look at the frogs in the terrarium. "What are their names?" she asks the Colin, holding up the little tank comprised of half-land, half-water.
"Hoppy n' Mud," he tells her, pointing with a chubby finger and wiping at his eyes with the other hand. "Ma says we can't keep, they has to stay with Killy."
Emma smiles at that. "Well I'll make sure that Killy takes real good care of them."
"Take care of who now?" Killian asks, appearing and crouching down beside her.
"HOPPY AAAAAAND... MUD!" Colin exclaims excitedly.
"Your new pets," Emma clarifies, laughing at the slightly bewildered look on Killian's face.
Colin giggles and Abi urges him to scoot off the bed. "Let's go outside, wee one," she says, holding out her hand. "Duke probably wants to play fetch."
Abi and Colin head through the kitchen and into the mudroom and Emma sits the tank back down on the table before standing. "That sounded like Ruby's car. We should get everything moved outside and go say hi."
The screen door slams shut and she can here Colin's muffled scream of glee, followed by Abi telling him to slow down.
"Aye, in a moment." Killian chuckles and reaches for her waist, pulling her flush against him. She steadies herself against his chest and licks her lips as she meets his eyes, waiting expectantly.
"I've no clue when we'll be alone next and I don't intend to spend the rest of the evening waiting for a better opportunity to kiss you," he tells her, leaning down to capture her lips in a soft kiss.
She exhales and melts into him, sighs when he pulls back and allows the beat of his heart to pound steadily against her palm, one, two, three times, before she opens her eyes and smiles up at him.
"I guess hiding out in here with you isn't an option, is it?"
He kisses her forehead and nudges her toward the kitchen. "It's an option, darling, but it's hardly polite and certainly not prudent if you intend to keep this between us for a while longer."
She sighs because he's right, and unless she feels like announcing their relationship to everyone present, they'd better get a move on.
Pulling a serving platter from the shelf beside the fridge, she arranges the flat bread on it as he slices it with a pizza cutter. Figuring that now is as good a time as any to sample it; she steals a small piece and closes her eyes as she chews. "Oh my god, what did you put on this? It's amazing!"
"Asiago and artichoke spread, honey-garlic sausage, chopped arugula, and mozzarella," he lists, reaching out to wipe a spot of the creamy spread from her lower lip.
He sucks his thumb into his mouth, tongue swirling to clean it off and she groans, glaring at him. "Really?"
Winking, he reaches for the tray and makes his way across the kitchen to step into a pair of flip flops, and god damn him because he knows exactly the effect he has on her.
"Coming, darling?" he asks, waiting at the door, and she quickly grabs the chips and bowls from the table, holding her drink with her free hand while she struggles to shove her feet into her boots.
He holds the door open for her, and then follows her down the steps and over to the table where her mother meets them and takes the bowls from her arms. Victor gets the cooler from the porch and brings it down to the yard, and while Emma organizes the snacks on the picnic table, Killian runs back inside with Will to grab the fold out table and chairs.
Somewhere between hugging her friends and making sure everyone has something to drink, Sean and Ashley arrive with Alexa and the process begins all over again. The kids play with Duke on the lawn, kicking around and chasing several colourful balloons that she doesn't remember buying, let alone blowing up, and everyone else stands or sits around the tables, chatting and devouring Killian's flat bread.
When Killian heads inside to retrieve the burgers and hotdogs, she follows him in to get the corn, asking Belle to accompany her and help with carrying things. It's a bit of a juggling act, but with Killian holding the meat and the door, Emma clutching the heavy tub filled with corn, and Belle balancing the buns, tongs and a tray, they manage to get the essentials outside in one trip. They'll have to run back in for plates, cutlery, burger fixings, and the pasta salad, but that can wait a while longer.
David keeps Killian company as he barbeques and Emma places the un-husked corn on the grill over the dwindling campfire, rotating them as necessary while she catches up with Belle and Ruby. Sean, Victor, and Will mess around with the kid sized basketball net, and Ashley seems to be immersed in an animated conversation with Abi and Mary Margaret.
Assigning seats while wrangling the kids is chaos, and now that she actually wants to sit next to Killian, she ends up seated between Abi and Ashley at the opposite end of the table from him. It's probably for the best though, because she's still shadowed by this almost constant urge to touch him and she's pretty sure she'd end up not so discreetly reaching for his hand or his thigh beneath the table.
Dinner is simple and delicious and it's wonderful to have the people she cares about most in this world all gathered together for a meal beneath the bright blue sky. They all eat off of paper plates and afterwards they get tossed into the smoking fire pit to burn.
At Ruby's insistence, Victor helps Killian carry the remaining dishes inside, and when they return, Killian informs everyone that dessert is warming in the oven and that it will be ready soon along with coffee and tea if anyone is so inclined.
Colin and Alexa refuse to sit still any longer, growing restless at the table, so Mary Margaret releases them to sit in the grass with brightly coloured construction paper and crayons.
Conversation continues throughout dessert and there's talk of Ashley and Sean placing an offer on a house just down the street from Ruby. Belle announces that funding has come through to complete renovations and update the rarely used second floor of the library, and Victor tells them about his upcoming obstetrics residency in the fall.
With the campfire grill moved over next to the barbeque, the corn husks get dumped into the fire pit and Killian uses the large tub to gather the coffee mugs and dishes. As she helps him clear the tables, everyone slowly relocates to the fire, taking seats on the benches and in fold-out camp chairs. Will and Victor quickly get the flames going again, and when Abi offers to come in and help with the dishes, Killian promptly declines, insisting that she grab a seat and enjoy the remainder of the evening sun.
Emma leads the way to the house and holds the door open for him, bunched up tablecloths beneath her arm, empty beer cans in the grocery bag hanging from her wrist.
"I can clean these up if you want to head over to the barn and do night check," Killian offers.
Stacking the empties back in the case, she shakes her head. "Dad's taking care of the horses tonight, I'll help you in here, it won't take that long."
He pauses and likely considers protesting, is probably going to insist that she go back outside and spend time with her friends, but after a moment he seems to think better of it. "Wash or dry?" he asks, sitting the tub next to the sink.
"I'll dry." She drapes the tablecloths over the back of a chair and reaches for a dishtowel. "Alexa and Colin seem to get on well," she notes, pulling the drying rack from the cupboard.
"Aye, Abi tells me that he's quite the little charmer at daycare, all the lasses love him."
"Must run in the family." She bumps her hip softly against his as he adds dish soap to the running water.
"Liam was always better with the ladies than I," Killian insists, carefully settling the mugs in the sink. "I was awkward and skinny and could hardly speak to a lass without blushing until I was nearly 22. I'm sure if you ask Abigail she'll gladly e-mail pictures that prove it – I know she kept all of the photo albums."
Emma laughs and reaches for a mug to dry. "I find it hard to believe that this," she makes a sweeping gesture to encompass his entire being, "was ever awkward. I mean, and I say this at the risk of unnecessarily inflating your ego, have you seen yourself?"
Chuckling, Killian flicks soapy water at her. "Darling, I had braces until I was 19. To this day I still haven't a bloody clue how Liam managed to afford them, but when you've got a mouth full of metal for most of your teenage years, it severely diminishes your self-confidence."
Wiping the water droplets from her chest, she winds up the towel and flicks it at him, catching him in the ass with a sharp snap.
The instant she does it she knows she's going to regret it and a look up at his face confirms it.
He growls and drops the dishcloth back into the sudsy water, a predatory gleam in his eyes and a feral grin on his lips.
"Oh shit."
She's in trouble.
In less than a heartbeat he has he pinned against the fridge door and is scraping his beard against her neck as he tickles her relentlessly, wet hands beneath her shirt, fingers poking at her stomach and ribs and she's breathless, screeching quietly, laughing so hard that the only thing keeping her from sliding to the floor is the weight of his body pressing her into the cold metal at her back.
"God, Killiaaaaaaan, st-st-sto-stop – tic-tickling – meeeeee," she stutters out between gasping breaths of laughter, clinging to him even as she attempts to squirm away. Several magnets and the miniature whiteboard clatter to the ground but she hardly notices, too busy alternating between half-hearted shoves at his chest and sharp pokes to his sides, hoping and failing to find a ticklish spot that'll fend him off long enough for her to catch her breath.
When he finally relents, stilling his hands on her hips beneath the hem of her shirt, she has mirthful tears streaming down her cheeks and her chest is still shaking with laughter. "You," she pokes him dead centre in the chest, "are an ass."
"Aye, I might be," he nods his head and brings a hand up to cup her cheek, brushing the tears away, "but I'm yours."
The laughter dies instantly on her lips because he's looking at her like she's something to be cherished, something precious, and she's as much his as he is hers, but she's not quite sure how to put that into words so instead she just kisses him, hoping he understands.
After a moment he pulls back slightly and rests his forehead against hers, smiling through a sigh, thumb dragging along her collarbone, more soothing than teasing. "We really should finish those dishes, darling."
"Soon," she whispers, not quite ready to release him. "I just want to stay right here with you for a minute longer."
She leans in to kiss him again, tucking her fingers into the waistband of his shorts, against the heat of his lower back, pulling him into her, solid and warm. His fingers find their way under her shirt again, far from ticklish this time as they trace the cup of her bra, hand palming the weight of her breast, a gentle but intentional caress.
"Hey guys, I just need to use the – HOLY SHIT! OHMYGOD I KNEW IT!" Ruby screams, standing in the kitchen doorway.
Killian notices a split second before she does and drops his hands, trying to step back, but her hands are still hooked in his shorts so he doesn't manage to put much of any distance between them and really, what's the point? Ruby's obviously seen enough for it to be unmistakable.
"HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON? GUUUUYS THIS IS AMAZING!" Ruby continues, before finally lowering her voice, "I'm so happy for you – Wait... am I the first person to know? I am aren't I? Oh god, you're gonna make me keep this a secret aren't you?"
"It's uh not what- we're not-" Kilian starts, trying to cover, play it off as something it's clearly not and Emma just laughs, releases him, and smoothes a hand over his chest. "It's all right, Killian. Yes, Ruby, we're together, but it's new and we haven't told anyone yet so you have to keep quiet until we do, okay? Please?"
Ruby just sits her beer on the table and rushes forward to hug them quickly. "Guuuuuuys, seriously though, this is just the best. Can I tell Belle? Please? I can't be the only one to know, that's so not fair. Just her, you know she can keep a secret, we won't tell anyone else!"
"Tell me what?" Belle asks as she walks into the kitchen.
"Oh bloody hell," Killian mutters and Belle takes one look at the group of them, eyes drawn to where Emma's hand still rests against Killian's chest, and a huge smile spreads across her face. "It's about time!" she cheers.
Emma groans. "Are you happy now, Ruby? Belle knows, you know, now you both have to keep quiet until we get around to telling my parents?"
"You haven't told them yet?" Belle asks.
"How long has this been going on exactly?" Ruby asks again.
Emma exchanges a look with Killian and he nods, indicating that she should answer.
"No, we haven't told them yet. It's only been a few days, kind of, I guess. I mean it's been longer, but not really, it was complicated."
"And now it's not?" Belle questions. "What changed?"
"Perhaps we should finish those dishes now?" Killian suggests, attempting to shift the conversation while scratching at the back of his neck.
"You didn't seem to be in any hurry to clean up when I walked in," Ruby teases.
"Guys, we'll talk later," Emma promises. "Didn't you need to use the bathroom, Ruby?" she adds pointedly.
Holding up her hands defensively, Ruby grins. "Yeah, yeah, I'm going."
Belle lingers in the kitchen and smiles knowingly. "I just came in to see if you guys needed any help with the dishes. You were taking a while and we wanted to start a game of charades before it gets dark," she tells them, grabbing a second dishtowel. "Good thing I did or we might've been waiting all night."
Because she can, Emma places one last chaste kiss against Killian's lips before turning him back toward the sink with a gentle shove and picking up her discarded dishtowel. "How long have we been in here?" she asks Belle.
"About ten minutes."
Emma looks at the lone coffee mug they managed to get washed and bursts into laughter.
It really is a good thing her friends interrupted when they did. Who knows how long it would have taken her and Killian to finish the dishes otherwise. She hadn't anticipated any one finding out this soon and certainly not by accident, but somehow having her friends know is actually a relief, even if it means putting up with their nosy questions.
Ruby returns from the bathroom and Emma hands her the dishtowel, moving to put away the already dry dishes.
"Sooooo..." Ruby drawls and Emma can tell by the tone of her voice that she's not going to drop the subject easily. "Have you guy been out on a date or have you and Killian just been sneaking around behind your parent's backs? Probably pretty hard to find much alone time, right?" she continues, "Oh! But you were just up at the tepees! Anything scandalous happen?"
Killian looks a little like he hopes the floor would open up and swallow him whole, Belle is struggling to keep a straight face, and Emma just rolls her eyes because she's not at all surprised that Ruby's line of questioning took all of four short sentences to reach sex.
"We are not discussing that, Ruby," Emma informs her friend firmly. Killian certainly didn't seem the least bit uncomfortable the other morning up at the tepees, but she gets the feeling that he prefers to keep the private stuff private, and Ruby really does have zero boundaries.
"Okay, okay, fiiiiine. I assume that's a no to the date then?"
Emma sorts the cutlery and places it back in the drawer. "He says Sunday, but he won't tell me where we're going or what we're doing," she complains, mock glaring at Killian across the kitchen.
"That's because it's supposed to be a surprise, love."
"Uh oh, Emma hates surprises," Belle warns.
"It's just... in my experience they tend to be at best; a disappointment, and at worst; a total disaster," Emma explains somewhat defensively.
"I promise this will be neither a disappointment nor a disaster. Have a little faith in me, darling," he requests as he drains the sink. "Have I let you down yet?"
He hasn't and they both know it. "Fine, but if it's a disaster, Belle and Ruby are going to hear all about it and they'll never let you live it down."
"It won't be."
"You sound pretty sure of yourself there, mister."
"Oh I am. I know you and I know what you like."
Emma scoffs, but she knows he's right. She might not like surprises, but she trusts him and she can safely expect to have a great time doing whatever it is that he has planned.
"You guys are adorable," Ruby comments, hip propped against the counter, regarding them with the expression she usually reserves for baby animals.
Belle nods in agreement. "We really should get back outside now though."
"You guys want us to go out first? Give you lovers a moment of privacy?" Ruby needles, winking and nudging Killian in the arm.
Killian shakes his head and motions for them to precede him to the door. "I think we'll be all right."
"Might want to pick the magnets and whiteboard up off the floor first," Belle reminds them and Ruby starts laughing as she grabs Belle's arm and drags her out the door.
Killian bends to retrieve the fallen objects from the floor so he can stick them back on the fridge and then turns to her, taking her hand. "You all right with them knowing, love? I'm afraid we got a little carried away. Hadn't even crossed my mind that anyone could've walked in; seems I lose myself a little where you're concerned."
Squeezing his hand, she tugs him toward the door. "I know the feeling. And I'm actually a relieved that someone knows. Glad it wasn't my father that walked in though."
"Aye, might not have appreciated me groping his daughter whilst pinning her to the refrigerator," he jokes.
"Yeah, let's avoid having him find out that way. I'll be really sad if you happen to die in a mysterious but unfortunate accident before I have a chance to see what's under those pants." She can't resist hooking two fingers in the waistband of his shorts, just behind the button, hot skin and coarse hair brushing against her knuckles.
Killian growls; a low, quiet, almost animalistic thing that rumbles all the way down his chest and into her finger tips.
"Darling," he says in warning, "unless you want everyone here to know the exact nature of our relationship in what would likely be unfortunately graphic detail, I suggest that you move your hand, turn around, and walk out that bloody door within the next five seconds."
She gulps and removes her hand from his pants, heat blossoming in a rush of arousal so fierce that for a split second she actually considers taking him up on his threat. Common sense kicks in though and she's barely got her boots on before she's half stumbling out the door.
He follows her less than ten seconds later and when they take a seat in the two remaining lawn chairs (conveniently located right next to each other), Ruby is discretely mouthing "details" while Belle make a valiant effort to stifle a laugh.
They play charades until the sun sets and it gets too dark to properly see, dividing teams so that it's girls against guys, and Emma doesn't think she's ever laughed as hard as she does when Killian has to act out a hen laying an egg. Her father putting on a slightly disturbing approximation of pole dancing comes a very close second though.
The ladies win by a landslide and the guys complain, blaming Sean and Victor's terrible acting skills for their loss.
Alexa and Colin grow tired and cranky as the sky turns dark, and Ashley and Sean say their farewells so they can head home for the night. Abi takes Colin up to the apartment to put him to bed, and while she's gone, Ruby and Belle convince Victor and Will to set up their tent.
Killian throws several more logs on the fire and Emma fetches more drinks for the group, pleasantly warm and just bordering on the edge of tipsy as she settles heavily back down in her chair and hands Killian a Guinness.
"Thank you, love."
"Mmm, you're welcome," she mumbles, tugging on her flannel and cracking open her cider to take a sip.
She's a little bit tired and a little bit drunk, but mostly just extremely content and she wishes she could snuggle up with him, take a seat in his lap and feel the heat of him against her back, the weight of his arms around her waist. At the very least she'd like to reach out and take his hand, but her parents are still sitting at the fire so she contents herself with the knowledge that they will likely go to sleep ahead of everyone else and that she'll be able to kiss Killian goodnight before bed.
In the dim light between the porch and the bonfire she can just make out Victor and Will as they attempt to set up the large tent, Will complaining the entire time that they should have done it earlier when they could bloody well see what they're doing. They succeed eventually and rejoin the group, still badgering each other as they take their seats.
Quiet conversation resumes easily and Emma slumps slightly in her chair, tilting her head back so she can look at the stars. They aren't quite as spectacular here as they are up at the tepees, but they're still quite beautiful and as she watches the obsidian sky, she attempts to remember the constellations that she knew so well as a child. She can still locate Ursa Major and Cassiopeia at a glance, Cygnus if she looks for long enough, but many of the others have mostly faded from memory and she can't be bothered racking her brain or straining her eyes in search of them.
A shooting star streaks across the night sky and she closes her eyes in a silent wish. She's observed the silly little tradition for as long as she can remember, and as a child she used to wish for material things, like that bejewelled jean-jacket on display in a window on main street that she coveted for three long months leading up to her ninth birthday.
Now though, she just closes her eyes and hopes for happiness, in whatever form it might find her.
Killian groans, sounding vexed and she sits up in her chair, refocusing her attentions on the group. Abi has returned, carrying what looks like a guitar case and Killian scrubs his hand over his face before running it up through his hair. "I'll have you know you dragged that all the way out here for nothing," he tells Abi with a scowl. "I'm not playing it."
"Oh come on, don't be such a sourpuss. All I'm asking for is one little song. Please?"
"Bloody hell, Abigail. Fine. One song," he grumbles, reluctantly reaching for the case.
"You play guitar?" Ruby gushes. Then she elbows Victor sharply in the side. "Why can't you do something cool like that?"
"What? Me becoming a doctor isn't good enough for you?" Victor teases. "I need to become a musician as well?"
Ruby and Victor continue bickering quietly, but Emma turns her attention away from them and toward Killian, taking note of the ease with which he opens the case and situates the guitar on his lap. She knows he has an amazing singing voice, she's heard him singing along with the radio often enough, but she had no clue that he played the guitar as well and that he actually had one tucked away up in the apartment.
He plays a few hesitant chords, warming up, obviously not used to performing for a group. "You're not liable to take no for an answer, are you?" he asks Abi, fingers ghosting lightly over the strings as he makes one last attempt to get out of it.
"Not a chance in hell, brother."
Killian frowns again and Emma reaches out to squeeze his arm. "Pleeeaaaase?" She pouts, knowing the effect she has on him.
Ruby and Belle join in with their own pleas and soon everyone is encouraging him to play.
"Oh all right," he agrees. "Bloody determined lot you all are."
Ruby whoops loudly and Abi whistles, cheering as she takes her seat.
They all grow quiet and when he starts playing, Emma instantly recognises the song as Matchbox 20's 3am. She's a little bit mesmerised by the deft movement of his fingers against the strings of the guitar, and when he takes a deep breath and opens his mouth to sing, she gets goose bumps, twisting her hands around the drink in her grasp.
"She said it's cold outside and she hands me my rain coat. She's always worried about things like that."
He continues strumming; eyes focused more on the cracking fire than on anyone surrounding it.
"She said it's all gonna end and it might as well be my fault. And she only sleeps when it's raining. And she screams, and her voice is straining, she says baby. It's 3am I must be lonely."
He looks up then and glances sideways, meeting her eyes for a moment. "When she says baby, well I can't help but be scared of it all sometimes. Says the rain's gonna wash away I believe it."
He returns his gaze to the ground and sings the next verse, and when the chorus comes around again, he insists that they all sing along.
Will and Ruby join in first, not needing much in the way of encouragement and by the time they reach the last chorus, Killian is grinning and everyone is singing along.
Applause breaks out when the song wraps up and Killian tucks the guitar back in the case, glaring good-naturedly at Abi and obviously not really irritated at all.
"Nooo! Don't put it awaaaay!" Ruby whines and Killian laughs. "If you want another song, you'll have to convince Dave to break out the good bottle of scotch I know he keeps hidden in the cupboard above the fridge."
"It's behind all the cheap stuff," Emma adds.
"Whaddaya say, Dave?" Ruby appeals.
"I'm not sure how you all know where I keep the good scotch, but why the hell not," he acquiesces. "Only two fingers each though."
Ruby and Victor disappear into the house with David to fetch the scotch and enough glass tumblers to go around because her father absolutely refuses to drink the 18 year old single malt Glenfiddich from disposable cups, and really she can't blame him; it's a hundred and twenty dollar bottle of alcohol after all.
Belle and Mary Margaret opt out, but that still leaves seven of them drinking and with the bottle only half full, she's reasonably certain that by the end of the night it'll be empty.
She's correct in her assumption and they spend the next couple hours laughing and singing while Killian plays the guitar.
David is beyond delighted when Killian strums up the first few chords of Journey's Don't Stop Believin' and Victor and Will perform an inspiring duet to Bryan Adam's Summer of 69 that has Ruby nearly sliding out of her chair with laughter. Killian sings Free's All Right Now after that, and Emma pulls both Ruby and Belle up to dance, twirling drunkenly, a safe distance from the fire.
Her parents decide to head to bed when David realises that it's after 11 o'clock, and Mary Margaret offers to look in on Colin quickly for Abi.
When they leave, Killian request that the lasses take a turn singing and after downing her second helping of scotch, Emma stands and tugs Ruby up to sing with her. "Do you know Hot Blooded by Foreigner?" she asks Killian. He nods his head, raising an eyebrow in a challenge as he hammers out the first several seconds of the song on the guitar. "You sure that's a wise choice, love?" he taunts.
"Oh, I'm all in," she declares, rotating her shoulders and picking up her empty cider can to use as a pretend microphone. And maybe she's more than a little drunk because she takes a step toward him and leans her empty hand against the arm of his camp chair, getting in his face. "What's the matter? Afraid you can't handle it?"
"Perhaps you're the one who can't handle it," he retorts, gaze heated, holding her own for a second before flickering down to her lips and then back up. And god she needs to take a step back before she tosses the guitar aside, climbs into his lap, and does something that would be considered terribly indecent in front of company.
Ruby clears her throat obnoxiously and Emma finally manages to get her body in sync with her mind, taking a deliberate step backwards and composing herself before nodding that she's ready.
Killian starts playing and Emma tries to remain facing Ruby as she sings, she really does, but that lasts all of about thirty seconds, because somehow her eyes are on Killian again as she sings "you don't have to read my mind, to know what I have in mind," and she falters for a second, forgetting the next line as he tongues the backs of his teeth, eyes smiling, and it's not hard to believe that he really does know exactly what she has in mind.
She almost caves then and considers sitting back down and shutting up before she gets herself into any more trouble, but she doesn't want to give him the satisfaction, so she pulls herself together and pushes through the rest of the song, steadfastly holding eye contact with Ruby until she can safely collapse in a breathless heap in her chair.
They have to look up the chords and lyrics for some of them, but they end up working their way through Tom Petty's Free Fallin', Oasis's Wonderwall, and R.E.M.'s Man on the Moon, before finally ending the night with an empty bottle of scotch, a fire pit filled with barely glowing embers, and 4 Non Blondes' What's Up.
Abi heads up to the apartment, yawning and dragging her feet, and Belle and Ruby run inside to use the bathroom quickly before crawling into the tent with Will and Victor. Killian dumps a bucket of water from the hose on the coals, hoists the guitar case in one hand, and helps her carry the glasses into kitchen with the other. She stumbles into the living room with him, leaning against his side, a little unsure on her feet, exhausted and trying to come up with one good reason why she shouldn't just curl up in his arms and sleep with him on the pull-out couch.
He sits down on the edge of the bed and she must still have some sort of sense swimming around her sleepy, scotch-filled brain, because she remains standing between his legs, knowing that if she even thinks about sitting down, her parents are guaranteed to find her sprawled on top of him in the morning.
He doesn't make it easy for her though. He wraps his arms around her waist and buries his face against her stomach in a sloppy embrace that has her aching in more ways than one, because the prickle of his stubble through the thin fabric of her shirt has nerve endings firing in quick succession, but then he looks up at her through heavily lidded eyes, his gaze sweet and sleepy and so filled with pure adoration that all she can do is comb a hand through his hair and hold him tighter.
She stands there with him for a moment, fingers playing at the back of his neck, beneath the collar of his shirt until she's worried she might actually fall sleep standing up.
"Killian?" she whispers, swaying gently on the spot.
"Yes, my love?" It's spoken softly against her sternum as he straightens his spine and nuzzles against the fabric between her breasts.
"I need to sleep."
"I'm not stopping you." He doesn't look up or even open his eyes.
She considers of the circle of his arms around her hips, the way the thumb of his right hand hooks into the back pocket of her shorts, anchoring her there, and she laughs. "You kind of are."
He blinks his eyes open slowly, looks up at her, and makes a conscious effort to release her, dropping his hands to his sides. She misses the contact instantly. "I can apologise," he offers through a yawn, "but we both know it'd be a lie."
Taking a small step back, she settles her hands on his shoulders and bends to kiss him goodnight, forcing herself to keep it short, pulling away when his hands rise to her hips. "Sleep well," she bids quietly once she reaches the hallway.
"You too, darling," he murmurs, already working his way beneath the covers.
A silent siren song lures her to her bed like a sailor to rocky shores and she's asleep the second her head hits the pillow.
She wakes on her own to a quiet house, a little bit hung-over and a lot confused because the lighting in her room is all wrong and her phone isn't blaring obnoxiously in an attempt to rouse her. She blindly searches her bedside table, swearing that she left her cell there last night, but all she finds is a piece of paper.
It takes a second for her vision to clear so that she can make out the words, but she recognises her mother's handwriting almost instantly.
Thought you might like to sleep in. Dismissed your alarm and left your phone on the kitchen table. Your father and I are doing the barn chores this morning.
She rises unhurriedly, still dressed in last night's tank top, her shorts and bra flung across the room in a move she doesn't really remember making. Any thought of showering is quickly overrun by her desire for coffee, so she pulls on a pair of pyjama pants and quickly brushes her teeth before leaving the room.
The bed in the living room is rumpled but empty, and she finds Killian in the kitchen, head in his hands as he leans his elbows against the counter, intently focused on the percolating coffee. His phone sits next to hers on the table and it's obvious her parents allowed him to sleep in as well.
Joining him at the counter, she mirrors his position, having a hard time believing that they both slept until almost 10. "Please tell me the coffee is almost ready?"
He chuckles and turns his head so that he can press his lips to her bare shoulder. "A few more minutes, but I can pause it and pour you a cup if you don't think you'll make it that long."
A look out the window confirms that her friends are likely still sound asleep in the tent, so she bumps her hip against his and tosses him a sly half-grin. "Distract me while we wait?" she requests.
His smile turns cheeky in an instant. "And how might you suggest that I do such a thing?" he asks, straightening and shifting to face her. "Perhaps I should tickle you again?"
"Don't you dare!" she squeaks, taking a step backward but she's not fast enough and he's got his arms around her waist before she can even contemplate her retreat. She squirms against him but he doesn't actually tickle her, just hugs her and when she realizes it, she stops pushing against his chest and winds her arms around his neck.
"Hi."
"Hello, love." Killian chuckles and pulls her more snuggly against him, his hands drifting down to cup her ass. He bows his head and drops his lips to her collarbone, kissing his way up her neck, beard scraping and breath hot. "Are you finding this sufficiently distracting?" he asks, voice rumbling against her jaw.
She's got her head tilted to the side, giving him access, focused on absolutely nothing but the way his teeth scrape teasingly against the sensitive flesh just below her ear and fuck – he curls his fingers around the back of her thigh to the inside, just inches below where she wants him and asks again. "Huh?" She tries to focus. The answer is obviously yes, but what was he distracting her from?
The coffee maker beeps loudly and the metaphorical light bulb flickers on – oh, right, that.
He pulls back, obviously intending to make a move for the coffee but she stops him, fisting a hand in his shirt. "Coffee can wait." And then he's lifting her, fingers linked against her ass so he can deposit her on the counter, immediately stepping into the v of her legs, palms hot through the thin cotton covering her thighs when his lips finally meet hers in a kiss that leaves her breathless.
She hooks an ankle around his thigh and tilts her pelvis forward. He growls and rocks his hips, heavy and hard, finding friction between her thighs. "You're a bloody temptress, Emma. Tell me, darling," he whispers against her lips in-between kisses, one hand low on her back, the other flirting with the hem of her shirt, pushing it up, "if I were to take you right here on the counter, how long do you think it might be until you could stand in this kitchen and actually look your parents in the eye?"
She sucks in a breath. "Why don't we find out?" It's a challenge she knows he won't take, but she says it anyway, simply because the sight of his pupils expanding as his expression grows dark is one she won't soon forget.
He exhales sharply as she hooks her other leg around him and crosses her ankles below his ass, dragging two fingers down past his belly button to just shy of where he's pressed intimately against her.
"Careful, love," he warns.
She stills her fingers over the cotton of his shirt and drums the tips against the tense muscles beneath, grinning. "Or what?"
She doesn't get to find out because heavy footfalls sound on the porch steps and he's pulling away quickly and moving to the sink, reaching between his legs to adjust himself as he faces the counter and attempts to look busy by washing last night's scotch glasses. She hops off the counter and straightens her shirt, grabbing coffee mugs and praying that she's got enough of a tan to hide the blush currently clawing its way hotly up her chest and into her cheeks. Though she should probably be more worried about the fact that she didn't bother putting a bra on this morning and that her nipples are still enthusiastically straining against the thin cotton of her tank top. Fuck. She makes a point of not turning anything more than her head when her father walks into the kitchen.
"Oh good, you two are awake," her father observes as he ducks his head and grabs a bottle of water from the fridge. He takes a sip and turns to address Killian. "Abi's up and was wondering if you'd be able to take them into town after lunch to do some souvenir shopping. I'll help Emma with the trail rides this afternoon," David adds when Killian hesitates. "You should spend as much time as you can with them today."
"Thanks, Dave," Killian says, managing to sound totally normal and sincere and not at all like he was in a rather comprising situation with the man's daughter less than a minute ago.
"You should wake your friends up, Peanut," her father suggests, "see if they want some breakfast."
She nods. "I will."
Her father disappears back outside quickly, and after a few seconds of silent eye contact with Killian, she bursts out laughing. "Oh god, that was way too close!"
He nods in agreement. "Perhaps we should save ourselves the trouble of what would surely be a rather unfortunate conversation and refrain from doing anything unseemly where we're likely to be caught?"
"Yeaaaah," she sighs. It takes the fun out of things, but it's probably the intelligent thing to do. "You want to get started on breakfast while I go kick the tent and try to wake those guys up?"
"Pancakes?"
"With chocolate chips?"
"Of course."
She heads outside to wake her friends up and finds Belle already awake, standing in the doorway of the tent, trying to rouse the other three. Emma ends up calling Colin and Duke over to stumble through the tent, stepping on legs and arms and eliciting a chorus of displeased groans, but eventually the group makes it inside where they feast on banana chocolate chip pancakes and drink their way through two pots of coffee.
After packing up the tent, her friends all wish Abi and Colin a safe flight home before piling into Ruby's car and heading up the driveway. Killian heads into town with Colin and Abi, and Emma spends the afternoon leading trail rides with her father. Mary Margaret throws together an elaborate dinner and in the evening they all eat together, cozied around the kitchen table.
It's nearly 8 o'clock when the time comes for Colin and Abi to leave. Emma fully intends to remain behind while Killian drives them to the airport, but Abi insists that she come along for the drive and she gladly agrees, wondering if just maybe Abi is also a little concerned about Killian being alone after they depart.
The roads are quiet on the way to the airport and they make good time. Killian insists on paying the ridiculous parking fees even though Emma offers to drop them off and just drive around until he's ready to leave. She waits with him off to the side while Abi and Colin line up to check in and check their luggage, and afterwards they all walk to the security checkpoint to say goodbye.
Emma balances a sleepy Colin on her hip so that Killian and Abi can say their goodbyes uninterrupted, smiling when the boy gently grasps a fistful of her hair and nuzzles his face into her neck. She's going to miss having them around and not just because it means Killian will return to sleeping in the apartment. She's grown incredibly fond of them this last week; Colin's contagious exuberance, as well as Abigail's warm presence and quick wit.
Killian reaches out to take his nephew and Abi pulls Emma aside, just far enough away that Emma's certain Killian would have a hard time making out the conversation over the bustle of airport foot traffic.
"Make sure Killian stays out of trouble," Abi jokes, "and don't hesitate to call or skype any time – Killian can give you my contact info. It's been fabulous getting to know you and I'd love to stay in touch." Abigail pauses for a moment then, seeming to consider something. Her smile disappears and her expression changes drastically, turning solemn and a little bit sad.
"He's been through so much," she starts, taking Emma's hand, "you know that already, but you weren't there, you didn't see it in person. For a while there..." she hesitates again and seems to shift tracks for a moment, "I don't know why, I don't think it's something one can explain or reason out, but he took it harder than I did; Liam's death – and for a while I really didn't know if he was ever going to smile again."
Emma squeezes Abi's hand and watches as she blinks back tears, waiting for her to continue.
"He was a wreck, Emma, and gods... I never want to see him like that again." She sniffles with a small laugh and then smiles. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's been a long time since I've seen him this happy, and I've reason to suspect you've got quite a lot to do with that, so try not to break his heart, aye?"
Emma swallows thickly and nods as Abi pulls her into a hug. "I'll do my best," she whispers into the petite woman's hair, returning the fierce hug.
When Abi pulls back they share a quick laugh and Emma hastily swipes at the tears that threaten to spill over her cheeks.
Killian gives them a concerned look when they rejoin him, but Abigail just waves it off and holds out her arms to take her now sleeping son.
"Let us know when your plane lands and you've made it home," Killian requests.
Abi nods. "Aye, I will." She pulls Killian into a quick one-armed hug before releasing him. "Now don't be strangers; call any time, and if you ever want to, you're more than welcome to come for a visit. Both of you," she stresses as she picks up her carry-on and turns to join the line up for security.
Emma tucks herself into Killian's side in an act of instinctual comfort, and they watch until Abi and Colin disappear out of sight. Turning, she wraps her arms tightly around Killian's waist and presses her nose against the warm skin of his neck, breathing deep. He still smells a little bit like last night's campfire, and there's something else there too, something that she can't quite name, but it's a lot like home and comfort and everything she's ever wanted.
"You all right, love?" Killian asks, sounding concerned, hugging her back and kissing the top of her head.
She nods silently, more than a little bit overwhelmed by the sudden realization of just how much she loves him.
She loves him.
It's a certainty she can no longer escape. There's no other way around it and if she's being honest, somewhere deep down, she's known it for quite a while.
She's not ready to tell him yet though, because just admitting it to herself is a big enough hurdle to overcome at the moment, and despite the magnitude of that self-revelation, she's mostly just wondering how the hell Abi figured them out.
"Did you tell Abi about us?" she asks, looking up at him and making sure that her voice remains level. She's not upset, and she won't be angry if he did, but she still wants to know.
Killian chuckles. "Not a word, love, I swear it. I'm not surprised she figured it out though; she's always been good at picking up on what people try to keep hidden. Liam told me that's why he fell in love with her – liked having someone other than his baby bother who'd call him out on his bullshit." He pauses and drags his fingers through her hair, studying her closely, and the intensity of his gaze almost has her looking away. "Before she pulled you aside she told me that if I let you get away, she'd fly all the bloody way back here just to smack me up the side of my daft head."
His fingers still in her hair and he seems to be waiting to see how she'll react.
"She asked me not to break your heart," Emma says quickly before she can second-guess herself, looking at the polished concrete floor, focusing on the glow of florescent lights reflected in its smooth surface. Focusing on that instead of his face, because this is serious and she's wading into uncharted waters here, not quite certain what might lurk beyond.
But Killian just exhales lightly, presses a kiss to her forehead, and continues hugging her. "I'll gladly second that sentiment, love."
She doesn't reply – she doesn't know what she's supposed to say to that, because it's one thing to tell Abigail that she'll try not to break his heart, but it's another thing entirely to make him the same promise.
A moment passes and still he stands there, arms wrapped around her as the crowd moves about, coming and going, sharing their own private moments within the busy sea of people. When Killian yawns, she finally pulls back and takes his hand. "We should get going," she suggests. "It's already going to be well after midnight by the time we get home."
He nods, seemingly lost in thought and she hopes her lack of a response isn't to blame for his sudden silence. He yawns several more times on the walk back to the parking lot and when they arrive at the jeep, she reaches into his pocket and pulls out the keys. "I'll drive. You look like you're already half asleep."
"Thanks, love," he says, releasing her hand and moving around to the passenger side. He's quiet as she adjusts the seat and the mirrors, and his gaze remains fixed on the dark window as she merges onto the highway leading out of the city.
He doesn't seem mad and she doesn't think he's upset with her, he's just unnaturally quiet and a little distant, but she can't read his mind and she doesn't have his uncanny knack for reading subtle facial cues and micro-expressions, so unless she actually comes right out and asks, she's likely not going to receive an answer.
Taking the wheel in her left hand, she reaches out with her right, her fingers coming into contact with his where they rest on his thigh. "Did I do something wrong?" she asks tentatively, risking a quick glance his way.
Almost immediately he lifts her hand and brings it to his lips. "Not at all, love. I'm just..." he drops their hands back to his lap and sighs, reaching into his pocket with his free hand and pulling out a piece of bright yellow construction paper. He awkwardly unfolds it and smoothes it out against his leg. "Colin gave this to me earlier. Abi tells me he drew it last night while we were all eating dessert. Don't worry about looking now, love," he insists when she glances over in curiosity, "you can see it when we get home. It's more scribbles than anything really, but the one blob is supposed to be me, and the smiling one on top of my shoulders is Colin."
He attempts to smile but it comes out this wavering little thing and she squeezes his hand, silently urging him to continue.
"He handed it to me, so proud, and gave me the biggest hug." The tenor of his voice changes and something about it tugs at her heart. She's tempted to pull the car over, find a safe spot on the side of the road and pay this conversation the attention it deserves, but instead she just tightens her fingers around his and listens. "There's another big red scribble around it all and I think it's safe to assume it's supposed to be a heart," he tells her.
Carefully he folds the paper and slips it back into his pocket before speaking again. "Sometimes I worry that when he gets older, he'll no longer see me as he does now. I'll not be Uncle Killy who gives piggy-back rides and buys him ice cream, but instead I'll just be the man who couldn't save his father." Emma's heart constricts at the words and she blinks as tears threaten to blur her vision. "I'm terrified, Emma – terrified that one day he'll wake up and he'll hate me."
This time she actually does pull the car over, thankful that the highway is quiet as she signals and comes to a stop on the shoulder, shifting into park and flipping on the emergency flashers.
He's so good at appearing fine that sometimes she forgets that he's just as damaged as she is, probably even more so; broken in his own unique way, a road map of cracks and pieces, different but the same.
She turns in her seat to face him and reaches a hand up to cup his cheek, forcing him to look at her. "You know it wasn't your fault, right?"
He tries to avoid her eyes and she tilts his head up again. "Please tell me you know that, Killian? You did everything you could. No one blames you."
He scoffs and wipes quickly at his eyes, glossy in the dim glow streaming from a streetlight several meters down the road. "Aye, logically perhaps. Doesn't change the fact that he's dead and there are times where all I can think is what if I'd being paying more attention? What if I'd managed to push him out of the way? What if I'd pulled him out of the water ten seconds sooner? What if it had been me instead of him? Would he have been able to save me? At least I wouldn't have left behind a family."
"Hey, hey," she says, tugging him awkwardly closer and pulling him into a hug, stroking her fingers over the back of his neck. "Stop that, okay?" she whispers forcefully against his ear. "Listen to me. It was not your fault and always asking yourself 'what if?' is a terrible way to go through life, Killian. I didn't know him, but I'm pretty sure Liam wouldn't want that. I don't want that. So stop blaming yourself, okay?"
It takes a moment and he doesn't rush to pull back, but eventually he nods his head and says "okay". She's not sure if he actually believes her, if he actually believes himself, but the small smile he gives her looks a little less pained and when he thanks her, she can hear the sincerity in every syllable that passes through his lips before he kisses her.
Once they're back on the road he falls asleep within minutes, twisted slightly to face her, never letting go of her hand. He's still bent that way when they arrive at home and she pulls the jeep into the garage.
Ever so gently she combs her fingers through his hair, waking him slowly, so filled with love and affection for this man that she hardly knows what to do with herself. It's after midnight and the house is dark, her parent's long gone to bed and she doesn't think twice before following him upstairs to the apartment. She'll wake up extra early if she has to, but she's not leaving him alone tonight. She can't and she won't.
Most of his belongings are still in his bag over at the house, but he has extra toothbrushes under the sink and she stands next to him in the small bathroom as they brush their teeth, leaning heavily against the counter. She grabs a cloth from the linen-closet to wash her face, and when she joins Killian next to the bed, he's stepping out of his jeans and draping them over the back of a chair.
He pulls his shirt over his head and hands it to her before crawling into bed, grinning sleepily, and deliberately closing his eyes. She quickly strips to her underwear and slips into his shirt, into his bed, and into his arms, delighting in the solid heat of him – the feel of skin against skin where her cheek rests against his bare shoulder, her fingers twisting in his chest hair as she hooks an ankle over his calf and sighs contently.
His hand curls over her hip, holding her to him as he reaches for his phone and brings up the alarm. "What do you think, love? Quarter to 6? Should be plenty early."
"Mhmm," she agrees sleepily and he presses save before returning the phone to the bedside table and tugging on the chain to turn off the lamp.
Darkness settles over the room, quiet and serene as she whispers goodnight and kisses him softly. His response echoes against her lips and when he falls asleep, so does she, the sound of his heart beating steady in her ear.