A/N: Date Night! Woohoo! This is undeniably a fluff festival. Like, I didn't even try to give in to my angsty side. But beware, because that side is going to take over in the not so far future. See this as the calm before the storm ;) I hope you enjoy it!
The couple of days fly by.
Killian has a meeting with Aurora and Tink to discuss the future of the coffeehouse and the women provide helpful advice that he will certainly use. They all agree that they should try to make the best of the situation and reopen "A Cup of Jones" with a big bang.
Aurora takes care of the website, where she keeps the customers up to date on the evolution of renovation, and Tink is busy redesigning the whole place and running everything by Killian.
He praises himself lucky that his personnel is so driven and loyal. He's already planning something to reward them because without them he would most definitely be lost.
This whole experience has also brought him a new friend. Tink is totally different from what he thought she was and has really surprised him in a lot of ways.
"So, when's your date with Emma?"
And in some ways, she hasn't.
"Tink, don't be nosy," he replies.
They are overseeing the works in the shop and taking down all of Killian's maps so that they don't get damaged. Tink is standing on a ladder to reach the some of the higher ones, while Killian is removing those that are hanging closer to the ground.
"Killian, you know you want to tell me. I'm giving you a way to do that."
Okay, she might have a point. He sighs.
"It's tomorrow," he says while looking up.
A third voice joins the conversation.
"What's tomorrow?" Aurora asks.
"His date with Emma."
Tink partially turns around to tell her and makes sure she doesn't fall off. Aurora's face shows she's shocked.
"Emma? As in the blonde you've been flirting with since she first came in three months ago? I'm so proud of you!"
Killian puts his face into his palm and wonders when his life had become this.
"Yes, that's her. But let's continue working."
That's his weak attempt at changing the subject, but with Aurora and Tink, it is destined to fail.
"What do you have planned?"
Tink hands Aurora one of the maps and she rolls it up.
"You're taking her on the Jolly, right?"
Aurora then guesses. Killian looks at the brown-haired lass. Or red haired, it depends on the lighting.
"How did you know? Is it that predictable?"
"Relax, Killian. It's a great way to- How would you say it? To woo a lady. Emma is going to love it."
She smiles at him.
"A boat trip with you? She'll be amazed. You did well, boss."
Tink adds to Aurora's answer and starts to descend the ladder.
"And don't worry about everything here, we'll take care of it."
They both smile. Killian smiles back.
"Alright, thank you. You can go home now. There's not much to do here anymore."
They both go pack their things and say their goodbyes to him.
"And we want to hear every detail, okay?" Tink quickly shouts before the door closes.
He should've never kept Emma's number lying around in the café.
Tink found it and then the questions came and in order for them to stop he had to tell her, but then they didn't stop and well... This is now Killian's daily routine. Tink has made him even more nervous for the impending date with Emma and that isn't a good thing.
Killian does know that he has spent some time making sure everything is alright and in theory nothing could go wrong. He's hoping that's also the case in reality. He discusses some details with the contractor and goes home. He sends Emma a text with the address and time for tomorrow.
As always it doesn't take her long to answer.
The harbor? -E
Theharbour.
Did you just quote The Fault in Our Stars? -E
No, lass. I didn't know that I was.
Huh, no knowledge of pop culture. That is something I can use :) -E
Beware, Swan. I do usually know when people are quoting something.
We'll see about that ;) I'll be there tomorrow. -E
She's a mystery, this woman. He's looking forward to getting to know her better and maybe have the mystery clarified a bit.
Today is the day.
He's ready for it. The nerves he had yesterday are gone and the excitement has taken their place. He checks everything a final time and he leaves his flat. The sky is clear and birds are whistling. It might be a bit soon, but Killian is relieved that spring is returning.
It's still cold, but it's also still February.
The coldest day of the year was the day after Emma asked him out. Everything froze over and the city became silent. The Jolly Roger was lying immobile in the ice.
It took nearly two weeks before the temperature rose, the water thawed and he was free to sail again. It was so excruciatingly cold that Killian had to shorten his excursion but still felt so liberating to back on the ocean. He decided that he was going to bring Emma here.
It was a great place to just breathe and not to think of anything else. He sensed that that was something she could use. If she felt only a fraction of his love for the enormous blue, it would be enough.
His boat comes into sight. Killian looks at his watch. He has about 20 minutes left to prepare everything. He goes below deck and puts the food into place.
The Jolly may not really look like much on the outside, but once you step in, you instantly feel like home.
He actually considered leaving his apartment and living here, but it simply was too cold and a bit too far from the coffeehouse.
The walls are decorated with rustic wood and small details are engraved on them. There are red pillows lying in the corner and maps that Killian kept for himself, instead of hanging them in the café. There is a narrow bed with a warm blanket spread over it.
Pictures of his childhood and family are set in frames, not having anything in common except for their golden setting. A case filled until the top notch with books. Some fairly new, some of which the worn out back shows that they are favorites.
Killian takes a red tablecloth and lays it over the table. He places unlit candles and two plates on it. Next to the plate comes a white napkin and the cutlery. He opens an oaken cabinet and finds some blankets.
Should Emma want to stay on the deck, he doesn't want her to get cold.
He goes above deck and there she is.
Right on time.
A gray beanie is covering her ears and her blond locks spill out of it. She's wearing her black coat again and her cheeks are also the same color of red that they were a few weeks ago. She spots him and smiles.
"You have your own boat?" she asks while approaching the water.
"I do, indeed." He smiles back.
"Jolly Roger jr," she reads on the side. "Let me guess, the senior can be found in a tale called Peter Pan?"
"Good guess, but no. My brother Liam has the senior back in London. He's the one who chose the name, so I thought it would be kind to keep it."
He helps her on board.
"Hello, love."
She looks weirdly at him and Killian wonders why.
Oh, right. He has never called her that before.
It's always been lass or Emma or Swan, but never love. Just as fast as it came, the look disappears again and she greets him.
"Hi, Killian. London, huh? Now I don't have to ask you anymore where the accent comes from."
"Yes, born and raised."
They stay where they are, a bit awkward until Killian finally understands that she's waiting on him to do something.
"Um, yes. Well, if you want, you can stay on deck and you can help with the boat, but if you'd rather have the advantage of heat, then you can go below deck and I'll sail us out to sea."
She clearly doesn't need to think about her answer.
"I'm helping."
She rubs her gloved hands together.
"What do you want me to do?"
He gives her directions. She follows them perfectly and soon they are surrounded by only sea.
"Let's go inside," Killian suggests.
They have been working hard and Killian is hungry. He assumes Emma has also a need for food when she agrees. Killian leads and Emma walks closely behind him. He lights the candles and waits until the room warms up a bit.
Emma's face is graced with a small smile and full of amazement.
"This is gorgeous," she says, "You really went all out." and the smile on her face grows.
Killian is pleased that she likes it and asks if he can take her coat. She replies with of course and hands him the black piece of clothing.
Emma is wearing a simple white sweater and a pair of blue jeans, but she still looks amazing. He pulls up a chair for her and goes to take the food. When he returns she's standing up again, admiring his collection of books.
"The name still comes from Peter Pan, doesn't it," she says and shows him his old copy of the novel.
"It might be one of the favorite tales of the Jones brothers, yes," he admits while spreading out the vegetables and meat.
"Oh, wow. That smells delicious!" Emma puts the book back and is lured to the table by the aroma of the food.
"Good, let's eat," Killian says while taking a seat.
"So how did a guy from London end up in Boston?"
"I came here to study and then I kind of stuck around, not knowing what to do. It took me quite a while before realizing that I wanted to open a coffeehouse and then it took me quite a while to raise enough funding to open "A Cup of Jones", but I succeeded and now I'm here."
"I always wanted to ask. Why did you name it "A Cup of Jones"?"
Killian raises his hands defensively before starting to talk.
"I'll make one thing clear already. It wasn't my choice."
Emma smiles.
"My brother helped me out a lot with rent and supplies and actually with everything I needed to open and he has a terrible sense of humor. I had been looking for a name and graciously failing at it for a fairly long time. One day he came to me and said: "Killian, you know how Americans call coffee a cup of joe?" and I really tried to make it clear to him that I've never actually heard anyone say that, but he just wouldn't listen. I don't know how he comes up with those names and I certainly don't know why I keep on giving him the pleasure of using them."
Killian cracks up and so does Emma.
"He's your brother and you love him."
"Yes, that's the only reason I have for using atrocious names."
"What happened with the café, by the way? I walked past it yesterday and it was closed."
"There was a fire and now we're trying to fix everything," Killian explains.
"Oh, that sucks. How bad is it?"
"It could've been worse. Some smoke damage, but I think we can reopen in a week or maybe two. Everyone's working at double speed."
"Good, because I've already missed my hot chocolates for far too long and I know Henry has as well."
Killian already had a feeling that Wednesday's order was also for her son.
"How come he doesn't come with you?"
"He's thirteen and there's this thing called school."
She smirks and raises her eyebrows. Killian feels stupid.
"I might've forgotten that fact."
"His school is only a couple of blocks away from the café, so I take my order and then I go pick him up. We usually eat it in the park and just talk. I'm a bail bonds person and Wednesday is the only day I don't have to work. It's a day where Henry and I just hang out and be together."
She takes another bite of food.
There. Killian has an explanation of her mood changes. He feels sorry for her. It must be horrible to have so little time with her son.
"But Henry's amazing about it and he at least tries to understand. Lately, we've had some arguments, but that's just the age. I'm really lucky to have such a kid."
Emma is clearly proud.
"You should bring him over some time, Swan. I'd love to meet him."
Emma is clearly surprised by his statement but doesn't say anything about it. She finishes her plate and arranges her cutlery.
"I have to admit, Killian. You know how to plan a date."
"And it isn't finished yet."
He stands up and walks to the corner where the red pillows lie. He reaches for them and asks Emma if she would like to take cushions. She does. He then takes the blankets and he asks her to follow him upstairs.
It's completely dark outside, but they are far enough from the city in order for the bright stars to be visible. He hears Emma's footsteps on the stairs and then they abruptly stop. He turns around and hears her gasp.
Her green eyes widen and she's captivated by them.
He only sees her.
To him, she's the most mesmerizing creature he has ever seen.
"Swan," he says to get her attention. "You want to sit down?"
She softly shakes her head to return to the now and continues walking. She lays down the pillows and sits on one of them. Killian does the same while keeping his distance. He gives her a blanket, as a protection against the chill of the night and wraps himself in another.
"The moon should be here somewhere," he says while searching for it.
She responds quietly.
"Oh, don't let us ask for the moon. We've already got the stars."
He knows that she's reciting something and he has no idea what.
"A quote, Swan?"
She smiles.
"Yes, it is. But I don't blame you for not knowing it. It's a line from a really old movie."
Killian senses a story and doesn't reply. After a while, Emma starts talking again.
"When I was pregnant with Henry, I ended up in a bad situation and I didn't have access to a lot of books or movies."
He tries to be as silent as possible so that he doesn't interrupt her story. Killian knows from own experience that it can be difficult to talk about the past.
"There was this one movie, the movie where this quote is from, that I must've watched a hundred times. After a while, I could recite it front to back and back to front and I felt so connected to the main character. The movie gave me that bit of hope that made me think that things could actually become better. One day I went to get the movie and it was gone. They had thrown it away and replaced it with some stupid action movie. I was so upset. That hope I had, it completely disappeared along with it and my life became even duller. All because of an old, black and white movie."
While she talks, she doesn't look down once, her gaze set on the stars above her. She finally does.
Killian looks back at her. He doesn't feel pity, but he understands her.
The wind starts to play with her hair, blowing it in all directions.
For some time, they just stare at each other. Blue eyes meeting green ones. She slowly closes their distance. The cold has taken any sign of heat from his lips, but when Emma's touch his, the warmth returns.
They break apart when a cold drizzle falls out of the sky. Killian looks up and the night sky is now concealed by clouds.
"We better return," he says, not wanting to move.
Ignoring the rain, they stay close to each other for a while and then Emma breaks the contact by standing up.
"Let's go. How can I help?"
By the time they are back in the harbor, they are both soaked.
The drizzle quickly turned into a downpour. Killian moors the Jolly and they both get off.
"I hope you liked it, Swan." He expectantly looks at her and her smile confirms his assumption.
"I did. Thanks."
"No need to thank me, love. It was my pleasure."
They are standing face to face.
"Could I persuade you to go out with me again?"
"You most definitely could."
Killian looks into her eyes and sees an invitation. He brushes her face and leans in.
For the second time this evening, he's kissing Emma Swan and Killian is enamored by her.
The questions he had now have answers, but a million new ones have formed in his mind.
They part for a final time.
"Goodbye, Emma. Get home safely."
"I will, bye."
She turns around and places her gray hat back on her wet strands. She looks over her shoulder to him.
"Thank you, Killian," she says again and then walks away.
Killian keeps on looking until her silhouette has completely vanished in the dark.
A/N: I don't know why but this is one of my favorite things that I've written so far. This week's title comes from the song Swim to You by Dotan. I really recommend listening to it because it's a beautiful song and it really fits with this chapter. See you on the next update and as always reviews are very welcome.