A/N: Hey guys! I'm so sorry about the delay on this one. If you follow me on Tumblr then you know it's been a bit of a roller coaster week for me but we made it out on the other side! So! Here we are at chapter 6! And we are off to the lake! But not before some stuff happens ;) Ginormous thank you to the ever lovely @superchocovian who was an amazing beta for this thing that was supposed to be a oneshot once upon a time lol and thank you thank you to @artistic-writer for all her help when words were being mean to me and for all the awesome art on the previous chapters! And the very biggest thanks to every single one of y'all reading this story. Your comments and love on this little thing never fail to make my day. Away we go!
Chapter 6
It felt like no sooner had she closed her eyes that she was waking once more, something tickling her nose. She tried to brush it away with the back of her hand. Then she heard the giggling. Very close giggling. She opened her eyes to see her son's face a mere two inches from her own. She nearly jumped out of her own skin.
"Holy ffffffffudge, Henry!" she shrieked, catching her swear word at the last second and grasping the pillows and blankets around her to keep herself from falling off the bed.
"G'mornin' Mom!" he shouted in her face, as eight year olds didn't always have the best volume control. He threw his small body over Emma's in a hug. Her body relaxed from its tensed state of fright and she returned the hug with one arm, the other supporting her weight on her elbow.
"Good morning to you, too, kid," she replied, her heart rate gradually returning to normal. Henry scrambled up to his feet. "Where's Aunt Ruby?" She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"In the living room! Let's goooooo! Get up, Mom!" Henry ran out of the room, letting her bedroom door clatter against the wall as he left, and Emma winced at the jarring rattle. She swung herself out of bed with a groan, coffee already on her mind. She glanced at the clock and realized it was already after ten.
Shuffling into the living room, she could already hear her son and Ruby engaged in a tickle fight on the couch. Ruby's head popped up above the cushions, wisps of chestnut and cherry hair floating around her head from static.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty!" she greeted, standing up off the couch where Henry was still trying to catch his breath amongst his laughter. Emma smiled at the sound. "Too bad this one didn't inherit your penchant for sleeping in, huh?"
"Neal's not an early riser, either, so I don't know where he gets it. I wish I could bottle that energy. I'd be a damn millionaire," she joked making her way into the kitchen to pour herself and Ruby a cup of coffee. She poured some orange juice into a coffee cup for Henry as well. Ruby and Henry followed her, Ruby coming to stand beside her and Henry seating himself at the kitchen table while she poured.
"Don't worry, I peeked in your room before I let Henry go in there," she whispered with a conspiratorial wink. Emma rolled her eyes. She was convinced they would never stop rolling at this point, between her friends and Killian.
"You were just trying to get a peek at Killian's ass," Emma replied with an amused snort.
"Can you blame me?" Ruby asked, a dirty little smile creeping up over her cheeks. "Did he leave early or something?"
"He didn't stay. Work." Emma shrugged and passed Ruby a cup, bringing Henry his OJ.
"Thanks, Mom!" he said before chugging down half the cup in one go, releasing the ceramic rim with a satisfied sigh and a new liquid orange mustache. Emma reached out to tousle her son's hair as she took a sip from her own mug of ambrosia.
"Well that sucks." Ruby didn't look happy about this turn of events at all.
"Yeah, well he was almost swayed by the eggplants," Emma said dryly and Ruby laughed.
"Told him about that, did you?" Her hazel eyes twinkled, not looking sorry in the least.
"I didn't know what it meant!" she exclaimed.
"What's an eggplant?" Henry piped in, getting up to put his now empty cup in the sink.
"It's a vegetable," Emma said quickly and Ruby hid a snigger in her coffee. "Go unpack your laundry from last night and then you can play video games for one hour." Henry whooped and ran out of the room.
"Well, I've got work at one today. Henry already showered last night and he's eaten breakfast this morning. He was a perfect angel. As always," Ruby informed her and then drained what was left of her coffee. She rinsed her and Henry's cups and put them in the dishwasher. "I expect a call later to hear everything about last night." She smiled at Emma and Emma gave her a smirk in return, walking her to the door.
Once Ruby had gone, she set about cleaning up her mess from the night before and then sitting down to charge her phone with a second cup of coffee. Henry's video game made ambient explosive noises that she'd learned to tune out by now. She turned her phone on to have two missed calls, both from Ruby this morning, probably warning her she was on her way, and thirteen missed text messages beep their way through. There was one from Elsa, telling her they should grab lunch this weekend to talk about her date, three from Mary Margaret wanting to know how things went herself and making sure she got home alright, and seven from Ruby with various check ins, threats, and warnings about her eminent arrival with her son, the texts peppered with eggplant emojis throughout. The last two were from Killian.
KJ 8:43 am
I hope you slept well, love. Thank you for a wonderful night
KJ 9:33 am
Perhaps we should do it again before the lake?
Time for that earful. Or eyeful. She wasn't about to call him in front of her son. It had absolutely nothing to do with her losing her wits when confronted with his delicious accent.
ES 10:53 am
What the hell was that last night?
Real smooth, Emma, she thought angrily at herself just after hitting 'send'. It didn't take but a moment for the little grey speech bubble to pop up with three dots indicating that he was responding.
KJ 10:54 am
What was what?
Emma scowled at her phone, her lips pursed together tightly. She was in no mood.
ES 10:54 am
Don't play innocent with me buddy
ES 10:54 am
U know exactly what I'm talking about
There was a pause and her mind amped up the replaying of that kiss in the silence. Dammit, why did he have to be a good kisser? Her phone buzzed in her hand again.
KJ 10:56 am
The kiss? I assumed you knew what a kiss was, darling, considering your enthusiastic response
He was fucking with her now. Emma's cheeks began to warm.
ES 10:57 am
Ok 1: nobody texts words that big. Esp before noon.
ES 10:57 am
And 2: I know what a kiss is u ass. I just wanna know why??
KJ 10:58 am
Why? I should think that was obvious, Swan. And vocabulary is an important part of communication.
Emma stared at the screen. Obvious?!
ES 11:00 am
What's obvious??
It took longer this time for the little grey response bubble to appear and Emma couldn't tell if it was apprehension or anticipation settling in her gut as she waited for him finish typing. Just when she thought she was going to explode from the tension, her phone buzzed once more. Well, a few times more.
KJ 11:01 am
I kissed you because that's how you should end a date with a gorgeous woman.
KJ 11:01 am
I kissed you because you deserve to be kissed like that.
KJ 11:02 am
I kissed you because I really REALLY wanted to.
Emma's mouth dropped open. She had no idea how to respond to that. Luckily, Killian had already continued on by the time her brain caught up.
KJ 11:05 am
Do you think I'll need a bathing suit at the lake?
Emma looked at the text, a little thrown by the sharp left turn the conversation had taken.
ES 11:06 am
It's a lake Jones. Of course u need a bathing suit
She thought for a moment.
ES 11:06 am
Don't u dare show up in a speedo
She could practically see his smirk as the three dots popped up again.
KJ 11:07 am
Worried you won't be able to contain yourself, love?
Emma snorted out loud picturing Killian in a ridiculous yellow banana hammock. She smiled slyly to herself as she tapped out her reply.
ES 11:07 am
I'm worried I won't be able to contain Ruby
She waited for a response but a few minutes passed before the typing resumed.
KJ 11:10 am
Bloody hell Swan, I've just spat coffee all over myself. No enticing your friends with scandalous swimwear. Roger that, love.
Emma giggled out loud making Henry look over his shoulder at her from his video game. She blushed and turned slightly more away from him.
ES 11:11 am
Her bf will be there. U should be mostly safe
KJ 11:11 am
Well that's good news. I wonder if I'll be safe from you. Once we're alone, that is.
Emma rolled her eyes, even though he couldn't see.
ES 11:12 am
U couldn't be safer if u were bubble wrapped
"Who are you talking to?" Henry's voice next to her ear made her heart skip several beats.
"God, kid, I'm gonna put a bell around your neck," Emma said, pressing a hand tightly to her chest and feeling her heartbeat jackhammer against her palm.
"Why isn't Killian safe when you're alone?" he asked, paying her distress no mind as he read over her shoulder. Emma smashed her thumb into the lock button on her phone and stuffed it between her leg and the couch cushion. It vibrated again against her thigh.
"I knew teaching you to read would come back to haunt me," she grumbled jokingly. "He was just kidding, Henry."
"Oh. Well that's good. I like him. He makes you smile. And he was nice to me," Henry said matter-of-factly. Emma smiled softly at her boy. "Is he coming to the lake?"
"Yes. Is that okay?" Emma looked at his expression carefully, looking for any signs of a negative response.
"Yeah. He's cool," he replied. Her phone buzzed again from its hiding place.
"Okay good. And, uh, I wanted you to know, Henry, he's going to with me to your dad's wedding, too." She held her breath, unsure of his reaction. Henry's happily curious visage remained unchanged.
"Oh good. Then you can have someone to walk you down the aisle!" he declared. The words were innocent but they made Emma's heart slam to a stop in her chest, then shift straight into high gear. Images of Killian in a tuxedo and her in a white dress filled her head. Before Emma could stutter out a response past the desert that had suddenly taken up residence in her mouth, Henry was already moving back to the TV and settling himself on the floor to resume his game. She gave her head a firm shake, loosening the daydream from her mind. Still in mild shock, she dug her phone out of the cushions and reopened the text messages she'd missed.
KJ 11:13 am
We'll see about that.
KJ 11:14 am
I'd better go change into a dry shirt, love. I'll talk to you soon. Until then, there's not a moment that will go by when I won't think of you.
She couldn't contain the smile that dimpled her cheeks as she responded.
ES 11:20 am
Good.
The weekend passed lazily, she and Henry spending it in the quiet comfort of their apartment. When Monday came, Henry went to Elsa's and Emma went back to work, in and out of the office on client meetings and stakeouts, Henry spending his time between Ruby and Elsa. She didn't see Mary Margaret or her brother at all because they had headed out to the lake the Wednesday before to set up and clean the cabin, making sure it was well stocked for everyone's arrival, and they had been busy packing beforehand. It was a relatively calm and normal week.
Except for one thing.
Her phone dinged from its place in her pocket just as Emma had approached her car. She had just come from yet another client meeting where the husband was convinced his wife was having a torrid affair behind his back and he needed Emma to prove it. The man had droned on and on about his wife's weekly coffee dates between her and her 'friends', how she had began working an hour late on Fridays because she said she was up for a promotion, how she was distant and distracted.
Same old story and it was hardly ever cheating. But a paycheck is a paycheck. And right now she had other things to attend to. She was infinitely grateful after the monotonous Thursday she'd just had that she was taking Friday off to head to the lake. She'd have a friend of hers do some recon while she was gone.
KJ 1:36 pm
Look at this bird
[picture message received]
There was a seagull perched on top of the tall mast of the Jewel, seemingly looking straight down at the camera. She imagined Killian was going out of his mind at this bird's chosen roost. Emma chuckled and got in her car before responding.
ES 1:38 pm
It's a very nice bird?
KJ 1:39 pm
It most certainly is NOT a nice bird. He has shat on my deck more times than I can count. And now he's just sitting there. Mocking me.
Emma laughed out loud at the ridiculous response. Before she could reply, another text came in.
KJ 1:39 pm
How was your meeting, love?
Emma texted him back without another thought. They had been texting back and forth all week. Once she had sent the text that previous Saturday, it was like the floodgates opened. Killian would text Emma throughout the day every day since, just to ask how her day was going or share a snippet of his own. He was easy to talk to, so she would reply.
He asked after Henry, she asked after Liam. He talked about his ship, she talked about work. She sent him pictures of a new dinner she tried her hand at making and he made innuendos about dessert. Elsa and Ruby would grin at her, Ruby often throwing a suggestive comment out as well, whenever they caught her smiling down at her phone. Emma couldn't bring herself to care. It was nice to talk to Killian. He seemed to understand her in a way that even her friends didn't. Even when they were just talking about nonsense, it was comfortable. A little voice would remind her in the back of her mind every now and then that it was a little too comfortable, but she pushed it aside when it came. It was fun.
They texted over the course of the rest of the day, and even when they both had lay down in their respective beds for the night. Emma fell asleep with her phone in her hand. Thankfully she had remembered to plug it in before she conked completely out, because the next morning was Friday. And chaos had already descended.
"Mom!" Henry shouted from her bedroom doorway, causing Emma to shoot upright in bed, her hair tangled in a nest around her face. Her eyes were wide and searching, but unfocused. "Aunt Elsa is here!"
"What? What time is it?" she slurred sleepily, kicking her blanket and sheet off of her in a panic.
"9:17," Elsa's voice joined Henry's from behind him. "We need to be on the road in thirteen minutes."
"FUCK!" Emma yelled and ran to her dresser. She tore through her clothes to find something to wear.
"That's a bad word, Mom," Henry scolded before leaving the doorway. Emma groaned at her slip up.
"I tried to call!" Elsa said as Emma turned her back and yanked her oversized tee over her head, swapping it for a bra and a light blue tank top.
"Yeah, I'm sure you and everyone else in my life," she grumbled, wrenching her pajama bottoms down her legs and pulling a pair of jeans on in their place. "Would you mind getting Henry dressed? We're already packed, we just have to load up and Killian offered to bring breakfast. Killian! Shit!" She had forgotten all about picking up Killian. They technically should be gone already.
"Okay," Elsa stepped fully into the room and placed calming hands on Emma's shoulders. "Deep breaths. We are okay. I'll get Henry dressed and we can just get out the door. It is all going to be okay." She held Emma's gaze as she spoke, watching the panic leave her leafy green eyes. Emma nodded, took a deep breath, and shook out the tension from her limbs. Elsa nodded once more and then headed out of the room to help wrangle Emma's son.
Her phone buzzed merrily on her bed, lighting up with a call from Mary Margaret. Emma's head snapped towards the sound. She snatched it from its place on the fitted sheet, pulling the charger free from its base as well and stuffing that in her pocket before answering.
"Hey," she said breathlessly as her phone continued to buzz in her ear with incoming messages.
"Emma! My goodness, we have been calling you for two hours now, what happened?" Mary Margaret's voice was filled with concern.
"I, uh, slept through the alarm," she said on a distracted groan as she tried to sandwich the phone between her shoulder and her ear and put on her shoes at the same time, almost causing her to almost fall over. "Elsa is here, we are heading out to pick up Killian right now and then we will be on the road."
"Okay, we just wanted to make sure, and to remind you to bring your big ice chest and more sunscreen and towels." Mary Margaret Nolan: ever the worrier.
"Yes, Mom, I got it all packed last night. I checked and double checked my list and the one you texted to me. I have to let you go. We need to get on the road," she said, finally putting the phone on speaker so she could run a brush through her hair and throw it into a sloppy bun on top of her head. She looked at her appearance in the vanity mirror and deemed it good enough. Killian would have to deal with her without makeup today.
"Okay, honey, I'll let you go. Drive safe and we will see you in a couple hours! Leo is very excited to see his aunt and cousin!" Mary Margaret said.
"We're excited too, we'll see you soon," Emma confirmed and ended the call. "Henry!" she called for her son and looked down at her phone. Ruby had been calling as well, even a missed call from Victor's phone, and Killian had called a couple times.
"I'm ready!" Henry presented himself in a superhero stance in the hallway as Emma walked out into it. He was dressed and face washed, a duffel by his feet.
"Alright, kid, go potty and then we need to hit the road. Wash your hands!" she called after her son who ran towards the bathroom. Emma scooped up his bag as she passed and went into the living room. From her vantage point, she saw that Elsa was finishing packing up a small carriable cooler with snacks and drinks and she had already moved all the rest of the bags to the front door. Emma looked mournfully at her coffee pot, knowing there was no time for a cup. When Henry reappeared, Elsa quickly ushered them out the door, each laden with bags. They were loaded up and on their way to Killian in Elsa's SUV, only ten minutes late.
Emma looked back to her phone, intending to call Killian on the way, when her missed calls and messages popped up again. Ruby's seemed to have stopped but Killian's now had a nervous tone to them.
"I talked to Ruby while you were getting ready, if that's what you're worried about," Elsa said, her GPS chirping out an instruction to turn right in 500 feet.
"That must be why she stopped calling. I haven't talked to Killian this morning yet, I'm just sending him a text to let him know we are close," Emma said, skimming over the missed messages under his name.
KJ 6:57 am
Good morning Swan. Are we still meeting at 9:30?
KJ 7:26 am
I hope you're awake love. Call me when you get this.
KJ 7:53 am
Are you awake? Am I still getting breakfast?
KJ 8:25 am
Swan I know I'm being a bother but I need to talk to you before we hit the road
KJ 9:03 am
Are you on your way to me? Please call me
KJ 9:13 am
I'm getting a little worried now, love
KJ 9:26 am
I'm starting to get the impression you may have left without me… call me?
KJ 9:42 am
I've got breakfast just in case but I really would like to hear from you
Emma sighed and punched in a quick response.
ES 9:56 am
I'm so sorry, I slept through my alarm and it's been crazy. Almost there, we didn't leave you
Emma locked her phone again and set it into the cupholder next to her as the GPS directed Elsa around a final corner to a little cul de sac with several pristine houses. The GPS announced their arrival at the destination, but Emma would have recognized the Jolly Roger in the open garage anywhere. They pulled into the driveway and Emma unbuckled her seatbelt.
"Stay in the car with Aunt Elsa, Henry. I'll be right back," she instructed her son who was already happily tapping away at a game on his iPad in his booster seat.
"'Kay, Mom," he replied without even looking up. Emma sighed and hopped out of the big black vehicle. She started up towards the house but Killian was already coming to meet her before she even got out of the driveway. His normally bright smile looked nervous and Emma's face fell into confusion at the sight.
"You had me worried, Swan." He leaned down and kissed her cheek, making Emma flush scarlet at the easiness of the motion. And the fact that Elsa and possibly her son were watching.
"I'm so sorry. I overslept and I didn't even get to read your messages until we were on our way. Are you ready?" she asked, looking around him for his bags. It was his turn to blush and his hand shot up to scratch behind his ear, immediately setting Emma on her guard. "What's wrong? Are you not coming?"
"No, no, love, of course I'm still coming," he rushed to reassure her. "It's just… did you get all of my messages?" His eyes anxiously studied her face.
"Yes…" She drew out the word warily, scanning through what she could remember in her mind.
"And you remember I wanted to talk to you about something?" He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Just spit it out, Killian," she urged. He sighed heavily through his nose, his mouth set in a line.
"Alright, just hear me out, love-" he began but was soon interrupted by another booming voice coming from the door behind him.
"Are you out here, little brother? Ah," the voice said and a tall man came into view. His hair was a lighter, more coppery brown than Killian's, curlier as well, but the same blue eyes Killian possessed were fixed on her as he came into view. "You must be Emma."
"And you must be Liam," Emma said, eyes sliding to Killian, who looked like he wanted the earth to open up and swallow him whole, as she extended her hand to meet Liam's. He shook her hand firmly, drawing her gaze back to his.
"It's about time that I've met the lass who's caught Killian's attention. Did you tell her yet, little brother?" he asked and Emma looked back to Killian, trying not to let her eyes show the panic she felt.
"Younger brother, Liam, bloody hell. And no, I was getting to that. It's been a bit of a rushed morning for her." He stepped closer and slipped an arm around her waist.
"And yet she's still managed to be late," he pointed out, making Emma bristle. "Punctuality is an admirable virtue."
"Well, she's actually right here and realizes she was late. Patience is another good quality to have," she shot back, stepping away from Killian's side, and Liam regarded her carefully, letting out a low hum.
"This is going to be a fun weekend, I can tell," he said, taking Emma aback. Her eyes flew to Killian again and he looked everywhere except her.
"What?" She flitted her gaze between the two brothers, one looking smug and challenging, the other looking even more nervous than before. "What?!" Her eyes settled on Killian.
"I know this isn't much notice-" he reached out for her again.
"Or any," she said through her teeth, struggling to keep her voice even.
"I know, darling, I'm sorry," he returned, voice pleading. "Liam thought that this might be the perfect opportunity to let the families meet each other, since I'll be meeting yours already."
"Aye, this will be for the best in the long run, you'll see," Liam told her, Emma's feathers further ruffled at this man who was making decisions for her, though she'd never met him before. "I'll go get the bags. We're running late enough." Liam turned on his heel on that last barb and Emma stepped forward towards his retreating back, hands balled into fists, to be intercepted by Killian's arm around her waist.
"Cancer," he reminded her gently, pulling her around the corner of the garage to where the front door was set back, giving them privacy to discuss this out of sight of the SUV and his pretentious brother.
"Remission," she growled back at him. "And I wasn't going to hit him." He quirked an eyebrow in disbelief. "I didn't say I didn't want to hit him. And don't you look at me like that," she hissed and smacked both of her open hands on his chest, then his arms as he turned his shoulder to her and curled his leg to block the blows. "What the hell are you doing?" she whisper-shouted at him.
"Ouch! Alright, Swan, I surrender! Damn!" He grasped her by both wrists firmly enough to stop the onslaught of slapping, but not tight enough to hurt her. She wrenched her hands free and flung them wide, her eyes about to bug from her skull in exasperation.
"Please explain to me how this happened," she said as calmly as she was capable of.
"He saw me texting you," he admitted on a sigh. "I panicked, Emma, I'm sorry. I told him the same story we've been using for your friends. We've been seeing each other for a few months, but keeping it quiet to get to know one another. Liam is very…"
"Arrogant? Nosy? Priggish?" Emma suggested, deliberately mispronouncing the last word with a hard "ck" instead of its usual soft "g". Her small hands were gripping her hips now, the muscles in her arms tensed like a coiled cobra.
"Protective?" Killian offered with a smile, his raised brows knitted together. "He's sort of… invited himself along this weekend. I know I'm not in a position to ask these things of you, Emma, but if we could just pretend on my behalf, just as I'm doing for you this weekend, it would be a very large favor to me."
"Do not act like you're doing me some kindness this weekend. I am paying you," she reminded him with a sharp poke to his chest, emphasizing the last two words.
"I'll give you a discount," he said quickly, wincing and rubbing the spot where her finger had jabbed him. "Two hundred dollars off. Emma, please. He can't find out about this arrangement. It would break us apart."
Emma considered him for a second. His blue eyes were pleading, nearly fearful of the consequences of her rejection of his brother that he'd obviously been stewing on for some time. His hands were shaking between them, torn between reaching out to her and stuffing them into his pockets. His sincerity was overwhelming and Emma feet her anger melting away in that instant. The thought of him being hurt, especially when she had the power to stop it, was almost more than she could bear. She couldn't let him know that, though. She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him as the silence stretched between them.
"Five hundred off," she said, the words coming out more mildly irritated than angry and Killian's expression immediately exploded into exuberance. She held up a finger sternly and he reined in his disposition, his eyes still sparking with grateful excitement. "And he will keep his snark to a minimum in front of my son." Killian nodded solemnly.
"Of course, Swan. I'll talk to him straight away," he promised, then stepped forward to envelop her in a tight hug, restraining her arms and almost lifting her from the ground, his face buried in her neck. "You won't regret this." His words tickled the skin where his scruff was pressed and caused a thrill to run up her spine. She pulled from his embrace with a composing cough, trying not to let him see how affected she was.
"I think I might already." She chuckled dryly. "We really do need to get on the road, though, so I'm just gonna go… update Elsa…"
"Aye, we should be out shortly with the bags," Killian said and Emma nodded, turning sharply and walking stiffly back to the car. Elsa pulled down her sunglasses to look at Emma as she slipped back into the passenger seat.
"Are we going? What happened?" she asked, concerned at Emma's rattled appearance.
"He's bringing his brother," she blurted. Elsa's eyebrows shot up her forehead in surprise.
"His brother? When did this happen?" she asked, trying to contain the shock in her voice.
"I don't know, last night? He texted me that we needed to talk but I didn't get his messages this morning until we were almost here and it just kind of happened? I didn't know how to say no! Oh, God, I have to call Mary Margaret." Emma buried her face in her hands and groaned.
"Mom? Are you okay?" Henry's small, worried voice popped in from the backseat. Emma went rigid, plastering on an over large smile before turning to her son.
"Yeah, Henry, everything's okay. I'm just figuring some stuff out. You alright back there? You need anything?" She felt guilt wash over her for worrying her kid. Henry only beamed back at her and shook his head.
"No, I'm okay. Can we go soon?" he asked and Emma's smile relaxed into something more genuine.
"Yeah, kid. Killian is coming right now and then we will go," she assured him. Henry's attention went back to the electronic in his lap. Emma scooped up her phone from the cupholder and looked up Mary Margaret's number. She answered on the first ring.
"Hey! Are you guys on the road?" Mary Margaret asked brightly.
"Uhh… not exactly…" Emma replied. "We had something come up that I wanted to talk to you about."
"Is everything okay?" Mary Margaret's voice turned serious.
"Yeah, no, we're fine. It's just… do you think there's room for an extra person?" Emma asked, nervousness clawing at her throat.
"I'm sure we can make up the sofa bed in the office. What's going on?" her sister-in-law asked hesitantly.
"Well, Killian wanted to bring his brother. So you all could meet each other. And, uh, me," she added, picking at a frayed spot on the knee of her jeans.
There was silence on the other end of the line and Emma checked to make sure the call hadn't dropped before an ear splitting screech erupted from the phone, making Emma very glad it wasn't pressed against her ear.
"Oh, Emma, that's wonderful! I'm so excited! Of course there's room for his brother! The more the merrier!" Mary Margaret squealed. Emma nearly cringed at the enthusiasm in her tone.
"Okay, I just wanted to make sure it was alright," she said.
"Yes, absolutely, now get yourselves on the road! I can't wait to see you all!" she said.
The call ended and Emma put the phone back down in her lap, taking a deep, calming breath. Maybe this wouldn't be a total disaster.
"Wow. God bless this genepool." Elsa's slight gasp drew Emma's attention back to the present and she saw the two men carrying three bags between them towards the car. Killian also had a drink tote and a paper bag balanced on one arm. It was like something out of a movie, the brothers seemingly moving in slow motion, laughing and talking, backed by something playing on the radio but no sound permeating the vehicle from their conversation, Elsa lowering her sunglasses to look at them over the top of them; Emma huffed a short laugh at how ridiculous it was. But she couldn't deny that they were very attractive. She was single. She was allowed to look.
Liam was taller than Killian, even in the flat Converse he wore on his feet. His jeans and plain blue t-shirt were well fitted, leading Emma to believe he had gotten himself a good workout regimen when he recovered from his illness. Aviator style shades were hooked in his collar, and his face looked much more attractive when he was laughing and carefree than when he was scowling at her. Killian's face looked freer as well, his smile becoming almost boyish in his brother's presence. But there was nothing boyish about the way he looked at her over the top of aviator shades of his own through the windshield, swiping his tongue over his lip. Could he see her? Probably; it would be just like him to put her on the spot like that, the bastard. He was the most dressed down Emma had ever seen him, a blue checked shirt hanging open and rolled up at the sleeves, revealing a Led Zeppelin t-shirt underneath. His dark blue jeans were larger in the legs than the slim fitting pants she was used to seeing him in but still fit him like a glove in all the right places. If possible, she was more physically attracted to him now than ever. Which was a problem.
"Yeah, but watch out for big brother, he's a pompous ass," Emma said sourly and scrambled to get out of the car. Elsa followed her, scurrying around to the passenger side where they were making their approach.
"All set, love," Killian told her with a cautious smile. "And you must be Elsa." He turned to Emma's friend and extended his hand. Elsa took it in a light shake, but her eyes were glued to the taller Jones behind Killian. Emma looked curiously from her to Liam, who looked just as stricken. She glanced at Killian, who seemed to have noticed the same thing, and they exchanged sly hidden smiles.
"And this is Liam, Killian's brother," Emma interjected and Killian stepped aside. Both Elsa and Liam seemed to remember themselves and thrust their hands forward at the same time, making them collide awkwardly. They both chuckled and Liam rotated his wrist to capture Elsa's slender fingers in his.
"Pleasure to meet you, Liam," Elsa said and Emma's face wrinkled at the breathlessness of her friend's voice. Oh, she had it bad.
"The pleasure is all mine, lass." His hand lingered on hers and they stared at each other in silence.
"Oookay, Killian, you want to load up these bags?" Emma asked, breaking through the tension.
"Aye, love, lead the way." He paused. "Is there a place I can set these?" He lightly lifted his arm carrying the food, careful not to topple it. Emma smiled and took the bag and tote, the heavenly scent of coffee flooding her senses as it came closer.
"Oh, my God, is one of these for me?" she asked excitedly. Killian laughed.
"Of course, love, there's one for each of us," he replied, dropping a quick kiss to her cheek once more. She felt her face heat again as Elsa finally stepped away from Liam and slipped around to the back of the vehicle to open the tailgate. Liam followed her like a lost puppy and Killian trailed along after them to load up the bags. Emma opened up the passenger seat, setting the food and drinks on the seat and promptly freeing a cup from its carrier. Ruffling around in the bag, she found a baggie with sugar and another with dry creamer nestled among several foil wrapped items and a bottle of juice that she assumed was for Henry.
"For the lad." Killian's voice confirmed low in her ear, a hand resting familiarly on her waist. She stiffened slightly, but decided she wasn't going to let him know how much he was affecting her.
"Shouldn't you be helping with the bags?" she murmured, suppressing a shiver at his proximity while adding cream and sugar to one of the cups.
"I thought I'd give them a moment to stare blankly at one another without interruption," he murmured, making her giggle under her breath. The rear hatch banged shut, causing Emma to sway into him further, startled. His hand tightened on her waist and she gasped.
"Mom, I'm hungry!" Henry half shouted, face still buried in his iPad. Killian jumped back away from where he was pressed against the boy's mother at the sound of his voice like he'd been electrocuted, making Emma laugh out loud.
"Be patient, Henry," she said, laughter still in her voice. She replaced the lid of the cup and turned back out of the door, taking a large sip of the still hot liquid. She let out a deep, carnal moan as the flavor exploded over her tongue. Her lips released the rim of the cup on a sigh, her tongue tracing over them to get every drop of the elixir of life into her as possible.
"That's so good," she groaned. She looked around the back of the vehicle to see if Elsa and Liam were coming, and they were, and then darted her eyes back to Killian to discuss seating arrangements.
The words never came, though, when she saw the primal look that had overtaken Killian's features at her scandalous coffee display. His eyes had darkened a shade and his mouth was slightly ajar, the tip of his pink tongue pushing at the edge of his upper lip. He took a step towards her and brushed some of the wispy strands of hair that had escaped her bun behind her ear, tracing her cheekbone with his knuckles. Emma's jade eyes stayed locked to his sapphire, even as his head dipped closer to hers.
"Canoodle on your own time, you two, we've got to get a move on if we want to make it there by nightfall!" Liam's booming voice commanded, breaking the moment. Killian dropped his forehead to Emma's with a disappointed chuckle, and Emma laughed back, nerves woven into the sound. She stepped away from him as discreetly as she could without alerting Elsa and Liam to the fact that she was trying to run away from her supposed boyfriend because it was getting to be a little too familiar for her.
"Who put your brother in charge?" Emma asked Killian loud enough for Liam and Elsa to hear.
"Someone has to keep you from scarring the neighbors," Liam snorted.
"Uh huh," Emma replied. "And, uh, what was taking you and Elsa so long back there?" She grinned as Elsa immediately turned the color of a tomato and Liam began sputtering, but forming no actual words. Killian laughed heartily behind her.
"Okay! It's time to go!" Elsa clapped loudly and then jerked her arms back to her sides, balling her hands into fists. She marched past them all, eyes on the ground, pointedly not looking at anyone. Emma could almost see her scalp turning red underneath her white blonde hair. Oh, she was so going to get the third degree at the lake. If not by Emma, then by Ruby and/or Mary Margaret approximately 2.3 seconds after they saw her with Liam.
"Aye, lass," Liam muttered in agreement, turning to open the back door. Emma felt a surge of anxiety in her chest, and she darted forward, slamming the door back shut with the flat of her palm. Liam looked at her, surprised.
"Okay, so I'm sure Killian has told you, but I have a son. His name is Henry and he is eight years old. Whatever snarky bullshit you want to fling my way, you will wait until my son is not present. Capische?" Emma's tone brokered no arguments and Liam swallowed, straightening his shoulders.
"You have my word, I'll be on my best behavior," he vowed. Emma looked at him hard.
"Good," she said after a beat. "And you won't mind sitting up front to ensure that then?" He nodded his assent. Emma backed up so he could walk to the still slightly open front door. "You'll have to pass out breakfast, too," she informed him before opening the door and slipping behind it, out of his line of sight. She slid into the bench seat, scooting herself all the way over next to Henry in the middle, and Elsa shot her a panicked look from the driver's seat as Liam sorted the bag and drinks that Emma had left behind. She gave her a guilty smile and a shrug. She could only hope Elsa wouldn't get distracted by Liam's presence and crash them into a tree. Emma looked over her son's shoulder to see he was reading from his storybook app when she felt Killian slide in beside her, his thigh pressed tightly to hers, and she wondered how much of a good idea this seat switching endeavor really was.
"Who are you?" Henry asked bluntly, staring at Liam as he settled himself into the passenger seat. He looked back into the backseat and smiled warmly at the child, making Emma relax slightly.
"My name is Liam. I'm Killian's brother," he said. "What's your name?"
"Henry Swan," he replied nonchalantly, then looked over his mother's lap to where Killian sat. "Hi, Killian!" he greeted enthusiastically, making Emma's heart clench. She really hoped her son wouldn't get too attached to Killian. He wasn't especially attached to Tamara, and she expected the same reaction to any man that she had ever decided to bring home. That was fine with her, she wasn't trying to get him attached to a man that wasn't his father, but his genuine happiness to see Killian, a man set to disappear from her life, gave her pause.
"Hello, lad," Killian grinned broadly at the boy. "Are you ready for a fun weekend?"
"Yeah! I get to have a sleepover with Leo in our own room!" he cheered making Killian chuckle.
"That sounds wonderful. Thank you for letting Liam and me join in on your fun," he said.
"No problem." Henry shrugged and then looked up at his mother. "Can we eat now?"
"Yes, Henry," she replied, kissing the top of his head.
As Elsa pulled out of the driveway, her GPS already providing directions, Liam handed out the rest of the drinks and food, which turned out to be Killian's homemade breakfast sandwiches. Emma refused to be impressed by his cooking (it was a damn good sandwich), and they all had eaten everything before they even hit the freeway.
Lake Onota was almost on the other side of the state from Boston, a good four hour drive away. Elsa's satellite radio played some 80's station that Emma happily tuned out, and they all played the usual car games for awhile. At some point, Killian's arm had fit itself snugly around Emma's shoulders. She hadn't even noticed it happening, but Elsa did, if the twinkle in her eye whenever she looked at the two of them in the rearview mirror was any indication. She couldn't wait to get to the cabin.