"I am tired!" Mary Margaret proclaims, throwing herself down on the guest bed next to me. She burrows under the blankets that she must have replaced some time during the day.

Setting down my book, I shift my weight to lean on the headboard behind me, pulling my knees up to my chest and smiling down at her. "I bet you are. You did enough cooking to feed an army."

"Killian seemed to really appreciate the mountain of leftovers I sent home with him though," she laughs.

"Of course he did, he basically lives on fish sandwiches from Grumpy's and coffee. Not to mention your cooking is the stuff of legends."

She smiles, looking pleased even as she downplays her talent. I shush her.

"I'm glad Killian came today. He se-"

"I kissed him, " I interrupt very quietly, almost hoping she won't hear me.

She sits up very quickly, not looking tired in the least anymore. "You did what? Why?"

Heat creeps up my neck as I think that maybe this was a mistake. Is she going to say I made a huge mistake? I try to play it off as nothing. "I don't know. I was- it's been awhile, I was feeling good."

She levels her gaze at me, clearly disbelieving, "did it mean anything? "

My shakey cover crumbles. I swallow hard and nod, picking at a loose thread in the comforter so I don't have to look away her when I say, "I like him, MM."

"I knew there had to be something going on. You've been different since you two met." She places her hand on top of mine, staring at the side of my head intently until I turn to her. "What's the problem then? He obviously cares about you as well. "

A swooping sensation travels through my stomach, part happiness part anxiety. "You know why I don't date. "

"Emma, that was five years ago. I think it's okay to move on," she says sweetly, earnestly.

My nerves can't be soothed that easily though. I tug my hand out of hers, shakily running it through my hair. "Alright, even if I did that... Killian is a pretty big player. How can I be sure he won't just leave me when he's done? It's one thing to be friends knowing that about him but dating? "

"That's something you have to figure out for yourself but personally I don't think it's an issue. David told me he hasn't dated anyone since September. That's right around when you two struck up your friendship right? If I had to guess, I think he's been smitten with you since the get go." She tries to suppress her smug smile poorly. "If he has given up his promiscuous ways, are you okay with his past?"

I shrug dismissively, "I don't care about that."

We're both silent awhile as I try to think through my feelings.

Mary Margaret clears her throat, "it seems to me, the only thing in your way here is you and your past."

I plop my head on her shoulder, suddenly very weary myself. "It's a hard thing to set aside. You know how badly things ended last time. "

"I know," she soothes her hand down my hair over and over, "but you shouldn't let it ruin your whole future. You deserve love."

Love.

Wouldn't it be nice to have something even a little like Mary Margaret and David?

"David," I state, sitting up, worried again.

"No, I'm Mary Margaret."

"Haha," I deadpan, "I mean, what would David think if I started dating Killian?"

She snorts, "oh he'll be fine. David knows you're a smart girl and you make decisions that work best for you." Then she gives me a kind smile, "and I think, as long as it's something you want, it's a wonderful idea. You two are cute together."

I blush, looking away from her again. "I'll think about it," I relent. And I really will. I definitely can't deny my feeling for him anymore and iI don't think we can continue to be just friends after today.

"Alright, good, you take your time, really think it through." she gets off the bed slowly, stopping at the door. "Listen to what your heart wants. Good night, Emma. "

"Night, MM. Thank you. "

I spend the rest of the night thinking things through and, when I wake up in the morning, I know what I'm going to do.