A/N: It's been little over a month but I'm back with a new chapter of this story. I have to admit it took me a while to write something that I even remotely liked. This chapter marks the half of this fic, so there are some more chapters coming :)
The slow and steady ticking of the clock is the accompanying sound of his paperwork. His fingers and pen mimic the sound on the table. The noise of the cafe sneaks through the previously silent room.
In comes Aurora. Her eyes are in search of something in the midst of the supplies. With each lower rack she reaches, the focus on her face grows. Her head goes back to the first shelf she checked. Again her gaze scans the shelves in case she missed it. Aurora sighs.
"Searching for something?" Killian asks.
She looks at the table where he is sitting.
"No. Well, yes, but it's not important." Her face tells another story.
The soft eyes have a harsh edge to them. Creases fill the space between her eyebrows and form a frown.
"Are you sure?"
Killian slides the papers out of his sight. This is not like her.
Aurora is someone who begins every day, how early it may be, with a smile and kindness and follows that principle day in, day out.
Normally there wouldn't be a further inquiry from his side. Killian would just attribute it to a bad mood and move on.
Killian was concerned without question but there was always this barrier of work and private matters and he wanted to maintain the divide. It took him a while to realize that he was the only one who saw the use of it.
Tink and Aurora had no such barrier or chose to ignore its existence. They already extensively share the intel of their lives with each other, Killian just doesn't take any part in it.
However, recently things have changed. The women are more than just colleagues, they have become friends. His only friends. Right after Tink's lecture, he followed her advice.
Be more open and be clear with what he wants.
Working in the coffeehouse has been amazing the last few days. The work they do is synchronized and precise. The number of customers has grown but, because of their new agreements, things have never gone more fluently.
Killian's all business attitude has vanished and ever since it did, the smiles are more present on his face. Only because he tore down a wall and let everything flow together.
"Yes."
The look on Aurora's face does everything but convince him.
It is his job to make sure everyone is faring well and he will not let her walk out of here clearly feeling bad.
"Aurora. What's wrong?"
He stands up. Aurora turns towards him. Another sigh escapes out of her.
"Nothing. I just had a bad night yesterday. Philip and I had a fight. A big one. He slept on the couch and by the time I got up, he already left the apartment. I wanted some comfort food but all of the pain au chocolats are finished."
"Why did you fight?"
Killian has met Philip several times and he seems like a nice man.
If Killian has retained anything out of 3 years with Aurora as his employee, it is that she isn't a fighter. She avoids them and will always try to make amends before a conflict is created.
"I can't even remember. And now I just want a pain au chocolat." She sulks.
Killian is taken aback by Aurora's behavior. This is completely the opposite of how she normally acts.
"All right. You call Philip and tell him you need to talk after work." He looks at her. She needs to follow his advice. Killian gets a confirmation. "While you do that, I'll make you a pain au chocolat."
"Really?"
The expression on Aurora's face is one of pure joy.
"Yes. Call Philip. I'll take a look at the front. Maybe Tink needs some help."
The lovely smile is back on her face and she walks over to hug him.
"Thank you, Killian."
She says while her arms link behind his back.
"You are welcome, lass. Although the hugs really need to stop."
He is immediately released. Aurora walks to the cabinet with their belongings in and fishes her phone out of it.
Killian thinks he spotted some tears but he can't be sure.
His head takes a look at the shop through the opening of the wooden door.
"Everything all right?" he mouths to Tink handling the customers.
The reply he gets is a smile and he smiles back. He raises his sleeves and ties an apron around his waist.
He has a treat to bake.
The time of contemplating is over. Killian has done enough of that. He is not that kind of man.
He's a man of action.
It is absurd how much internal struggle she has provided him with. She is special and he would be so content just by admiring her, that he knows, but if she doesn't want that, he can't force her. This is his last try.
Killian cannot consider it as giving up, he has done his fair share of holding on.
It would be moving on.
"Good afternoon."
"Hello. Your regular, I suppose?"
"But of course."
She smiles while opening her purse. Her fingers go through the content until they stumble upon her wallet. Killian takes the money off the counter and starts preparing her order.
"I'll bring it to you in a second."
The machine starts heating up the water and Killian skillfully pours it in the cup. It took him a while to gain that ability. There are several marks on his hands from being a bit too enthusiastic with boiling substances.
Above his head, the different teas are showcased. He takes one of them from in between the bag with apple and the Earl Grey tea. As soon as he opens the paper bag, his nose is hit with the delicious raspberry fragrance. The dry leaves are put in the infuser.
The moment the metal hits the water, it turns red.
Killian walks over to the baked goods display and grabs the blueberry muffin.
"Here you go."
He sets everything in front of her.
"Thank you." Mary Margaret smiles. "Your brother is very talented, you know."
She holds up a magazine with pictures. Liam's pictures. Killian lifts the corner of his mouth.
"He'll be happy to hear that."
Mary Margaret keeps browsing the pages, her attention on the photographs.
"Mary Margaret."
She looks up, again with her kind smile.
"Can I sit down? I won't take long. I just need to ask you something."
The combination of her slightly lifted lips and her eyes show that she is pleasantly surprised and also curious about what this might concern.
One mention of her name. That's what Killian's basing this entire conversation on. Mary Margaret is the one who sent Emma here.
"Of course!"
The stool opposite to her is still empty. He takes a seat there.
"What can I help you with?"
Her hand lifts the white teacup and softly blows on the water to cool it off.
It seems that it is drinkable because she takes a sip next.
"It concerns Emma Swan."
Mary Margaret looks at him.
"She told me you were the one that recommended "A Cup of Jones" so I take it you are friends."
The brunette nods lightly. It's not a direct confirmation but it's enough.
"I was wondering if she is all right."
She sets the porcelain down and lays her hands on the table. Mary Margaret's studying look finds Killian. She slightly tilts her head and conveys the impression that Mary Margaret has found a trace of what she is looking for.
"So it's you."
"Me? I'm afraid I'm a bit lost."
In reality, Killian has a feeling he understands what Mary Margaret is saying. She's telling Killian the thing he has been longing for.
He just can't be certain, with Emma nothing is sure.
"You are the guy."
Mary Margaret utters a sound of unbelief.
"The one time I actually get her to go somewhere, this happens."
The volume with which Mary Margaret speaks indicates that that last bit was meant for herself. She turns back to him. Killian keeps the blank slate on his face.
"Emma came here, didn't she?"
He tries to comment but to no avail. Mary Margaret keeps talking.
"The time we needed to watch Henry was because she was with you."
She figures it all out in a very fast pace.
Emma must've left some hints towards his existence.
"That is why she's like this."
Again, her voice becomes more hushed.
"Like what?"
Killian sees the hesitation in Mary Margaret's eyes.
Understandable.
Besides a chat now and then, the two people sitting at the table don't know each other. Mary Margaret must know he's a decent fellow but nothing more. Killian can follow the battle of pro and contras from his seat across.
"Emma hasn't been the same."
Mary Margaret says after she made a decision.
"She was looking very happy some time ago and I already suspected that an evolution in her love life might have something to do with that. All of a sudden, she was right back to being her old self. As if any progress she made had disappeared. Even more closed off than before. It was a complete change. Henry noticed it too. We all became so worried and tried to ask her but she kept evading our questions or just answered with "I'm fine." We didn't know what possessed her. Now we don't need to guess anymore. You can just tell me. What happened, Killian?"
She drinks her tea again.
"I can't tell you precisely. I know that I had an amazing time on our date and I thought she did too. After that she completely ignored me and when I asked her, she told me that she was unlovable."
The image of Emma's teary face is back.
"And that she ruins everyone's life."
Killian drags his gaze back to Mary Margaret. Her green eyes show that she is familiar with Emma's breakdowns.
Can you call it a breakdown when everything is already crumbled in pieces on the ground?
Everything except for Emma's concrete walls, there to protect her heart from malevolent intruders.
"Oh, Emma. She has always thought that. All of us, my husband and I, Henry, Ruby and other friends, have tried to make her clear that it's not true. Not in the slightest bit. Emma still has a hard time believing it."
Mary Margaret's left-hand rests on the now closed magazine containing Liam's photos. Killian notices her ring. A green stone embedded into silver.
It's strange but never before has he noticed she was married.
"Emma's past wasn't the easiest one and life has left her quite some scars."
"I know, she told me small pieces of it," Killian says.
She mentioned growing up without parents. Emma shared the story about the film tape and raising Henry with Killian. There is one crucial part still missing: Henry's father, but Killian has a feeling that is the most painful memory.
Mary Margaret looks surprised.
"She did?"
He confirms with a nod.
"That tells a lot. It took ages before she told me anything and I'm something like a sister to her. She is incredibly close with my husband David but he had the same exact treatment."
The things Mary Margaret tells him, help Killian connect little things Emma has told him. Like little dots that need to be linked to form a bigger picture.
She had mentioned Henry's aunt and uncle. By the manner Mary Margaret describes David and Emma's relationship, Killian would suspect that those two people are Mary Margaret and her husband themselves.
And if they think Emma changed, if Henry thinks that Emma changed after being with him, it must mean that he has left something with her.
That he had an influence on her.
He was planning on only making sure Emma was all right and then erasing her from his mind, but he can't now.
How could he?
She is special. Unique. There's nobody like her. Nothing like her smile.
It might take a while before she gives you the honor of seeing it, but the moment you do, it's the only one you want to see. What he would give to see it again.
He looks at Mary Margaret, taking a bite off her muffin. This is an opportunity. One of the people Emma cares the most for and trusts is sitting before him. She has to be able to change something.
"Can you help me?"
Mary Margaret tries to figure out his motives. The dark green eyes become intense. She gets rid of the crumbs on her hands and folds them in front of her.
"I wish I could. Anyone can see that you want the best for her but she doesn't like it- actually, she hates it- when I meddle. I don't know how I can convince her. I'm sorry, Killian."
"The only thing I need is Emma here. I'll attempt to take care of the rest. Could you just try to get her here? That's all I ask."
One-half of Mary Margaret's lips are turned upwards. Her head moves up and down.
"Alright. I'll make sure she's here. I trust you to bring back that Emma we saw a glimpse of."
Killian feels relieved and smiles.
"I'll do my absolute best."
He stands up. His little break has taken long enough and Aurora is serving everyone on her own.
Before leaving the table, he thanks Mary Margaret.
"Don't worry about it. I guess we all want to see Emma happy."
Killian definitely does.
A/N: Title comes from Need the Sun to Break by James Bay. If you want to give me a review, I'll give you cookie (or an imaginary one)