Killian was fine. It was completely normal to be in a MRI scan during a minor earthquake. Perfect. That did not make his anxiety spike at all. Something buzzed and the lights flickered. He walked back to his office and noticed everyone around him acting strangely.

Several people were singing Help! By the Beatles and dancing around like it was Broadway. But no one but him seemed aware. Inside his office, it got even stranger. One of his coworkers, Tee Green, started singing Mad World. His heart broke for her.

"You okay, Jones? You look stressed. More than usual." Emma interrupted his thoughts.

"Uh yeah. Just, I was getting an MRI done when the tremor hit." He scratched behind his ear nervously. "I think I'm going to go home."

"Sure you're okay?" She asked. "Don't forget dinner with your fam tonight."

"Aye, love. I remember." He sighed.

Once he got home, he slammed the door shut and crawled under the covers. He didn't plan on emerging until morning, except he was interrupted by someone singing I Kissed A Girl. He flung the door open and saw his neighbor, Ruby. Her door was open and she was singing loud.

"Lass? You do know you're singing, right?" He frowned.

"Of course." She grinned. "Come on, Jones, it's a great day. Sing some Katy Perry with me." She teased.

"I think I'm going crazy. I had an MRI today and when I got out, I could hear people singing. Like Broadway musical numbers. So when I heard you..." He scrubbed a hand over his face. "I've lost my mind."

Ruby gave him a look that confirmed it. "You might have, but I already thought that when you said you and your friend weren't banging."

"Swan? Emma and I have been friends since..."

"Since before you noticed girls." She nodded. "Look, it may have been a blip. Just reacting to the stress."

His phone buzzed. Swan: Dinner at your parents. Don't be late.

He hiccuped. Emma was his rock. His everything. She was his best friend. He'd fall apart if he didn't have her. And here she was making sure he got ready for dinner.

"If anyone else starts singing, let me know." Ruby grinned.

"Aye." He rubbed his neck.

Dinner with his family had gotten remarkably harder since his father was diagnosed with a terminal illness. He could barely walk, could no longer speak. It was a cruel and terrible way to lose his father.

Emma's yellow bug sat by the street just like always. It really shouldn't have surprised him that she opened the door. "You ok?" Her eyes were earnest and filled with shared pain.

She cupped his cheek with one hand and brushed her thumb along the scruff. "Getting kinda long." She teased. "Come on, KJ."

Killian sat beside his father. "So today was weird. I had my MRI interrupted by the tremor this morning and now I think I can hear songs that weigh on people's hearts. No idea what's going on with that."

His dad had a laptop in front of him. He moved the mouse carefully. Hope. "You think it's supposed to give me hope?"

His father hit a button. "No."

"You think I'm supposed to help people find hope?" He asked. It was the question he didn't want to ask.

"Correct-a-mundo." His father hit the other button and wheezed a laugh.

"Let me guess? Emma?" He chuckled looking at the set up. "She even gave you sarcastic answers. Bloody hell."

"Whoa. Who's talking like a pirate in here?" Emma grinned and stuck her head out of the kitchen.

"I thought you were my best friend, not my father's? Why, love?" He mock whined.

"You had your chance. Brennan needed his sarcasm back." She came over and kissed his father's cheek.

"Si!" The voice sounded like someone from Telemundo. His father's eyes sparkled with mischief.

He listened to the sounds of his family in the kitchen. For one moment everything was blissfully normal. Then his mother and brother started singing Lean On Me.

Dinner carried on as normal even if he was freaked out. Especially when his father started singing True Colors.

The following week, Emma brought him coffee to celebrate getting the promotion. So far, she was the only person he hadn't heard burst into song. It wasn't until she stopped at his place that she started singing Ruin The Friendship. She danced and rolled her hips in a way he'd never seen her move.

Emma Swan was a vision. Hearing her singing about changing their friendship and being more? It sent a shiver down his spine. She might be his best friend, but he'd been in love with her for half his life. Did she feel the same way? Or was this only about sex?

She finished and stood at her car. "You okay, KJ?"

"I'm fine." He said almost too quickly. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

She gave him a worried look, but nodded. He stood in the entrance of his apartment breathing. When she was gone, he ran and pounded on Ruby's door. "What's wrong with you?"

"Ruin the friendship." He said.

She grinned. "Gladly. Let's go."

"No. Emma. Emma just sang...the sexiest version of that song I've ever witnessed." He shook his head. He needed to clear his thoughts of her begging for his touch, but he doubted that would happen any time soon. The sight of her eyes full of desire for him was seared into his corneas.

"Aww, tell me you saw a hot dance number with that." She teased. "Emma wants to ruin your friendship? What's wrong with that? You've wanted to ruin it for years. Why are you still here? If I knew that woman wanted to ruin my friendship, I'd need at least a week's vacation."

Killian leaned on the wall. "But does she mean hot sex or is she in love with me?"

"Sweetie, a girl like Emma isn't going to want to ruin a friendship for one night." She arched a perfect eyebrow at him. "Is that what's bothering you? Her song wasn't a love song? Even though you assume the sex would be hot."

He felt his ears burn. Ruby sighed as if she was disappointed. "Ruining a friendship takes a lot of forms. Besides, Emma already tells you she loves you."

"What?" He stared at her. "I've been in love with her since I was 8 years old. I think I'd know if she told me she loved me even once."

"How are you the one with too many women and I'm single?" She scowled. "I can't have this conversation with you right now. She loves you. All your little Tinkerbell fantasy will be is a great ride and a lot of drama."

She shut the door in his face.

Emma loved him?

Killian frowned as Arthur Cambridge walked into the conference room with Regina and Robin. Arthur caught his eye and suddenly started singing Moneytalks.

Bloody hell.

Arthur owned SWRD Technologies. Their stiffest competition next to MYST. Every year they tried to lure coders away, but between Regina and Robin, their retention rate had been great. For some reason, their competitors tried using this office as a talent farm. Killian had considered that a possibility until he enjoyed working here.

"Where's Emma?" Graham Humbert asked. "I was hoping to see her. Boss wants to take her to our staff retreat in Hawaii next month."

"Surprised you didn't have her schedule memorized, Humbert." Killian said in a tight voice.

"She's representing at CodeANON." Will added.

"She doesn't speak for two more hours. I thought for sure she would have been here before she spoke. She gets nervous before presentations. Thought I'd see if she wanted to rehearse with me." He said flexing his shoulders.

Killian muttered under his breath praying Graham wouldn't sing. And then he started singing champagne problems. Oh bloody hell. Graham used his desk to lay on as he lamented breaking up with Emma. He didn't need that. He especially didn't need Humbert singing Taylor Bloody Swift songs like a lovesick puppy.

Something in the lyrics made his blood run ice cold.

Graham got up and sat in her chair. "She still smells amazing. What is she wearing now?"

He tried to keep the eyeroll to himself. "Dryer sheets. She uses them to keep the cat hair from her computer. And Scarlett."

"She's a peach, she is." Will said with prim acknowledgment. "Why are you here?"

"I told you. Arthur wants Emma to join the staff retreat." He straightened his tie and smoothed down his sweater vest. "Which means I get to wine and dine her beneath Hawaiian sunsets."

Bloody hell.

The day didn't end fast enough. He sat beside his father on the sofa. He was watching Emma's talk end. It wasn't a standing ovation, but it was close.

"Did you know Emma dated that ponce Humbert? I think you met Graham Humbert." He scowled. "Wanker came in and sang about how breaking up was the worst thing he's ever done. Then bragged about taking Emma to Hawaii for Arthur Cambridge's staff retreat."

"I remember Graham. Such a nice lad. Very respectful." His mother said sitting on the arm of the sofa beside her husband. "He was so polite with Emma. Is he going to ask her out again?"

The sound of a toilet flushing came from his father's computer. 2 smart. "Graham was very sweet. Don't be so hard on him, Brennan." She kissed him and walked back in to finish dinner.

His father started singing Tell Him except he changed the phrase to her. To his surprise, his mother joined in as well.

"You boys ready for dinner?" His mother asked.

"Ruby? Which bloody tie..." He stopped short in Ruby's doorway. Emma stood wearing a one shouldered blue lace dress meant to look sheer. Her hair was styled in a high ponytail with golden curls falling down her back.

"Drinks with Rob? I say no tie." Emma told him, taking it from his hand. "One drink in and you'll say it's choking you before you start the show."

"What show is that, love?" His voice got deeper as she came closer.

Emma rolled her eyes. "The one you and Dave put on when you drink. I can tell how drunk you are by how many buttons are undone."

"You remember this, yet I don't remember hearing a lecture on how I should be better behaved in public?" He smirked.

Her cheeks bloomed red. "A good friend would have. Shows what a crap friend I am."

"Ah ah." He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "No bad mouthing the best thing in my life." He raised an eyebrow. "Just because you enjoy the view, doesn't make you a bad friend."

Her blush brightened. "Please. You can't even remember that tattoo you love showing off."

There was a compass on his abs. "I'll have you know I remember every bleeding second. You laughed, but held my hand the entire time."

"But do you remember who drew it first?" Her voice was almost all breath. He doubted she even wanted him to hear it.

"OHMYGOD please leave the UST outside. None of that in here." Ruby said waving her hands at them. "I am taking this girl to David and Mary Margaret's engagement party while you boys get whatever weird British term you use for drunk."

"Pissed." Emma said at the same time he did.

"I have a very hot date tonight." Ruby told him. "Now shoo! And Emma's right. No tie."

Killian's brain was whirling too fast to keep up. What had she meant? Had she drawn that? The permanent marker went below his waistband. How much had she seen? Did she like what she saw or...

"Mate! Are we ready?" Rob asked with a punch to his shoulder.

Killian stared at his phone trying to figure out why it was broken. The only way his mother would have called about an emergencyis if it was broken. He was too drunk and too upset. Slender fingers took the phone and helped him into his jacket. "Come on. I'll get you to the hospital, okay?"

Emma helped him outside and started singing Count on Me as they walked to her car. She helped him buckle in before driving to the hospital where his parents were. His father had fallen trying to go upstairs without help.

Nothing was quite so sobering as hospital coffee. Emma, who was far too accustomed to sleeping in uncomfortable places, fell asleep with his jacket around her knees and her head on his leg. He saw a purple tattoo on her shoulder in the same spot as his boots. Were those...Buzz Lightyear boots inside an infinity? Just like his cowboy boots?

To infinity and beyond. "Emma tells you she loves you all the time." Ruby chastised.

Emma rolled her eyes. "To infinity, KJ."

He looked down where his sleeves rolled up and exposed part of his trident tattoo. Kraken tentacles wrapped around it and held the trident aloft. Emma had drawn it one day. She always seemed to use him as a coloring book. Tattoos, she insisted, should be black outlines as much as possible to avoid becoming blobs. That didn't stop her from using Sharpies to add new designs somewhere on his body.

Killian managed to carry her to the car and drive them to his mother's house. She'd woken up enough to walk, but she'd be staying the night. It felt like college all over again. He found her a tshirt and boxers, as well as her spare contact case. Then she curled up in his bed like she belonged there.

As he completed his own bedtime routine, he took a moment to study the compass tattoo on his stomach. There was a hook and a swan making a heart and poppies twined around the rope. Looking at it compared to his other tattoos, it was safe to say who the artist was. He wondered if she'd like to draw a new one.

He knew she had some ink. Besides the one he just found on her shoulder, she had a poppy on her wrist. Did she have more? Were there others that matched? Traditionally, he hated couples getting tattoos to match, but he had a feeling drunk Killian didn't mind one bit.

There were plenty of college memories of him waking up to find himself part of her homework or the canvas for whatever creative wave she'd felt. He loved the feeling of her hands running across his skin.

He slipped into the bed behind her and snuggled close like they did as kids. She made a noise in her sleep and her hand held his. "Behave. Tired." She murmured.

Morning came and the bed was empty when he woke. Emma long ago stashed an extra outfit for late night study sessions. He found her downstairs laughing and teasing his father as only she could do. Killian hated that her life prepared her for dealing with situations like this.

She handed him a travel cup of coffee. "Ready for work?"

Emma managed to drag him to the food court for lunch and then found a bench outside. "So we need to talk."

"Alright, but I find when a woman says that, I'm rarely in for a pleasant conversation." She threw a grape at him.

"I got an offer from Ava on the 6th floor. Managing my own team." She said.

"Swan, that's amazing!" Something twisted in his gut. "I mean as your boss, I hate losing you and I still need you on the presentation, but as your friend, how can I stand in your way? You're meant for amazing things."

She frowned and then he found himself telling her. "When I had the MRI a few weeks ago, something weird happened. I can hear people singing whatever is on their heart. Usually with a dance number. Humbert was singing some bloody Taylor Swift song about how stupid he was for breaking things off. Why didn't you tell me you were together? Much less that he wanted to marry you?"

Emma blinked. "That's the part you're focusing on? You can't drop some kind of weird telepathy thing on me and then get mad about Humbert. That was forever ago. What do you mean they sing what's on their heart?"

"You don't believe me?" Bloody hell. He'd been hoping Emma would be the one person who would understand. "Regina started singing Satisfaction one day. Arthur sang Moneytalks. Even Liam." She flushed as if she knew what was coming. "Thing is, it seems to be things they're struggling with. "Tink's grief, Liam's impending fatherhood."

She winced when he said Tink. She angrily stood and began singing Piece of My Heart. He had no idea whether he should be afraid or turned on. He knew that kind of passion hid beneath the surface, but seeing it displayed like this? A cross between Janis Joplin and Faith Hill? Gods this woman was going to wreck him.

She sat back down still looking angry, but all the passion and emotion was bottled back up. "I didn't mean to upset you, love. I just-"

"Hey! Do you two want to go to the club tonight? DJ Fa is playing." Will said uncomfortably shifting. Suddenly he started singing Don't Speak.

Killian dragged Emma to Ruby's to explain what was going on. "Oh yeah, lover boy has been hearing everyone's heart songs, as he called it."

"Is that why you think Scarlett is heartbroken?" She asked.

"And you're mad at him." Ruby gestured at Killian.

Killian ran up to Emma and knelt at her desk. "Emma, I need your help. I have no idea what's going on, but I think my power is somehow going in reverse."

She spluttered a laugh. "What?"

"I've been singing my feelings out all over the office." He dropped his forehead onto her desk.

"And what am I supposed to do, KJ?" She asked.

"Swan, please? I can't make a complete fool of myself today." He begged.

"Fine. I'll do what I can, okay?" She patted his head. "To infinity." She whispered.

Once he'd put his job on the line singing Pressure, even with Emma backing him up, vocally and finding a way to tie it all together for the project, he hid in the hanging chairs they had. Emma came over and joined him.

"So that's what you've been enjoying?" She grinned. "Gotta tell you, KJ, that kinda made my day."

"I'm so sorry, love. I don't know what's going on." He covered his face with his hands.

"Killian. I talked to your mom. You're avoiding what's happening and it's stressing you out." She said taking his hand.

Killian cringed as he felt another song coming out. He started serenading his best friend with I'm Yours. She blushed and giggled when he finished. "Please don't hate me."

"Killian..." She breathed. "I mean on top of being my second favorite song...are you saying..."

"I don't know." He groaned.

"Well," She tugged his jacket and fused her lips to his. Never had a kiss turned his world so upside down. When she finally pulled back, he chased her mouth moment. "You know where to find me when you're ready."

Killian waited until she left to put a hand to his lips. What the hell had just happened?

He ran into the meditation room and found Tee there. He sat on the opposite cushion before feeling another song. "I apologize now for whatever comes out of my mouth.

Suddenly he found himself singing I Want You to Want Me. Tee was at the door to leave and Emma opened it. Her face flushed and she composed herself quickly. "I had a coding question, but I'll figure it out. I hate to interrupt your song."

It was nearing the end of the day and Emma started to walk past him. "Swan? Please talk to me."

Her green eyes were full of hurt, but she walked back to his desk. "What's going on, Killian?"

A chill hit his spine and he straightened up. Emma called him by name, but normally he was some other nickname. Until now. "I wanted to apologize for earlier."

"Killian, you're a grown man. You don't owe me any explanations." She started to walk away and then came back. "You said that usually your power is something that helps other people? Maybe this time it's to help you. Go talk to your dad. You've avoided your mom long enough."

"I don't know what to say or..."

"KJ, if today hasn't proven it I don't know what will. Nobody knows the right thing to say or do usually." Emma voice softened as she leaned on his desk.

Killian watched a pretty woman with long dark hair leave Ruby's apartment. He grinned at his neighbor. "When did this happen?"

"At the engagement party. Emma introduced us." Ruby looked happy. "Granny even asked to meet Mulan this weekend. Can you believe it? Your girl is actually a really good wingman."

He chuckled and looked down at his handed remembering all the times she'd been his wingman. "Yeah. She is." How much had he put her through?

"What did you do to my girl?" Ruby asked folding her arms. "You said things reversed and you were singing."

"Well, I sang I'm Yours to Emma." He admitted. "Then she kissed me."

"Like a peck on the cheek?" She asked.

He felt his ears burn. "Ruin the friendship. I can't go back to being just friends. Not now that I know how she can kiss."

Ruby's face broke into pure delight. "Damn. Good for her."

"And then I ran into Tee and Emma walked in during my rendition of I Want You to Want Me." He groaned and leaned on his door. "Is it possible to be in love with two people?"

"It is, but you're probably in love with one and in lust with the other." She said.

He frowned. "You think I'm in lust with Emma?"

Her face fell. "Well if that's the case, you need to let her go now and get over it."

She shut the door to her apartment, leaving him at his door trying to figure out when the hell his life had gone so upside down.

He didn't see or hear from Emma all weekend. Which was odd. Part of him started to feel angry she wasn't at his parents' house at all. She'd leave him at this moment? Then his mother mentioned Emma coming while he was out. She wasn't abandoning his family, she was just avoiding him.

Killian sat beside his father and sighed. "I really messed up, Dad. I'm confused and I don't know what to do."

Tears filled his eyes as his father sang Tell Her About It. His father typed the word love into the computer.

"I love you, Pops." He choked.

Killian asked Emma over for movie night. He finished cleaning and put his mother's lasagna in the oven. She'd made an extra pan for him to share with Emma. He checked the mirror one last time. Was this a date? Had he asked Emma here on a date?

He planned on apologizing that was certain. And he knew she couldn't say no to his mother's lasagna. And he remembered that his dark blue shirt made her eyes darken to the color of ocean waves during a storm.

There was a knock at the door. Emma never knocked. They traded keys forever ago. Why-

Tee stood at the door. She must have noticed the disappointment. "Am I interrupting something?"

"I'm waiting on someone." He told her. Wasn't he always waiting for Emma?

"Oh. Well, I thought after the other day at work..." She gave him a sultry smile and put her hands on his chest.

Suddenly everything snapped together for him. "Actually, Tee," He held both of her hands. "I think all you and I have been doing is bonding over our pain."

"I know. Does it have to be more than that?" She grinned.

"Today it does." He said in a softer tone. "Right now, I think you and I are better as friends supporting each other through our grief."

She scowled. "You said you wanted me."

"I did. And you're a sexy, amazing woman..." He scratched behind his ear.

"Oh my God. You're in love with her, aren't you?" Her eyes widened and she smiled at him. Then she shook her head and kissed his cheek. "If you strike out, call me."

He breathed a sigh of relief and leaned on the doorframe. Emma turned the corner and he felt the weight on his chest lift. "Hello, beautiful."

She blinked rapidly. "I thought Tee..."

Killian didn't hesitate, he cradled the back of her head and kissed her. It took a moment for her to relax into his kiss. Her clever fingers threaded into his hair and he felt her smile against his mouth. "I think I'm under dressed." She sounded breathless and it sent a thrill along his spine. He did that.

"Or over dressed." He grinned. He lifted her in his arms and her legs wrapped around his hips automatically as he pressed her into the doorframe.

"Finally!" Ruby yelled as she and Mulan stood in her door. Mulan gave them a slow clap.

Emma buried her laughter in his shoulder. "Sorry, ladies, I don't plan on sharing." He grinned and carried Emma inside, shutting the door by pushing her back against it. "Where were we?"

The timer went off. He bit out a curse and kissed her again. "You burn that lasagna and I'll never let you live it down."

Killian pulled dinner from the oven and turned the stove off. The only fire he needed to deal with tonight was the one he saw in her eyes. A promise of heaven or hell. "Wow. Princess Bride, wine, Mom's lasagna. You really went all out." Uncertainty crept into her expression. "Was this for Tee?"

He shook his head. "No. I'm a desperate man, love. I'm willing to pull out every trick I know to get you to talk to me again." He thumbed the dimple in her chin. "Can you find it in your heart to forgive me for being such an indecisive prat? There are a lot of things I can live without in life, but your friendship is not one of them."

Her eyes dimmed and she started to look away. Killian had said too much for that. He cupped her face gently to guide her head back up. "You, Emma Swan, are one of the most important people in my life. And I think that's made me afraid to tell you how I feel." He took a breath. "I love you. I've loved you for so long I can't even remember when I started. With everything going on, I realized I don't want to just be your friend anymore. I want so much more."

Emma let out the breath she'd been holding. "What about Tee?"

"Temporary insanity." He grinned. "I didn't think you saw me as anything but a friend or worse, a brother. Yes, there was something between Tee and I, but..." He leaned his forehead on hers. "Gods, love, I wish I could explain better. You are my everything. Tee..."

"KJ?" Emma interrupted. "You're going to dig that hole a little too deep. Shut up."

He closed his eyes and laughed quietly. "Make me."

Her lips brushed his again. "I love you too."