"I can't believe you guys actually beat us," Emma complained as she and Killian sat down across from Liam and Elsa.

Killian took a sip of Dr. Pepper before he added accusingly, "I still think you two managed to cheat somehow."

Liam rolled his eyes while Elsa shook her head. He then told them, "You two really are complete sore losers."

Elsa then teasingly conceded, "That's what they get for being so cocky."

Killian rolled his eyes that time as he pointed out, "You two do realize we were kidding." He then grinned and added, "Mostly."

"Ever the modest one, aren't you, brother?" Liam told him before he popped a French fry in his mouth.

Killian rolled his eyes in response.

Emma couldn't help but giggle before she surmised, "He has always had an oversized ego," nudging his shoulder with hers.

"You wound me, Swan," Killian told her, dramatically clutching his chest.

Emma rolled her eyes and shook her head at him. She then took a sip of her soda - only to make a face of disgust a moment later.

"What is it, Emma? Is your Coke flat?" Elsa asked as she tilted her head.

With a grin, Killian interjected, "If I had to guess, I'd say that the soda isn't nearly as sweet as cocoa."

Emma then tried to defend, "I do drink more than just hot chocolate, you know."

"Maybe once or twice every three years, darling," Killian teased with a wide grin.

Emma offered him a glare before she slapped his arm. Though she didn't hurt him, he still quipped, "You know, Swan, I'm beginning to wonder if there will be a time where you won't hit me."

"When you stop being so annoying," Emma threw back at him before she stole one of his tater tots.

She then let out a giggle - joined by chuckles from Liam and Elsa - while Killian shook his head and rolled his eyes.

He then let out a breath before he changed the subject: "I'm ignoring the fact that you all are against me to ask Elsa about that cake she talked about earlier. Some kind of mix of two cakes?"

Elsa swallowed her bite of corndog before she exclaimed, "Oh, yeah!" She then explained, "It is a carrot-red velvet cake. I make a standard red velvet cake batter and then add carrots, walnuts, and cinnamon. They all mix together wonderfully, and it makes for a really tasty cake."

Killian - as well as Liam and Emma - hummed in response. She then observed, "And both cakes have cream cheese icing, so that probably makes this, uh, hybrid cake easier to make."

"That's actually why I thought the cakes might be good together," Elsa said. She then smiled and added, "Turns out I was right."

She received three smiles in reply before Liam surmised, "Well, love, I dare say you're the most inventive and imaginative woman I've ever met, and I think it's rather a good thing," his smile growing.

Elsa smiled back at him before she lightly brushed her fingers against his.

A light blush stained both of their cheeks before they continued eating. Emma and Killian exchanged a sly - yet happy - look in reply before they resumed eating as well.

Emma then suggested, "You know, Elsa, you could make one of those cakes for Killian's birthday. It's coming up in a couple weeks."

"Really?" Elsa asked before she sipped her drink.

"Indeed," Killian confirmed with a nod. He then said, "I'm rather surprised my brother didn't mention it or drag you shopping to find me a present."

Liam rolled his eyes before he pointed out, "I'll have you know that I already picked out your present, little brother." He then smirked and added, "And as far as not telling Elsa, the world doesn't revolve around you."

Killian rolled his eyes while Elsa and Emma chuckled. The latter then spoke, "And that deserves a high five."

Liam smiled at her before the two of them clapped their hands together. Emma then playfully nudged Killian's shoulder with hers.

She then said, "That reminds me of your 16th birthday party, Killian. Belle said you were so determined to impress this girl you had a crush on that you just had to be the center of attention."

His cheeks flushed red, and he scratched behind his ear. He then protested, "That was a long time ago, and Belle tends to over exaggerate."

"Hmm, I don't think that's the case, little brother," Liam said, feigning complete ignorance - but a grin soon spread across his features.

Killian raked his fingers through his dark hair, avoiding eye contact with his brother and friends.

However, a grin appeared on his face, and he then teased his best friend: "You know, Swan, I dare say it's not any worse than your night of karaoke."

Emma nervously ran her fingers through her hair. She then tried to argue, "That was your fault, and you know it."

"Only because you were trying to impress me, love."

"It had nothing to do with impressing you. I was trying to prove you and that insufferable ego of yours wrong."

Elsa then interjected, "I think this means we have to hear both stories," a slightly teasing smile on her face.

Liam grinned as he conceded, "I think that's a rather marvelous idea, love." She blushed slightly at the endearment, and she took a sip of her drink to hide it.

Emma then chimed in: "Why would we purposefully ourselves?"

Killian popped a French fry in his mouth before he offered, "Well, love, the karaoke story is quite funny, and if you're willing to laugh at yourself, then so am I."

Emma raised an eyebrow as she considered his words. With a sigh, she then resigned, "I guess it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."

She then grinned and added, "Especially if it means hearing about you and your ridiculous flirting."

Killian shook his head in response. He then turned to his brother and questioned, "Shall I tell the story, or do you want the honors?"

"I'm rather surprised you asked," Liam commented. He then surmised, "It was your party, but don't think I won't chime in if you gloss over any details."

Killian only rolled his eyes. He then took a deep breath and began, "Before I get started, I just want to point out that it was my party, so being the center of attention was pretty well expected," earning head shakes and eye rolls.

He couldn't help but grin before he spoke, "As I was a bit too old for a standard birthday party, I tried to think of something I could do with my mates."

"Let me guess - something involving sports so you could show up your friends and impress this girl," Emma commented before she ate one of her onion rings. As an afterthought, she then asked, "What was her name again?"

"Her name was Lydia, and I'm sure that Belle filled you in on those details," Killian surmised as he raised a playful eyebrow at her.

"Only a little," Emma told him with a grin as she gestured with her fingers. He shook his head at her.

He then began, "Anyways, you are right, Swan - we all went to a baseball game at Yankee Stadium."

"Which I had to drive all of you to because you were the first one of those lads to turn 16," Liam then interjected, feigning annoyance.

Killian only shrugged. He then grinned and told him, "I was just glad you didn't go all overprotective big brother."

With a roll of his eyes, Liam then said, "You mean like when you nearly didn't invite Belle?"

Emma elbowed him while Elsa tilted her head in confusion. She tossed her braid over her shoulder before she asked him, "Why would you do that?"

"It's not as bad as it sounds," Killian stated. He then elaborated, "Belle was younger than the rest of us, and I didn't want her to feel left out. She wasn't even in high school yet."

"Or you knew that she knew you just as well as your other friends, and she would embarrass you in front of Lydia - even though it wouldn't be on purpose," Elsa surmised as she wore a grin.

"That about sums it up," Liam offered with a grin of his own.

Killian rolled his eyes before he pointed out, "We were good friends, and I decided I wanted her there. And we all had a wonderful time."

He then smiled and added, "And I caught a foul ball during the game, so that was rather fun."

"I'm sure your friends all enjoyed that with all the bragging I know you did," Emma then quipped with a raised eyebrow.

Liam then interjected, "Oh, they did tease him, but he was so smitten that he truthfully didn't notice. As a matter of fact, neither did Lydia. I believe that's what annoyed them."

With another eye roll, Killian maintained, "It's not as though they were much better. When Tony and Drake's girlfriends met us during the second inning, I'm fairly certain they didn't watch the rest of the game."

"I can just see and hear all those male teenage hormones - it must have been insufferable," Emma commented as she rested her chin in her hand.

She then looked at Liam and spoke, "I'm not sure how you put up with it."

Killian couldn't help but roll his eyes while Liam let out a chuckle. The curly-haired man then offered, "By that point, I had grown rather used to it, so it didn't faze me all that much."

With a giggle, Elsa then chimed in: "Oh, I've seen all that flirting firsthand."

Emma and Killian both blushed, and he scratched behind his ear. He then cleared his throat and changed the subject: "Anyways, the Yankees won the game, and Lydia was quite taken in by my baseball knowledge," a wide grin on his face.

He took a sip of his drink before he continued, "Of course, we were all pretty avid baseball fans, so I'd wager no one was that surprised by what I had to say."

"You wouldn't know it by the way the lass hung onto every word you said - along with all the giggling," Liam added, and he couldn't help but grin.

With a shake of his head, Killian told him, "I really think you just want to latch onto the most embarrassing parts of the story and make it sound worse than it actually was."

"That's what makes it so fun," Emma piped up with a grin before she swiped more of his food. She then reasoned, "And you did agree to it, you know," popping the tater tot in her mouth.

Killian grinned before he told her, "Just wait until it's your turn, darling." He then grabbed one of her onion rings - she slapped his arm, but it was to no avail.

When they turned their attention back to Liam and Elsa, they found that the pair had become lost in their own conversation.

The dark-haired grinned once more as he spoke, "Well, Swan, I suppose they got tired of watching us flirt, so they decided to do some of their own."

Emma brushed her hair behind her ear as she told him, "Don't call it…that. I don't think…they're ready yet," looking off to the side.

With a small smile, Killian said, "I know," his fingers carding through the ends of her hair.

She smiled back at him in response. She then turned her attention back to her dinner.

When she took a sip of her Coke, she heard the distinct slurping sound.

She then heard Liam offer, "I'm about to go up and refill myself and Elsa's drinks - I can take yours if you want."

With a nod, Emma then spoke, "Thanks, Liam. I'd appreciate it." She then handed him the cup, and he headed up to the counter.

Elsa's gaze lingered on his retreating form for a few moments before she turned her attention back to her friends. She opened her mouth to say something but promptly shut it.

She tilted her head and said, "I actually forgot what I was about to say," her eyebrows furrowing.

Killian couldn't help but grin before he leaned over and whispered, "Well, Swan, I'd say it's because she was rather distracted."

Emma shook her head at him. Yet, she couldn't help the smile that appeared a moment later.

She then took a breath and addressed her blonde friend: "If I had to guess, it has something to do with teenage Killian being completely smitten."

He rolled his eyes before Elsa interjected, "Oh! That's right!" She then turned to Killian and spoke, "I wanted to know where you all went after the game."

She then grinned and added, "And if you continued to woo Lydia," letting out a giggle.

With another eye roll, Killian told her, "I think you've been spending too much time with my brother."

"What's this now?" Liam questioned with a raised eyebrow as he neared the table, carrying three drinks in his hands.

When he sat back down and distributed the drinks, he gave his younger brother an expectant look.

Killian sighed before he explained, "It seems that Elsa is just as content on teasing me as you are."

With a shake of her head, Emma pointed out, "It was a reasonable question, Jones, and she's right, you know."

Though she tried to sound serious - as well as a bit annoyed - her face soon gave way to a teasing smile.

Killian couldn't help but return her smile. He then addressed the three of them: "I suppose I always did have that effect on women," earning head shakes and eye rolls.

He then took a swig of his drink before he spoke, "And to answer your question, Elsa, we headed to Coney Island after the game. We then decided to split into groups and enjoy the fair. Under Liam's watchful eye, of course."

With narrowed eyes, Liam told him, "Well, I couldn't very well leave all of you to your own devices, now could I?"

"I suppose not," Killian resigned. He then raised an eyebrow and added, "Although it was rather annoying trying to steal a kiss with your hovering."

The elder brother crossed his arms as he stated, "Hovering is a bit extreme, brother." His expression softened and his arms fell to his side as he told him, "I did want to look out for you, but I also wanted you to have fun."

"I know you did," Killian sincerely spoke as he offered him a smile. He smiled back in response.

The younger Jones' smile then turned mischievous as he recalled, "And I did get a chance to steal that kiss when Lydia and I were on the Ferris wheel. I have to say it was rather romantic for a first kiss," a fondness overtaking his features.

Emma, Elsa, and Liam smiled at his words, sharing in the sweet memory.

However, Liam's smile soon turned teasing as he said, "Which was made rather obvious by the hot pink lipstick on the corners of your mouth."

Giggles erupted from Emma and Elsa while the tips of Killian's ears turned pink. He defended, "It's not my fault that she had told me that I'd gotten it all."

"Sure it wasn't," Emma teased before she playfully nudged his shoulder. She then surmised, "And in keeping with this whole drawing attention to yourself thing you had going on, I'm sure

you won as many prizes as Lydia could carry and showed off to all the game workers as well as everyone around you."

He couldn't help but scratch behind his ear as he recollected, "In truth, everyone did know who I was by the time we left. Essentially, I had made a fool of myself trying to win most of those games - mostly by, uh, ridiculous warm-up routines and even more ridiculous victory dances."

Though they endeavored to hide it, Emma, Elsa, and Liam soon found themselves laughing. Killian found himself laughing as well as he remembered those lofty attempts to impress a girl.

He then said, "Bloody hell, I really was so completely and utterly ridiculous. I'm rather surprised Lydia wanted to even go out with me after that."

With a thoughtful expression, Elsa then said, "Chances are that she was so taken with you that she probably thought you were the cutest guy ever and that's really all that mattered. Especially for two kids."

Killian tilted his head as he considered her words. He then told her, "You do have a point there, love. I think we were both rather taken with each other - love is probably too strong of a word, but I was rather fond of the lass," a smile making its way across his features.

A comfortable silence then settled over the group - each presumably lost in their own thoughts. Liam and Elsa tried - and failed - to not sneak glances at the other while Emma did the same to Killian - trying to ignore the goosebumps that made her feel like a smitten teenager.

He then caught her gaze, and she quickly looked away. He then leaned over and whispered, "If it helps, darling, you're not the only one who can't seem to fight those goosebumps."

Emma blushed deeply before she bowed her head and pretended to look at her phone. After a few moments, she took a deep breath and looked back up at her friends.