4

Next day, as usual, he went to grab his coffee at Granny's, and for his surprise, he found Emma there. But that time, just as she asked, he didn't sit with her. He waved her on his way out and she nodded back with an almost-there smile, but nothing more. The next few days he found her there again. He didn't know if that meant something, but he took it as a sign that she wasn't going to hide again from him. Maybe she was grateful he helped her in the woods. But he didn't pressure her. Those days she continued to give him smiles when he waved at her, and even sometimes she said a simple 'hello'. That was good. Once, he asked her if she was alright, referring to the incident in the woods. She told him she was fine, although he didn't believe her. True, she seemed like that week when they had breakfast together every day, but her shoulders were in tension and her eyes didn't stop moving, as if waiting for something to happen.

Every time she saw him in the diner, she wanted him to sit down beside her, like he used to do. But every day, he wouldn't do so. She asked him to leave her alone, he was respecting that. And she appreciated that, because she didn't have self-control, and if he would start behaving like that week, she would end up going down the rabbit hole. And she couldn't let that happen. She couldn't take a false step again.

Finally, Tuesday came. And as on Monday nights he didn't have work, Tuesdays were the days he used to have some fun. Sometimes visit friends, go for a hike or go to the city. It was the best day, he got to live like a normal person, using the day to do things and the nights to sleep. He parked his bike in front of Granny's and went inside.

As every day, Emma was there, this time eating pancakes, his regular, instead of French toast and scrambled eggs, her regular. He smiled. But that smile fade away when he saw her expression. Her hair was a mess, she had dark circles under her eyes, and she was at the verge of crying. She was paler that usual. The aura that always surrounded her, that made him feel warm, wasn't there that time, and he once again felt that foreign sensation, like the blood has left his body. Even though it wasn't the first time that has happen to him, he felt afraid. That wasn't normal.

That time, instead of just greeting her and then go with his paper cup coffee, he reluctantly approached her.

"You seem like you need a friend" Emma looked at him with red puffy eyes, and gifted him a tired smile, but didn't say a thing. "If you want me out, I will, but Emma I care for you, and I know there's something going on. Let me help"

"You can't help me" she simple murmured looking away. With that, he sat down in front of her.

"Maybe I can't fix your problem, but I can help you with it. I can distract you if that's what you need"

Emma had her eyes looked on his, not saying a word. But then she nodded, at the same time as a lonely tear rolled down her cheek. He was worried. What was the burden she carried that took the life out of her?

"I promised you a ride in that famous bike of mine. Finish your food and we'll go" he said in a cheerful tone, hoping it would help her. It made her smile a little. She finished her cup of coffee and followed him outside

"Want to know a secret?" Emma said once she was sat behind him, her arms secured around his waist. He held his breath, her body warm pressed against his back something he's desired for so long "I've always wanted to ride in this". They laughed, and soon the roar of the motor and the wind passing next to them was the only thing she could hear. She felt relaxed. The tension of those past years was lift off her shoulders, gone with the wind. Her brain, blank. She only needed to focus on the pressure of her legs in the seat and her arms around Killian's waist. She leaned her head on his back and closed her eyes, the cold air cutting her skin and making her hair fly behind her. She felt free. Freer than she's felt in years. Freer than when she... no, wait, her mind couldn't go there. She focused on what was surrounding her, in the sensations she felt on her skin. She focused on him.

The roar began to fade away while they stopped. He hopped off the bike first, then helped her. When she took off the helmet, he felt something jumping inside him. She was smiling. But not one of her fake smiles, but a huge grin that took all over her face. And she was breathtaking. There were dimples in her cheeks, her eyes were wrinkled, and her nose crunched. He's never seen her like that, not even as a kid.

"You are beautiful" he whispered, taking a step forward. She looked at him surprised, but her smile never fade. He took another step, he now was inches away from her, their bodies almost touching. He held a hand up and carefully, he touched her cheek, waiting for her to move away. But she didn't. Instead, she closed her eyes when he started to lean on and without even noticing it, he had his lips closed against hers. It was a soft kiss, both too shy. Their mouths moved slowly. But the minute she inserted her tongue in his, he felt an explosion inside him. Her warmth, which he'd noticed before when they were together, was all over him. It was a weird sensation, as if he had fire inside him. But instead of being afraid of it, he felt relaxed. She had a unique taste. He savored grass, and rain, and apples, and cinnamon. It was a peculiar combination, but he liked it. Soon her hands were on his hair, her long fingers running though his head. His arms were around her waist, holding her close.

At some point they needed to breath, so they separated their lips. They were panting, breathless, but they didn't move, foreheads together, noses almost touching.

"Better?" He asked in a whisper, not wanting to ruin that magical moment.

"Yeah" and it was true. Worry, sadness, tiredness, pain, fear... that had disappeared. She only felt calmness, serenity, love?

They spent the day away in his bike, stopping from time to time for gas, or to eat or stretch their legs. And they kissed more.

At the end of the day, he left her at her door, and it was when she closed the door when negative feelings appeared again and surrounded her, spiraling around her and taking her breath away. Her mind was too powerful and even if she tried, she couldn't stop the bad memories and the anxiety. That night, she disappeared into the woods again.