I'm so sorry that this is so late at night! Today - well, this whole week - has just been absolutely crazy! I'll try to do better! This chapter is based off Taylor Swift's song "Begin Again." I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you for all the reviews, follows, and favorites!

I do not own OUAT or its characters.

Begin Again

Took a deep breath in the mirror

He didn't like it when I wore high heels

But I do

Turn the lock and put my headphones on

He always said he didn't get this song

But I do, I do

Emma stared at her reflection. She always liked this look, but he didn't. She sucked in a breath and shook her head. He didn't control her anymore. She was free of him.

"You look beautiful, Emma," Mary Margaret said as she walked into the bathroom and stood next to Emma.

Emma continued to look at her reflection. "He wouldn't have liked it."

Mary Margaret looked at her sympathetically. "Well, this guy is not Neal, that's for sure. Killian will love it."

Emma pulled her gaze away from the mirror and looked at her best friend/sister-in-law. "I haven't even met him yet."

"That doesn't matter! He's going to like you. I promise."

"As long as he doesn't pack up and disappear in the middle of the night, he'll be better than Neal."

"Oh, he is," came David's voice. David walked into the bathroom.

"You have to say that about him. He's your best friend," Emma said, rolling her eyes.

"And you're my baby sister. I wouldn't set you up with just anybody," David assured.

"Mmhm. Well, I should probably get going. I don't want to be late." Honestly, she expected this Killian person to be late. She didn't know why she was even going on this date.

Mary Margaret smiled. "Okay, have fun."

Emma rolled her eyes again and opened the door and stepped out of her apartment.

When she got to her car, she turned on the radio and started driving. Her favorite song started to play and the only thing Emma could think about was Neal. Neal always complained about this song. He always said, "It makes no sense!" or, "What's the point of this song, anyways?" He was always negative about it.

Emma shook that thought out of her head. She couldn't think about Neal. Apparently this guy, Killian, was a great guy. She only hoped that that was true.

Walked in expecting you'd be late

But you got here early and you stand and wave

I walk to you

You pull my chair out and help me in

And you don't know how nice that is

But I do

Emma parked her car outside of the cafe that David told her to go to. She took a deep breath and walked in.

She expected to be waiting for at least twenty minutes, but, to her surprise, Killian was already waiting there.

When she saw him, Emma was sure that it wasn't him. First off, he was wearing black leather and the way David described him made him sound like someone who wore stuff like… David.

He walked up to Emma cautiously. "Are you Emma?"

Emma nodded. "And you're Killian, right?"

Killian smiled. "Aye, indeed." He took Emma's hand and kissed it. "Pleasure to meet you, Emma."

Emma nodded. "Uh… yeah. You, too."

"I have a table ready for us," Killian began. "Follow me." He started walking.

Emma followed close behind. He was really a gentleman, Emma thought. David was right. Hm. That's a new one. Emma smiled to herself.

"Here we are," Killian said when they reached a table. Killian pulled out a chair and Emma expected him to sit in it, but he smiled and looked at Emma.

Emma realized that Killian pulled out the chair for her. "Oh, right. Sorry." Emma sat in the chair. She felt herself move forward with the chair as Killian pushed her chair in. She was not used to that. Neal never did that. He always sat down first and complained about his job.

Killian sat down and looked at Emma. She had a confused look on her face. "Are you alright, love?"

Emma was knocked out of her thoughts. "Um… yeah. Just… that was nice of you to do that."

Killian smiled. "Of course, love. It wouldn't be very gentleman-like to not do it."

Emma laughed a little. "Sorry, it's just that David told me that you are always a gentleman. He was right."

Killian nodded and smiled wider. "I'm glad you think so, and order whatever you would like, I'm paying."

Emma just stared at him.

"Darling, did I say something wrong?" Killian asked, a little worried.

Emma shook her head. "It's just… I dated this guy once and he was the exact opposite of you. I always paid the lunch or dinner bill." It was true. Neal claimed that he couldn't afford to pay for their food on dates, which Emma found weird since he was the one always asking her out.

"Well, whoever that man is, he doesn't deserve to have lunch with you," Killian said sincerely.

Emma smiled a little.

And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid

I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did

I've been spending the last eight months

Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end

But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

The waiter came over to their table and asked what they would like.

"Grilled cheese, onion cheese, and a hot cocoa with cinnamon," Emma said.

Killian ordered and then the waiter left. Killian looked over at Emma. "That sounds like a pretty interesting meal, love."

Emma shrugged. "What can I say? It's my favorite."

Killian smiled.

"And your order, grapefruit and boiled mackerel. That sounds… interesting." Emma smiled.

Killian chuckled. "It's delicious. You should try it sometime."

"Mmm, sorry, buddy, but I don't really like fish."

Killian threw his head back and laughed. "You don't, do you?"

Emma shook her head. "Not even a little bit." She thought about how much Killian had already laughed. He actually thought that she was funny, or could be. Neal never thought that. Any joke Emma made, he would glare at her. This is so strange, was all Emma could think about.

Emma had only known Killian for about twenty minutes and he already made her feel more special and more wanted than Neal ever did, and it scared Emma. The last time she saw Neal was eight months ago. This all felt too fast, but Emma couldn't bring herself to leave.

This was too fast.

Then again, everything was too fast in her eyes.

The past eight months went by in the blink of an eye. Almost every second of the past eight months Emma would think that love was a cruel joke. It only breaks your heart, she would think. It always ends badly. Why did she let David and Mary Margaret drag her into this?

Emma never thought she could love someone after what Neal did. She thought that no one could love her; but today, she thought that maybe there was hope that something, and only maybe, something could begin again.

We tell stories and you don't know why

I'm coming off a little shy

But I do

They talked about random things for a while. Emma couldn't help but feel a little shy. It had been eight months since she even thought twice about a man other than David. Emma felt like she shouldn't open up about anything. She hesitated when he asked her the basic questions, like what was her favorite color, or what was her favorite food.

She almost felt ridiculous, but Killian didn't seem to mind.

"So… what did David do to drag you into this?" Emma asked as she wiped her hands on a napkin after eating an onion ring.

Killian paused. "Drag?"

Emma nodded. "Yeah. What did he do to convince you to come have lunch?" Emma asked, teasingly.

Killian shook his head. "He didn't have to convince me, well, he did eventually."

Emma was confused, and apparently Killian could see that.

Killian chuckled. "Apologies. I'll be more clear." He took a sip of his water and then began talking again, "David said that it would be good for me to get out of my apartment and he said he knew someone who needed the same thing. I argued saying that he would have to ask this someone first. He claimed he did. So I agreed."

Emma smiled a little. "Why did you need to get out of your apartment?"

Killian looked down for a moment. "Uh… family issues."

Emma's smile faded. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's none of my business."

Killian gave her a reassuring smile. "No need to apologize. It is quite alright."

Emma nodded, still feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Killian sensed that the conversation took a sad turn. He needed to lighten the mood. "What are your hobbies?"

"Um… well." Emma thought about that for a moment. She really didn't have any hobbies. She was either working or spending time with Mary Margaret and David. So, Emma just shrugged. "I don't really have any. What about you?"
"Well, I do love the ocean."

Emma smiled. "Everyone loves the beach."

Killian shook his head. "No, it's not that. I mean, I do like the beach, but I prefer to be on the water. Sailing is a passion I've had since I was a boy."

"That's fun. I haven't really… held on to anything, you know? I've had phases of times when I like certain stuff, but it always changes."

Killian nodded. "I see. I… uh… I knew a woman once who never wanted to settle down. She always wanted more adventure."

Emma nodded, not quite sure what to say. They sat in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes.

Killian scratched behind his ear. He gave Emma a shy smile.

Emma looked down at her plate, slowly eating her food.

He needed to change the topic. Now. "So have you ever been on a boat before?"
Emma looked at him. "Is that you asking me out?"

Killian scratched behind his ear again. "Um… perhaps."

Emma smiled. "No, I have never been on a boat before."

He would take that as a yes.

And we walked down the block to my car and I almost brought him up

But you start to talk about the movies that your family watches

Every single Christmas and I want to talk about that

And for the first time what's past is past

Killian opened the door for Emma, smiling at her.

Emma smiled back at him and walked out the door, wrapping her light jacket tightly around her. "It's a bit chilly today."

Killian nodded. "Aye, that it is." He noticed Emma shivering a little bit. "Are you cold, love?"
"What? Oh, uh-" Emma shrugged "-a little."
Killian nodded. He shrugged off his jacket.

"Oh wait. What about you? Aren't you cold?" Emma asked.

"I'll be fine." He draped the jacket over Emma's shoulders.

Emma smiled a little. This guy was way different than Neal. She had a strange urge to tell Killian about Neal. Emma mentally slapped herself. She couldn't do that. She met this guy an hour ago.

"Emma, are you alright?"
Emma realised that she had stopped walking. Killian was standing in front of her, worry etched into his features. Emma nodded. "Oh yeah. I'm fine. Just thinking."
Killian nodded and returned to stand next to her. "Okay."

They started walking again. Emma fought back a smile as Killian told her stories about his brother and such. Emma would occasionally add in something that David and Mary Margaret did, always earning a laugh from Killian.

When they reached Emma's car and Emma had unlocked it, Killian opened the door for her and said, "There you go, love."

Emma smiled. "Thanks."
Killian smiled. "So… see you next Friday for a boat ride?"
Emma nodded, smile never fading. "Yeah." What Emma did next surprised herself. She leaned forward and kissed Killian's cheek. She pulled back and smiled, a blush filling her cheeks.

Killian smiled and scratched behind his ear. "I… uh… have a good night, Emma."
"You too." Emma sat in her car and Killian shut the door for her.

Emma started her car, waved at Killian through the window, and backed out of the parking lot, heading home.

As she drove, Emma couldn't keep the smile off her face. After all this time, after what Neal did to her, she never thought that anything like this would ever begin again, but it seems that the world had different plans.

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review if you did!