The Art of 21st Century Dating
CS Genre: Deleted scene (from the 6 weeks of peace following 4a)
Emma settled onto the couch, leaning against Killian, savoring the warmth of his arm around her, feeling the familiar butterflies as he brushed a kiss against her hair. The plan was for a nice, cozy family night with Netflix. Henry would be home any minute, and they'd decided to let him pick the movie tonight.
Two weeks had passed since they'd defeated Ingrid and Gold. They'd been two weeks of peace; two weeks of heaven.
Oh, it had been difficult at first. It had nearly destroyed her, thinking about Killian almost dying; thinking about all the signs she'd missed, all the times she'd ignored her instincts that were screaming at her that there was something off about the man she lov…well, the man she cared a great deal for.
For the first couple of days after returning his heart, she could barely stand to let Killian out of her sight, and more often than not, her hand rested against his chest, needing to feel his heart beating, safe in its proper place.
But as the days passed with no new threat, as Storybrooke slowly began to go back to normal (well as normal as it ever was in this town), as it finally began to look like things were really and truly going to be okay, Emma decided to take the advice her father gave her just after Neverland.
It was time she started enjoying the good moments. And right now, she had a particular good moment she wanted to make with her boyfriend.
"Killian?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Aye, love?" he replied, his fingers tracing lazy circles on her shoulder.
"Remember after our first date when you asked me to go out with you again?"
The fingers on her shoulder stilled. "Of course, darling. How could I forget that…or your very enjoyable (and thorough) answer?"
He leaned closer, his eyes dropping to her lips. "Perhaps you'd like to answer me yet again?"
She laughed, pushing lightly at his chest. "Maybe later, Romeo. My son'll be here any moment; you really want him…um…overhearing my answer?"
He grinned, then impulsively surged forward kissing her quick and hard. "Perhaps not, Swan, but I shall expect a long and passionate reminder of your answer once the lad is packed off to bed."
"I could get behind that," she said, pecking him once more on the lips. "But that wasn't why I brought it up."
"Aye? Why then?"
"Just wondering if the offer still stands," she said, looking carefully into his eyes. "You still want to go out with me again?"
Killian smiled gently, bringing his hand up to cup her face. "Of course, love. I'd like nothing better than to go out with you again. Shall I begin planning our next amorous adventure?"
Emma shook her head, her hair dancing across her bare shoulders with the motion. "Nope. You planned the first date. This one's mine."
"Now, Swan," he said, frowning adorably at her. "I should think my proficiency at planning an evening out was proven during our first date. Do you mean to tell me you found the outing less than satisfactory?"
He looked so offended, she couldn't help the giggle that escaped her…or the hungry kiss she placed on his lips. "Of course not, idiot. You know how much I loved our first date."
"Then why the insistence on planning our second?"
"Killian, it's way past time you start learning what dating in the 21st century looks like."
He grinned down at her, dragging his fingers through her hair. "Very well, Swan. I look forward to my education."
~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~
Killian looked around with curiosity at the darkened space, the myriad seats of the room Swan called a movie theater. It wasn't entirely different from the theaters he was used to in his world—with the exception, of course, of the utter lack of a stage in the front. Instead, they sat facing a large, floor-to-ceiling screen, a screen that was currently sporting moving pictures, much like the pictures Emma's television displayed when they watched Netflix.
"And is this, then, the movie?" he asked, looking down at her.
Emma chuckled. "No, these are just the trailers. We've probably got another ten minutes or so of these to sit through before we get to the main event."
"Odd name, that. Trailer. They seem to be little more than advertisements."
"Yeah," she said, "that's what they are. Just trying to entice us back to the movies."
Killian looked down to her once more, his smile blooming at the look on her face. She'd raised the arm rest between them and taken advantage of the lack of a barrier. Holding on to his arm with both of hers, she'd leaned her head against his shoulder, and now looked up at him with unvarnished happiness and affection.
Impulsively, he leaned down and kissed her. It was, she'd assured him, one of the pluses of having a date at a movie theater. A darkened room provided a couple ample opportunity to enjoy far more than the film being displayed before them.
Emma kissed him back, one hand leaving his arm and caressing his cheek. Killian could feel her smile against his lips, and his heart swelled with love, with contentment…with relief.
He didn't think he'd ever get over that fateful night when the Crocodile almost succeeded in his evil plan for the hat. He'd been prepared to die, heart aching at leaving his Swan now, when their feelings for each other had finally begun to blossom, but prepared for the end all the same.
Then she'd showed up and the bloody Crocodile had frozen her in place, forced her to watch what was about to happen. Killian knew all too well what it was like to be forced to watch as Rumplestiltskin killed the one you loved. There is no possible torture the Crocodile could have inflicted upon him that was worse than the agony he felt at the thought of Emma watching his demise.
But then the Crocodile had been defeated, Killian's heart restored. Things had gradually gone back to normal after several long, deep conversations in which Killian told Emma everything, and she reassured him that Rumple was the one at fault.
Things went back to normal….but not quite. For several days Killian saw the fear in his love's eyes, the dread. She held him close, rarely let him out of her sight, clearly dealing with the ramifications of what had almost happened.
And so, seeing her peaceful, easy smile now as they sat through the trailers, waiting for some film entitled "Pirates of the Caribbean", Killian finally felt like they'd put the whole nightmare behind them. Killian little cared what "going to the movies" entailed. If it could put such a smile back on his love's face, it was an activity he'd gladly do every day for the rest of his life.
Swan had picked him up at Granny's some two hours ago, insisting that it only made sense for her to be the one coming for him, as Granny's was on the way to the theatre. They'd had vague plans to grab some dinner before the show began…but certain circumstances had prevented it.
Namely, the fact that Emma had no more than driven out of the heart of town before she pulled her car to the side of the road and kissed him as though she was a drowning woman and he was air. Between passionate kisses, Killian had idly asked her if this type of behavior (an epic makeout session as Emma had termed it) was typical of dates in her realm. She'd told him to shut up and kiss her again, a command he was more than willing to obey.
Due to the more enjoyable activities in Swan's vessel, they'd arrived at the theater with only minutes to spare before their movie was to begin.
They'd had a bit of a disagreement when it came to the ticket counter, Killian insisting on purchasing the tickets for the both of them.
"Come on Killian, you paid for our last date. I planned this one; it's my turn to pay."
"Not a bit of it, Swan," he said, brows furrowing in stubbornness. "As a gentleman I simply cannot hear of it."
She'd rolled her eyes. "I know you're ancient, but we don't live in the 17th century. Women are just as capable of paying as men. It's not a 'gentleman' thing anymore."
He'd smiled tenderly at her, brushing a stray curl from her face and securing it behind her ear. "Oh I've no doubt you're capable of anything you wish, Swan," he'd said, "but…you've given me everything. You've given me back the man I wish to be, helped to remind me who I really am, pulled me from the dregs of villainy I'd steeped myself in, provided me with the kind of affection and acceptance I'd never thought to have again. You've even restored my heart to my chest. What are a few measly doubloons in payment for all of that?"
Her eyes had softened as they always did when he bared his heart to her, and she'd finally nodded. "Fine, but I'm buying the popcorn. No arguments!"
The screen went black, and the dim room darkened yet further. "Looks like it's getting ready to start," Emma whispered in his ear.
It was quite the experience, watching a film in a movie theater. His eyes had gone wide in wonder as the music began and he heard it from every possible direction. ("Surround sound" Emma had explained.) The big screen made him feel almost as though he were there, experiencing the actions along with the characters on screen. It was rather extraordinary, this technology of the Land Without Magic.
The film itself was quite entertaining. A tale of piracy and mutiny and true abiding love. He'd rather liked the Will Turner chap, as well as the pirate Captain Sparrow. (And the man, Pintel…well, he bore an uncanny resemblance to Leroy.) He'd muttered angrily at the audacity of the pirate crew who would commit mutiny and maroon their own captain, offering many suggestions as to just what punishments he'd meet out were these men part of his crew.
Emma laughed at his grumblings, telling him to shut up before everyone around them decided to toss them out of the theater for being disruptive. When he'd failed to obey, she'd taken matters into her own hands, effectively silencing him with a kiss that ensured his mouth was far too busy for conversation.
When the credits began to roll and the lights of the theater once again came on, Killian and Emma walked hand in hand back to her vessel, talking, laughing, becoming effectively drunk on each other.
"Well, Swan," he said reluctantly as she pulled out of their parking spot and began to drive away, "What now? Has our second date come to an end?"
She glanced over at him. "Do you want it to be over?"
He laughed, placing his hand on her thigh, "Not for the world, love."
She nodded once. "Good, cause I thought we could go up to the bluffs that overlook Storybrooke. It's got a fantastic view. We could look at the stars," she glanced significantly down at his lips, "or we could come up with some more enjoyable activities to occupy the rest of our evening."
He grinned wickedly. "You know I've always been partial to the more enjoyable activities, Swan."
Aye, all told, Killian believed he could truly come to appreciate the art of 21st century dating.
Notes:
-Up next: The last official installment of Fluffy Fridays (although I could be persuaded to continue on after next week. Chances are, with the Dark Swan arc, we're all going to need a little fluff in our lives. I just won't promise updates EVERY week after next week.) Side note: Yay! The fact that next week is the last official week of Fluffy Friday means we're only 9 days away from season 5! Anyway, next week's installment is a CS roommates AU. I'm rather excited about this one. This was my absolute favorite to write!