Once inside, they walked over to the reception desk. Killian paid for their game while Emma picked out their clubs and balls.
When she handed the equipment to him, she teased, "Get ready to lose, Jones." He smirked at her as he replied, "Perhaps you're the one who should get ready."
Soon after, they both began laughing. The blonde then spoke, "Come on, mini-golf is this way," motioning with her head.
He nodded before the two of them headed toward the back of the establishment as they walked side-by-side.
They walked through a black door and were immediately assaulted by a bright array of glow-in-the-dark lights.
"Well, it's certainly got style. I'll give them that," Killian surmised as he looked around the room.
He titled his head when she didn't respond. He looked over and found her entranced by her surroundings. He couldn't help but smile at her.
He then leaned a bit closer and told her, "It does look rather adventurous, doesn't it?"
She jumped at his voice, and he apologized, "Sorry, love, I didn't mean to startle you."
"Oh, it's okay. I wasn't paying attention," Emma assured him with a wave of her hand.
Killian nodded before he asked, "What were you thinking about, Swan?" "Just about mini-golf," she answered with a shrug, earning a raised eyebrow from him.
He then questioned, "Is that all you're going to tell me?"
She couldn't help but tease, "Wouldn't you like to know?" grinning at him.
He shook his head as he told her, "You do vex me at times, Emma." Yet, he grinned a moment later, which made her giggle.
When she finished, she said, "I was only joking. I'll tell you about it." She then nodded toward the first hole and spoke, "But it'll have to be while we're playing."
"I can live with that," Killian replied as he smiled at her. He then asked, "You going first, love?"
"I think I'll leave that to you," Emma began as she smiled back at him. She paused before she continued, "And I'll keep score."
"I don't know if I can allow that," Killian told her, a hint of a smile on his face. He then rested his hands on the handle of his club and added, "How do I know you won't cheat?"
She offered him a playful smile as she told him, "I guess you'll just have to trust me."
He shook his head as she let out a chuckle. He then said, "And you say I'm incorrigible."
Emma only shrugged before she spoke, "Maybe - but it's still your turn."
Killian couldn't help but roll his eyes. Even still, he set his golf ball down on the neon matting. As he lined up the shot, he spoke, "Alright, Swan, it's story time."
She chuckled before she began, "I was 15 and living in a group home. The couple fostering all of us took us to an outdoor course in the next town over - it was also a birthday celebration of sorts because four of the kids had birthdays that month. I had only been there a couple weeks, so I was still settling in - the home was pretty nice, but I still didn't know what to really expect from this outing."
A sympathetic look crossed over Killian's features as he listened. He knew enough of her time in the foster system to know what she wasn't saying - she had felt unsure for way more than just the outing.
He was pulled away from his thoughts when he heard Emma perceive, "I'm okay, Killian. Really. It was a long time ago, and this group home did give me a really good memory."
"I'm glad, love," Killian replied with a warm smile. He then pursed his lips before he bemused, "Though it may, uh, a bit unrelated to your story, I just wanted to know why you left this home. Was it more of the same?"
"Basically," Emma confirmed. She then elaborated, "When you see three kids be adopted, it just makes it clear that it's not gonna happen for you."
Another sympathetic look crossed Killian's features while Emma gave him a soft smile.
The blonde then took a deep breath and recalled, "Let's see, it was my first time mini-golfing, and I did want to see what it was about. Once we had our equipment, we started on the course - which was pirate themed, by the way, so that was pretty cool."
With a grin, Killian then interjected, "I can't say I'm too surprised, Swan, given your fascination with the underdog and rogue alike. It's quite entertaining actually."
Emma rolled her eyes before she quipped, "You'd know all about that, wouldn't you, Captain?"
She grinned a moment later, and he teasingly threw back, "Well, if I'm the captain, you are most certainly my first mate."
"Like I'd take orders from you," she told him, mischievousness settling in her green eyes.
Before he had time to think of a comeback, she began to laugh. She then told him, "Alright, back to my story - and for you to take that shot."
Killian raised an eyebrow at the last part but nodded nonetheless. He lined up the shot once more before he swung.
The ball made it a little over halfway to the hole, and he begrudged, "That could have gone a little better."
Emma couldn't help but tease, "Especially since it's the first hole. I got a hole-in-one when I went with my foster family."
With a roll of his eyes, he pointed out, "That's called beginner's luck, Swan."
"Mm-hmm," Emma hummed in response. She then spoke, "Let's see if it was really beginner's luck," before placing her ball on the mat.
Killian sidestepped a couple feet as she got into position. When she hit the bright green ball, it sailed effortlessly toward the hole.
As it rolled in, Emma pumped her fist in the air and triumphantly declared, "So much for beginner's luck, huh, Jones?"
He rolled his eyes. He then genuinely asked, "Were you this excited when you were a girl?"
"I think I was more surprised than anything," Emma answered as the two of them walked toward his ball.
She then continued, "I was so, like, beside myself that I tripped over a fake anchor and landed on my butt."
"I'm sure that was rather embarrassing - in more ways than one," Killian surmised with a tilt of his head.
Emma nodded before she spoke, "But I played it off well - I quickly got up and told everyone to keep playing."
He couldn't help but chuckle before he spoke, "I don't doubt it, Swan. I can rather picture it actually."
The blonde chuckled before he sank the ball in the hole, doing a first pump of his own. He turned back to face her as he wore a triumphant grin - only to find her writing down the scores.
He closed the distance between them and walked behind her. He peered over her shoulder as she continued to write.
She then asked him, "Killian, what are you doing?" "Making sure you don't cheat, Swan."
He then rested his chin on her shoulder before she teased, "Why would I cheat when I'm winning?"
He rolled his eyes before he stood up straight. He deadpanned, "Very funny, Swan."
He then retrieved their golf balls. He presented Emma with hers and suggested, "Let's get to the next hole."
Emma nodded before they headed toward the second marker. She then told him, "My foster family handled my first shot better than you are - and I was the oldest kid in the home."
With a grin, Killian pointed out, "You know this game wouldn't be nearly as fun without a little competition."
With a chuckle, Emma then said, "I guess I can't argue with that." "I didn't think you could," he replied, his grin turning mischievous.
She shook his head before he placed his ball on the mat. He then held his club at eye level and measured it against the hole.
Emma furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as she questioned, "Killian, what in the hell are you doing?"
"I'm just making sure the shot is lined up perfectly," he answered without moving.
She rolled her eyes as she told him, "You are so ridiculous," crossing her arms over her chest.
"We'll see how ridiculous it is when I win this hole," he threw back before he moved his club behind his neon yellow ball.
He hit it, and it flew across the matting, bouncing off the various walls and obstacles.
A bright smile blossomed as it rolled directly to the hole. "Damn," he then cursed when it rolled over the opening.
"Better luck next time," Emma said as she clapped her hand on his shoulder. She then added, "If it makes you feel any better, I probably won't get another hole-in-one."
He quirked an eyebrow as he asked, "Why do you say that, Swan?"
"I seem to be a one-hit wonder with those things. Either that, or one's my lucky number - or maybe it's like a sign or something," Emma spoke before she placed her ball down.
As she hit it, Killian surmised, "Luck and signs, huh? Those aren't exactly the same thing, and you don't strike me as someone who believes in either - and I know you well enough to say it."
"Maybe not about everything, but with some things, sure," Emma responded as she kept her eye on the ball.
"That is decidedly vague, Swan. I'm going to need a bit more information," he said as he leaned against his club.
She shrugged before she began, "Look at us," gesturing between the two of them, "If I hadn't ended up in jail…"
"Thanks to your bastard of a boyfriend who claimed to love you," Killian interjected as he balled up one of his fists.
Emma placed a comforting hand on his arm before she continued, "If it hadn't been for him, I never would have gotten into law enforcement to help people like me. And I never would have made any of the friends I have…and I never would have met you."
With a bright and genuine smile, Killian spoke, "I had no idea you felt that way, love."
She ran her fingers through her hair as she shyly told him, "Well, yeah, you're my best friend, and… I don't want to live without you."
It took every bit of willpower that Killian had not to sweep her up in his arms and kiss her like his life depended on it.
He took a deep breath and told her, "Well, Swan, you won't have to go through that. I'm not going anywhere."
She only stared at him for a few moments. She then looked over at their golf balls and suggested, "Let's take our next turn."
Killian tilted his head as he watched her walk across the neon matting. She then crossed her arms as she waited for him to join her.
He rubbed the back of his head and sighed before he sauntered over to where his ball lay. He took a moment to focus before he hit it - only for it to miss the hole again.
"Well, Swan, maybe you'll fare better," he offered. He then asked her, "How did you do in the game with your foster family? Did you win?"
"We weren't keeping score," Emma explained. She then added, "But it didn't even bother me," as she stepped up to her ball.
He raised an eyebrow as he said, "I find it hard to believe that you were any less competitive than you are now."
She couldn't help but chuckle. She then spoke, "I mean, I was a little competitive, but I was having too much fun to think about it."
She smiled as she added, "I mean, the course felt like we were in Pirates of the Caribbean, and it was really fun going through it and playing the game. I don't think I can remember having that much fun."
Killian smiled at her memories before she finished, "And for once, I didn't feel so alone. Even though it didn't last, it gave me a little bit of hope. I don't know how much I actually held on to it, but it eventually paid off."
"I'd say it did," Killian agreed as he offered her a genuine smile. She smiled back at him.
Emma then took her shot before her dark-haired best friend surmised, "At least your memories of mini golf are all pleasant."
She didn't reply immediately as they heard the distinct "thud" as the ball fell into the hole. She then turned to him and gave him a triumphant grin, earning a head shake in response.
She then waltzed over to the hole and grabbed the ball. When she stood up, she joked, "Try to beat that, Jones."
He raised a playful eyebrow as he threw back, "Gladly," a smirk playing across his features; he then sidled up next to the ball and swung, sinking it in the hole.
"See, Swan. I can match you," Killian smugly told her. She nudged his shoulder with hers.
She then took a breath and spoke, "You mentioned something about mini golf and happy memories, and I thought you should know that they aren't, but you have to promise not to overreact."
With a tilt of his head, he asked, "Why would I overreact?"
Emma planted her hands on her hips as she pointed out, "You always overreact when I mention my exes."
"That's because they were…" Killian began to argue - only for Emma to clamp her hand over his mouth.
Surprise filled his blue eyes before she explained, "I get that you're protective of me - and it's sweet, it really is - but it's not entirely necessary. Yeah, it sucked, but I'm okay now - I promise."
He nodded before she removed her hand. She then suggested, "Let's get to the next hole, and I'll tell you what happened."
"Aye, love. Sounds good to me," Killian replied with a nod. She nodded as well before they headed to the third hole.
As he lined up his shot, Killian asked, "Alright, Swan, care to elaborate on that unhappy memory? "
"It was shortly after I met Walsh, and we decided to go out. Since we were still getting to know each other - I mean, we only had a few conversations over coffee, but he seemed nice enough - so I thought we could do something fun and low-key. Walsh didn't agree," Emma explained, resting one hand on her hip and the other one on the handle of her club.
Killian bit his lip in order to hold back a snarky or sarcastic reply. He took a breath and he coolly spoke, "I take it Walsh wanted to do something more, uh, traditional as it were. A nice dinner, perhaps?"
"In one of the fanciest restaurants in the city," Emma confirmed. She paused before he continued, "Even still, I couldn't help but be flattered by the gesture, and the food was amazing."
With a quirk of his eyebrow, Killian then surmised, "I take it there's more to the story."
"Unfortunately," Emma told him, and she couldn't help but sigh. She shook her head from those thoughts and continued, "I really did enjoy the date - even if said restaurant was French, and Walsh assumed that I wouldn't know what to order, so he ordered for me, but it tasted great, so I can't complain.
"Anyways, I thought we could go mini-golfing, but he said that he thought it was juvenile, and we'd have to find something else to do."
Killian clenched his jaw, but he said nothing. He took a calming breath before he asked, "How did you react to that, love?"
She sighed once more before she answered, "I didn't want to ruin the mood by arguing, and I did tell him that we'd have to agree to disagree on the subject. He took it surprisingly well, but in hindsight, it served as the beginning of his manipulative streak."
She then frustratingly ran a hand through her hair and lamented, "I should have realized it then. God, I was stupid."
Killian could no longer hold his tongue. He placed his thumb under her chin and assured her, "It is not your fault, Emma. He is the one who hurt you because he's a self-serving bastard. You can't blame yourself for not seeing it."
Emma was taken aback by the sheer devotion in his eyes. She took a breath to steady her nerves - and consider his words - before she said, "I know. And you're right - but "not being good enough" is still sometimes my default position when it comes to my love life."
"I know, love," Killian sympathized. He then grinned and told her, "And you know I'll be more than happy to prove you wrong."
She giggled before she teased, "I'm sure you would, Casanova," earning a chuckle from him.
He then spoke, "At any rate, I believe you're stuck with me, so you may as well get used to it," a mischievous look in his blue eyes.
Emma shifted uncomfortably on her feet before she took a few steps back. She took a deep breath before she questioned, "But you might not be there, will you?"
Killian sighed and ran his hands through his hair. He then told her, "You know I don't want to leave, love. I never wanted to in the first place."
"But you didn't see another way because of everything that happened with us," she supplied as she ran her fingers through her hair.
She then exhaled deeply before she continued, "But we're best friends again – you said it yourself – and we're joking, laughing, and…flirting. Hell, you're even annoying me again - you can stay, and everything will be alright."
Killian couldn't help but smile at her optimism - and how she actually admitted to flirting - but things weren't quite that simple.
"Emma, I know what I said, but there is still a very real reason why things got awkward between us. I understand if you don't want to talk about it now - or if you still don't yet know how you feel or what you want - but we will have to talk about it at some point."
She sighed deeply before she spoke, "I know we do. And we will - I promise." He offered her a soft smile in response.
Emma then stared at him a few moments before she experienced a surge of confidence that she couldn't quite shake.
She placed one hand on his shoulder before she cautioned him, "Don't read too much into this."
He cocked an eyebrow before she raised slightly on her tiptoes and planted a swift kiss on his forehead.
His eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. He barely had time to process when Emma told him, "It's still your turn, Killian, and I think maybe we should do a little less talking and a little more playing," a grin spreading across her features.
Killian raised an eyebrow as he challenged, "You really think I can concentrate now?"
She blushed slightly before she pointed out, "It was just a promise that we would talk all of this out later."
"Mm-hmm," he hummed in reply, shooting her a playful smile. She nudged his knee with hers.