A/N: sorry for the long wait! I finally finished the chapter I was currently working on (it was like pulling teeth) so here's the new chapter.

The song I mention in this chapter is the piano version of Chandelier by Sia (I can't attach the link to this since I either can't figure out how or there isn't a way to). But if you go to my tumblr and look at my music, it's the very first link in the tag. So, yeah sorry about that.

You've been mourning for the past three days, Killy. Let's go out. I can't stand looking at your brooding face anymore.

Killian had rolled his eyes at Liam's statement over the phone, but he had to agree. Killian had so much as left his apartment after the disastrous conversation with Emma three days earlier. He was lucky that shooting for the show didn't start back up for another two weeks, otherwise he would've had to be out and about and completely out of it as he was shooting. No doubt that Cora would've yelled at him about that.

So, Killian got dressed in his favorite jeans, a white t-shirt, and his signature black leather jacket. He rode a cab over to his brother's apartment and deftly made his way through the lobby, thankful that nobody was down there to recognize him; he was not in the mood to deal with autograph seekers or paparazzi. He had hid himself away in his apartment ever since the conversation with Emma and he was still not entirely up to being out in public.

Killian huffed as he rode the elevator up to the third floor and marched down the hallway, just as he did three days ago when his life first changed. He didn't bother knocking on the apartment door, knowing that Liam would be waiting for him already. As Killian entered the apartment, he saw Jenny and his little niece, Amelia (named after Killian and Liam's mother, who had left the world too soon), sitting on the couch of the living area.

Jenny looked over at Killian when she heard the door open, her flaming red hair up in a messy bun. Jenny smiled as she rocked her baby daughter in her arms. "Hey there."

Killian furrowed his eyebrows as he walked across the hardwood floors, past the kitchen, and reached the living area. "Where's my brother?"

"Amelia spat up on his shirt, so he's changing," Jenny responded with a laugh bubbling up and a smile.

Killian snorted as he walked around Jenny and sat down beside her, looking down at his precious niece. "That's a good girl. Make your daddy pay for pulling me out of my apartment to spend some time at a stupid bar."

"Oy!" Liam shouted from the bedroom and Jenny and Killian snickered together. "I'm doing this for your own good!"

"He's right, you know," Jenny added after they stopped giggling. "You need to get out of your thoughts for a little bit, Killian."

Killian rolled his eyes. "Yeah, your husband has made that his sole mission in life to remind me of that every day for the past three days."

Jenny rolled her eyes in response and God she really was a part of this family. "Could you hold Amelia for a second? I'm gonna check on your brother to make sure he isn't wearing that God-awful paisley shirt again."

"I thought you liked that shirt!" Liam shouted from the bedroom and Jenny and Killian laughed again as Jenny shifted Amelia into Killian's arms.

"I'll be right back," Jenny said as she lifted herself from the couch and marched down the hallway to the bedroom she shared with Liam.

Killian looked down at his newborn niece, whose eyes were struggling to remain open as slumber fought its way through. He trailed his finger down Amelia's soft cheek and he got a flash of a life that he wanted. Now that he had found his soul mate, Killian couldn't stop himself from imagining a future with a daughter with those jade eyes and his jet black hair or maybe a son with his bright blue eyes and her flaxen hair. He knew it'd be difficult, but Killian needed this life. It was what he always wanted. And he knew that wouldn't change, especially since he finally found the one he was meant to be with.

"Don't look at her like that, Killy," Liam spoke up and Killian looked over at his older brother and his wife. Killian hadn't even noticed them returning to the living room; he had been completely entranced by Amelia's now-sleeping face. "Makes me think you may murder us in our sleep and steal her away."

Killian shrugged with a smirk on his face. "Too messy. Plus, I'd miss looking at your sorry mug."

"I'm touched," Liam responded, placing his hand on his chest.

Jenny rolled her eyes as she walked over to her old spot beside Killian, sitting down on the aged couch. "She finally fell asleep?" Killian nodded in response. "She likes her uncle."

Killian snorted. "I don't think she knows me all too well, Jenny. If she did, I don't think she'd like me at all."

"Killian," Jenny said, clearly wanting to say something, but Killian interrupted her by passing Amelia back to Jenny, being extra careful with the sleeping newborn.

Killian pushed himself off of the couch and took the three steps to reach his brother. "Ready?"

Liam clapped Killian on the shoulder and, with a grin, he said, "Let's go, little brother."

Ten minutes later, Killian and Liam arrived at a lounge mere blocks from Liam's apartment. The lounge, The Frozen Heart, was an up-and-coming lounge in the Bronx that was already making waves in the city, even if it had only been open for the past year. Maybe it was its icy interior, or its generous amounts of alcohol in the drinks, or maybe how the owner had been thrust into the limelight because of her honesty about her anxiety and depression.

Maybe it was because there was live entertainment every night.

When Killian walked into the lounge behind Liam, he was stopped suddenly by Liam's insistence to the host that he sees the owner of the lounge. Killian let his head drop backwards to stare at the ceiling because he bloody hated it when Liam did this: asking the owner or manager or whatever if they could get a private seat because he had Killian Jones with him and they didn't want to be bothered.

"Liam, that isn't necessary," Killian grumbled, moving to stand beside his brother.

Liam rolled his eyes. "You're still in a sour mood. Wouldn't do any good for your image if you treated your fans like you treat me."

"I wouldn't do that because you piss me off," Killian grumbled again, sticking his hands into his jean pockets.

Liam rolled his eyes as he turned to face the lounge, looking around at the chattering couples and friends. Killian continued to brood because he just did not want to be there. He just wanted to be back at his apartment, watching TV and avoiding the public for now. He would be plenty in public when filming started back up; Killian just wanted a break until then.

But a blonde haired woman strolled up to Liam and Killian and then it was too late to convince Liam to go back home. The woman smiled, but Killian could see the tightness in it. She was obviously not completely used to being the famed owner of the hottest lounge in the Bronx.

"What can I help you with?" The woman asked-Elsa, Killian believed her name was.

Liam smiled as he said, "I'm here with Killian Jones and I was wondering if we would be able to get a table near the back. Somewhere dark. He isn't in the most pleasant of moods tonight, I'm afraid, and we wouldn't want him to harm his image by being rude to any guests."

Elsa nodded in understanding, her eyes flicking back to where Killian stood. "I have the perfect seat for you two. Just follow me, if you could, please."

Killian sighed as Elsa led Liam and him through the crowded lounge, weaving through filled tables and pushed-out chairs. Killian found himself getting annoyed with each passing moment, wishing that he could just tell his brother to bugger off. But, knowing Liam, he wouldn't do that, even if Killian begged. Liam was infuriating, but he was protective of his younger brother.

"Here you go," Elsa said with another smile as Liam and Killian sat at the one-sided booth she led them to. "Your waitress, Ella, will be with you in just a moment."

Liam nodded as Elsa walked away, back down a hallway that must lead to her office. Liam looked over to his brother, who was brooding again, with his arms crossed over his chest and leaning back against the booth.

Liam rolled his eyes. "Will you buck up, Killy? You're really ruining the mood."

Killian sighed. "Bugger off."

"Drama queen," Liam muttered, relaxing back against the booth, which overlooked the lower dining area and a stage where a pianist was playing a quiet tune.

Killian rolled his eyes. "Bloody git."

"Hi, guys! I'm Ella, your waitress for tonight!" The woman (well, more like girl) said cheerfully, with a wide smile and dimpled cheeks. "What would you two like-Oh my god, you're Killian Jones!"

Killian groaned internally, putting on a fake smile and sitting up straight. "Yes, I am."

Ella's face turned bright red, in contrast to her light blonde hair and blue eyes. "Ohmygod, I can't believe this! Never Landing is my favorite show!"

Killian continued to smile, while resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "Thank you so much for watching."

Ella let out an inhuman squeak and quickly held her pad and pencil. "Can I get you anything?"

"Uh," Liam spoke up and Ella was suddenly reminded that Killian wasn't the only person at the table, "could I get a bottle of Dos Equis?"

Ella nodded and looked back at Killian, fluttering her eyelashes and Jesus Killian thought he would've been used to women acting like that around him by now. "Just get me rum."

Ella sighed dreamingly. "Just like Hook."

Ella practically skipped away and Killian relaxed back in his seat, listening to Liam cackling beside him.

"I will never get over the way women just fawn over you, little brother," Liam joked, shoving Killian's shoulder.

"Piss off," Killian grumbled, looking up at the stage as the handsome gentleman begins winding his song to a close.

"Never," Liam responded, grinning at Killian.

Killian rolled his eyes and huffed, vaguely hearing footsteps walking onto the stage, thirty or so feet from him. He heard excited chattering and didn't think anything of it-only remembered that there was live entertainment and he sincerely hoped that it wasn't some tone-deaf person who wanted to be famous. Well, he didn't think anything of it until he heard the voice.

"Hi, everyone. I'm glad to see all of you again," Emma Swan spoke into the microphone and Killian leaned forward, his breath taken away because Gods he forgot how beautiful she was. "I can only sing one song tonight 'cause I've got full tables, but I hope you enjoy this song, nonetheless."

And she can sing like an angel.

Bloody hell, she's perfect.

Liam furrowed his eyebrows at his brother's reaction to the lounge singer. "What are you doing? I thought you were supposed to be brooding or something."

"It's her," Killian responded simply, his sight unwavering from Emma as she sang on stage.

Liam looked back to the blonde woman on the stage. And all he said was "Oh, bloody hell."

Emma tried not to think about the conversation for the next three days. She tried to ignore the memories of Killian's desperate eyes and the way her heart pounded in her chest because it just knew that he was the one she was meant to be with. She ignored the dreams she had of Killian-which had switched from the dirtiest sex imaginable to the silliest domesticated fluff her mind could conjure up (why was her mind betraying her?)-and she definitely ignored the incessant calls and texts coming from Mary Margaret and Ruby. She didn't want to face them, knowing how her life has completely changed and she did even want it (fine, she wanted it, but she didn't deserve it).

But the one thing she couldn't ignore was the sound of the door slamming shut when Killian left.

After Killian had left her apartment (everybody leaves, don't forget it), Emma completely and utterly shattered. Emma had collapsed to the ground and just cried her eyes out. God, she wanted the life she could have with her soul mate, but her fear of being left behind (because she was always left behind) was crippling her. Emma had seen the sincerity in Killian's eyes, at how much he wanted them to be together and that he truly wanted to talk things over. But, it had been just too much for Emma. As Emma had been heaving for breath on the hardwood floor of her apartment while the sobs wracked through her body, she remembered the startling blue of Killian's eyes that betrayed his heartache at Emma's pleas for him to leave.

God, she had been right in telling him that she was no good for him. She was just going to ruin his life with her brokenness. And then he'd realize that she was right and he'd run away.

Emma Swan was damaged goods, and she knew that all too well.

After mourning whatever life she could've had with Killian (and no, she absolutely did not imagine a little boy with pitch black hair and piercing blue eyes), Emma shook everything off and got ready for her shift. She pushed all her thoughts away and that seemed to have worked until she returned home. And every moment since, she was plagued with her wishes and dreams and desires to have just given him a chance.

Her thoughts were no different as she walked to work that Sunday. As she walked into The Frozen Heart, she couldn't stop thinking of those eyes and how she had dreamt of them every night. But, her thoughts were quickly quieted as she could finally look at the lounge she worked at and see the beautiful ice blues and pure whites that blanketed the floors and walls and furniture. Emma felt her eyes widen at the overwhelming sensations of colors invading her sight, but she quickly fixed her eyes back to normal size; she didn't want anybody to know about how her life had drastically changed.

"Hey, Emma," Marian called from over by the bar, where she was wiping down the steel counter. Emma took in Marian's beautiful brown curls, bouncing gently from side to side as her arm moved across the counter with the damp rag.

"Hey," Emma responded as quickly as she could, trying to retain her normal attitude. Emma really didn't want people to find out that she could indeed see colors. She didn't want to deal with people being all cheery and not truly understanding how awful it really was for Emma.

How awful it was period.

Emma headed back down the narrow hallway, which led to her boss' office, where she kept her things while Emma worked her shift. She never did any more than just exchanging pleasantries with Marian; honestly, Emma hardly knew Marian and they had been working together for a year, ever since Emma got the job as a cocktail waitress. Emma wasn't really friends with anybody she worked with. She guessed that was residual from her time in foster care, where she kept to herself and stayed away from everyone because they'd end up leaving her anyways.

It was shocking that she ended up with as many friends as she had now. But, it was those people that never gave up on her. For once in her life, Emma had people that didn't give up on her.

And that included her boss.

Emma reached the end of the long hallway and pushed open the large, white oak door and saw her boss sitting behind her monstrous desk, looking like a child sitting behind their parents' desk. Elsa glanced up and Emma was taken aback by how ice blue her eyes were, something she never knew until this very moment. God, how was she going to be able to hide this from everyone?

"Hey," Elsa said as she looked back to her computer, her leg jiggling from underneath the desk. A nervous tick that Elsa's always had, ever since Emma first met her.

"Ordering?" Emma asked as she turned to the left, heading to the cubbies that were assigned for the workers.

"Mmhmm," Elsa responded, nibbling on her bottom lip.

"We need more Skyy, just so you know," Emma told her boss as she hung up her red leather jacket, revealing her cotton, knee-length black dress.

Elsa sighed and dropped her head into her hand, wringing her fingers through her loose braid. "I ordered some last week. What the fuck?"

Emma walked over to the desk, her five-inch, black high heels clacking on the white tile of the office. "Maybe it's time to talk to the staff again? Maybe they need a reminder to stop stealing shit again."

Elsa groaned and sighed all at the same time, resulting in some strange noise. Emma knew that this wasn't helped Elsa's anxiety even remotely, but this came with the territory of owning a lounge, which was quickly gaining popularity with the yuppie crowd. Emma always tried her best to help Elsa out with her anxiety, especially when Elsa would call Emma at hours unheard of, just to freak out over invoices and paychecks and shipments.

"I guess so," Elsa responded, her eyes glancing back up at Emma. Emma tried-really tried-to keep herself from reacting to the icy blue stare, but she couldn't stop her eyes from widening and her jaw from dropping. Elsa furrowed her eyebrows and Emma knew she was done for. "Is something wrong, Emma?"

Emma gulped, which Elsa indubitably noticed. "Uh, no."

Elsa looked deep into Emma's eyes, scanning for something Emma was trying to hide. Emma really didn't want people to know about the whole true love thing. It was stupid. So stupid.

"Ohmygod," Elsa said as her jaw dropped and Emma knew she was caught. "You can see colors."

"Why do you say that?" Emma asked, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.

"Because Anna had that exact same look on her face when she met Kristoff," Elsa explained, slowly standing from her desk and placing her hands in the back pockets of her white pants. "She stared at me exactly how you are now."

Emma sighed and deflated, her shoulders slouching as her arms remained crossed. "I can see colors."

And Emma was surprised at the lack of excitement and joy coming from Elsa. Instead, Elsa smiled weakly at Emma. Emma furrowed her eyebrows at Elsa as Emma looked at her, confused at the unexpected reaction.

"What, no 'you're so lucky' or 'you should be happy?'" Emma asked her boss, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

"I know you well enough to know that you aren't exactly the type to want this," Elsa responded, removing her hands from her pockets to finger at the end of her braid. "And you know that I understand where you're coming from."

Emma knew that Elsa understood. They'd had plenty of late night talks while closing the lounge and nights where they just hung out at either of their apartments, drinking alcohol and just talking about their lives before they met. Elsa knew basically everything about Emma's life in foster care and Neal and her feelings about the whole soul mate thing (these only came out after a particularly rough night of tequila and an awful game of 20 questions). Emma knew all about Elsa's anxiety (which wasn't exactly hard to notice since she was always a nervous wreck at work), her unpredictable emotions, and how Elsa felt that it was better for everyone that she just stayed away.

They became quite close after that night. Emma realized that Elsa was one of the few people who truly, irrevocably understood her. Emma felt bad that she didn't tell Elsa about the color thing immediately after it happened, but she just needed Henry and then plenty of time to herself. She needed to sit and think about her new life and whether or not she should really try with the whole soul mate thing, even if Emma was absolutely positive that it would be exactly how everything else in her life was: that he would realize that she wasn't enough or that she wasn't lovable and that he would leave, just as many other people have.

"I just don't know what to do, Elsa," Emma muttered, taking a deep breath and flinging her hair back over her shoulder.

"Well, you know that you want this. You've told me as much," Elsa replied, walking around the desk and perching herself on the edge of the desk, reclining in front of Emma. "But, I know that you're terrified of this. Just take your time in figuring it out."

Emma nibbled on her bottom lip. "And if he won't wait?"

Elsa gave Emma a look that said 'come on, seriously?' "Of course he'll wait. He's your soul mate."

Emma rolled her eyes and began to turn to exit the office. "Sure."

"What's his name?" Elsa asked as Emma strutted toward the door. "You must've at least exchanged names, right?"

"Not exactly," Emma replied as she put her hand on the doorknob.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Elsa asked from the desk.

Emma glanced over her shoulder at Elsa, who seemed to genuinely want to know who Emma's soul mate was. Emma smirked at her friend and said, "I knew who he was. In fact, you do too. Actually, everyone knows who he is."

Elsa furrowed her eyebrows. "Dammit Emma. Just tell me. Now is not the time to be cryptic."

Emma left the office without another word to Elsa. She busied herself by prepping her tables and chatting nicely with Marian and any of her other coworkers that came in. Emma earned a tight hug from Ella (who was always cheerful and it kinda grated on Emma's nerves because nobody could always be that happy) before Ella skipped away to Elsa's office.

"Singing tonight?" Ella asked as she quickly stopped at the archway that led to the hallway.

Emma nodded as she reclined against the bar. "Yeah."

"You're so lucky you can sing like that. Probably doesn't hurt your tips," Ella responded, tapping her silver painted fingernails against the archway. "I would give my firstborn to sing like that."

Ella skipped past the archway and down the hallway to Elsa's office. Emma let out a loud sigh of relief because it honestly was exhausted dealing with Ella. Marian met eyes with Emma and chuckled under her breath.

"Yeah, I know. I had to deal with her the day she got engaged," Marian said, wiping glasses clean of any water or dust remnants.

Emma raised her eyebrows. "I couldn't even imagine."

"Hey, Emma!" Olaf called from the front door of the lounge, the short, rotund man waddling toward the piano. "Ready to rehearse your songs for tonight?"

Emma sighed as she slid off of the barstool, walking over toward the stage with her five inch stilettos clacking on the hardwood of the lower dining area. "Let's do this."

And that's what Emma did until the lounge officially opened at six, and which was already packed by six thirty. Emma wasn't really surprised about the turn out; Time Out just named The Frozen Heart as the hottest up-and-coming lounge in the city with an interview with Elsa. Elsa had called Emma frantically a few days ago about the interview, so Emma had been with Elsa during the interview. And it turned out that the interview did more good than harm, contrary to what Elsa was concerned about.

So, obviously that meant Emma was swamped. Each table that the host, that incompetent Greg, brought over must've had at least four people per table, which made more work for Emma than she really needed. Her feet were killing her (well, that's what she got for making the mistake of wearing stilettos to work again) and she was already exhausted by the time nine rolled around. But, she was thankful for the busy night: it kept her from thinking about Killian and his too-blue eyes that showed every emotion that crossed his mind and the way he left.

"Emma, it's time for you to sing," Elsa whispered into her ear as she snuck up behind Emma as she was tending a table.

Emma nodded as she gathered the empty glasses from the table of drunken businesswomen. "I'll be up there in a minute."

Elsa hurried back to her office since she didn't like staying in crowds all that much. Emma huffed as she carried the heavy tray back behind the bar, where Marian graciously took the tray to clear it of glasses.

"Give 'em hell," Marian said as she began stacking glasses together.

Emma let out a deep breath as she walked up to the stage. No matter how many times she had sung in front of crowds (she graduated with a degree in music, for fuck's sake), she was always a little nervous. Sure, the crowd at The Frozen Heart had always been very appreciative and always loved hearing her sing, but Emma was always waiting for someone to disapprove of her singing. There was always someone out there that disapproved of things she did.

(She was simply used to it.)

Emma cleared her throat as she stood on the stage, leaning toward Olaf, who sat behind the piano. "We're gonna do 'Chandelier.' I'm too busy to do more than that."

Olaf nodded in understanding and cracked his knuckles over-exaggeratedly. Emma turned to the microphone, slightly blinded by the strong lights propped at the edge of the stage, but noticing the eager shifting in seats of the crowd.

"Hi, everyone. I'm glad to see all of you again," Emma said as she placed her hands on the microphone stand. "I can only sing one song tonight 'cause I've got full tables, but I hope you enjoy this song, nonetheless."

And Emma began singing. It was kinda silly, but she always liked seeing people's expressions whenever she started singing-they always look just simply awestruck at her voice. Emma remembered that whenever she began singing, it'd be one of the few times that she could forget the pain of a lonely life and could just imagine that everything was perfect. That's why she majored in music: she wanted to live that perfect life and help others live it too.

Emma closed her eyes and allowed her hips to sway with the gentle notes of the piano, singing the song that she had practiced for hours and had been stuck in her head for days. She let herself imagine that she was singing in Madison Square Garden, or in Carnegie Hall, singing for everyone to hear. That's what Emma wanted with her life, but life never really worked out like that for Emma. But, she still hoped for the day that she'd get a chance to showcase her talents for crowds to hear.

Emma opened her eyes again and scanned the crowd, nearing the end of her song. She smiled internally at the faces of the audience, mentally taking a picture to look at on days where Emma felt as though her life was losing meaning. She noticed Ella swaying along to the song as she dropped off drinks to a table in the far back of the lounge. Emma looked at the table, noticing two men sitting there: one man was staring intently at Emma as she sang and the other man seemed very intrigued by the first man's reaction toward her. Emma subtly squinted her eyes and holy shit no.

It was Killian.

Killian Jones was here and listening to her singing and oh God this was not happening.

As soon as the final note ended on the piano, Emma hurried off of the stage, willing her legs to walk past her tables-which probably needed tending to-and walked through the hallway in the rear of the lounge, going back to Elsa's office. She couldn't deal with her soul mate tonight-well, more like maybe ever. She didn't want that life (of course she fucking wanted it) and she needed him to keep away from her because she'd only end up hurting him and herself (she needed him to stay.)

Emma walked into Elsa's office and immediately shut the door behind her, collapsing against it as Elsa raised her eyebrows from behind the desk, where she was typing away on the computer.

"Is there something wrong?" Elsa asked, looking over at her friend, slightly worried at Emma's distressed face.

"He's here," Emma said simply and Elsa understood.

Elsa walked from around the desk and placed her hands on Emma's upper arms, soothingly rubbing her thumbs against her skin. "You alright?"

Emma took a deep breath and shrugged. "I don't know. I just don't know what to do. He obviously saw me and I don't know if he's gonna try to talk to me."

"Well, of course he's going to try to talk to you, Emma," Elsa responded, smiling politely at her friend. "Knowing you, you probably pushed him away when you two talked. You two have talked, right?"

Emma nodded. "Yeah, kinda. But yeah, I pushed him away when he tried to talk. I just don't do this."

Elsa gripped Emma's upper arms a little harder, trying to shake sense into her. "You can do this, Emma. And you want that life. You just have to take a chance."

There was gentle knocking on the office door and Emma's heart began beating wildly in her chest. Elsa helped pull Emma from the door, as she was frozen with fear, and Elsa opened the door, revealing a nervous Killian and a disconcerted man behind him.

Elsa's eyes widened as she looked over to her friend. "He's your soul mate?"

Emma shrugged. "What? I told you that everyone knew who he was."

"But, I didn't think you meant that literally," Elsa responded hastily, then returned her gaze to the two men at her door, spreading an uneasy smile on her face. "Come on in."

Killian and the man entered the office and Emma began picking at her nails from the nerves filling her stomach. She knew she needed to talk to him, even if she said everything she had to say on Wednesday. But Emma knew she didn't mean all of those things, that mostly fear had controlled her words, just as it did so often. She did want this kind of life, but she wasn't lying about how she wasn't good with this-with relationships and being happy and being normal. But looking at Killian's eyes, Christ Emma wanted to at least try.

"Hi," Killian said simply, sticking his hands into his jacket pockets.

"Hi," Emma replied nervously, continuing to pick at her nails.

A silence followed as Emma looked over to Elsa, who was listening quite intently at the awkward exchange. Emma raised her eyebrows, communicating silently that she would very much like for Elsa to leave.

"Oh right," Elsa said, figuring out what Emma wanted, stepping toward the door. "I'll go take care of your tables, then. Just close the door when you leave."

Killian looked over his shoulder at the unknown man and must've had the same look on his face as Emma did.

The man rolled his eyes. "Fine, you bloody git." The man looked around Killian and smiled at Emma. "I'm Liam. My brother decided to be rude and not introduce me. It's nice to finally meet you."

Emma smiled politely back at Liam, kicking herself for being so unbelievably dumb about not seeing the family resemblance. "Nice to meet you too."

"Now, get out, you prat," Killian grumbled under his breath to who must've been his older brother.

Liam sighed as he began to follow Elsa out of the office. "Fine. Don't hide for too long. Don't want that Ella girl to miss you."

Killian rolled his eyes and sighed as his brother and Elsa exited the office and the door shut quietly behind them. It was silent for a few more moments before Killian cleared his throat and itched a spot behind his ear, which Emma reluctantly found quite adorable and endearing.

"So, uh-um-well-"

"Are you stalking me now?" Emma asked, crossing her arms over her chest defensively, raising her eyebrows at the man before her.

Killian raised his eyebrows and wildly shook his head. "God, no. I came here with my brother just to hang out since this is only a few minutes from his place. I had no idea you worked here. I'm not that kind of man, love."

Emma narrowed her eyes at Killian, even though she could tell he genuinely meant what he said. None of her usual lie detectors were going off as she looked at his blue eyes (God, they were so blue) and Emma sighed. And dammit she should've been annoyed at love, but Emma couldn't help it-she had missed his lilting accent and bright blue eyes and messy black hair and what was happening to her.

"Fine. I believe you," Emma replied, planting her hands on her hips.

Killian sighed, awkwardly shifting his hands in his pockets. "My brother thought I needed a night out after not leaving my place for the past three days."

Emma gulped because it sounded like her: lying in bed and just not wanting to move ever since Killian left her apartment after that awful conversation they had. She had only left the apartment to go to work, but once that was over, she'd return home, back to her spot in her bed. She didn't talk to Ruby or Mary Margaret or Henry; all she did was wallow in her own misery, which was what she did best.

"I'm sure that conversation didn't go exactly how you imagined it," Emma mumbled, looking to the white carpeting of the office.

Killian chuckled. "Not exactly. But, I knew it'd be a challenge, since I saw how afraid you were when you saw me that first time."

Emma nibbled on her lip as she looked up at Killian, clasping her hands together in front of her and shifting awkwardly to relieve the pain in her feet (why had she decided to wear stilettos to work that day?). "You saw me panic?"

Killian nodded subtly. "Yeah."

Emma let out a deep breath, taking a small step forward. "Killian, I wasn't lying when I said that I'm not any good for you. You need a girl who wants fame and to be chased by paparazzi and I'm not that girl."

Killian sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Love, not to be a prat or anything, but you don't exactly know what I like in a girl."

And Emma knew he was right. She didn't know a damn thing about Killian Jones-only the things she read in those gossip magazines. All she knew was that he had a thing for flings with hot models and appeared to have a soft spot for Cheetos, since he seemed to have a bag in his hand in nearly every picture taken of him.

Emma sighed and chewed on the inside of her cheek. "I know. I know I don't have any right to say that. Or had any right to say any of those things back at my place. I'm sorry for all of that. But, I'm telling you the truth-I'm not the kind of girl you want by your side in the limelight."

I have a past, Emma wanted to say, but no, she couldn't say it. Not yet. Not when they only just met.

"I understand," Killian responded and Emma's heart fell. She knew he wouldn't chase after her. Nobody did. "But, truth be told, love, this isn't something I'm going to forget about. I don't take this whole soul mate business lightly. And I don't know about you, but I know that even though it may be terrifying to do this, I'm willing to try."

Emma's heart swelled, hearing Killian's confessions. She could see in his eyes that he had been hurt before, that she wasn't the only person that was afraid and nervous about this whole thing. Killian understood what she was saying and wasn't pressuring her into anything. And that made all of the difference in the world to Emma.

"Well, um, if you decide to stop by Thursday through Sunday next week and the week after, I may not exactly complain," Emma mumbled out, afraid to raise her voice any higher.

Killian smiled (and it was a beautiful smile) and his eyes lit up. "Are you telling me your work schedule, Ms. Swan?"

Emma bit on her bottom lip. "Maybe."

Killian smiled wider, his bright and perfect teeth showing. He took a step closer to Emma, sticking his hands into his jacket pockets again. "You aren't exactly subtle, are you, love?"

Emma shrugged, beginning to smile because she enjoyed this side of Killian. "I've been told that I'm as subtle as a brick to the face."

Killian chuckled and Emma's heart did a weird stutter thing that Emma thought she could get used to. "It's quite endearing."

Emma felt her face burn with the blush rising to her cheeks. "It was nice to see you again, Killian."

"It was nice to see you too, Emma Swan," Killian responded, those bright blue eyes sinking into Emma's jade eyes.

And in that moment, Emma realized that she loved her name spilling from those lips.