I do not own Once Upon a Time.

I love the scene in this chapter. Emma and Killian time!

Emma nodded. She kept learning important things about Killian, insights to his life. Both he and his sister were hurting. And Emma was the only one who could stop the pain and close that chapter for them.

"I want phone records, emails, traffic cameras, all plans. I want to know when any of the board members sneeze." Tara forced herself to turn back to the present.

"Tara, I got this. You have other things to worry about." Emma told her softly. "The Jewel needs a CEO who is fully focused on the company and bringing it to a better place. Please, leave it to me."

"Oh sorry, did I tell you how to run your town? Don't tell me how to run my company." That made her panic, her company. "Wow, I hadn't said that out loud." Tara leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath. "Fine, the investigation is yours. Have it. I won't interfere."

"Thank you. I will bring justice for Liam." Emma said, that was directed to both Tara and Killian. And she meant it. But first she needed some more details. "I'm sorry I'm making you relive that day, but I am going to need your side of the story." Emma told Tara gently. This was always the hardest part of her job.

Tara sat in front of Emma, Killian was next to her for emotional support. She gulped, back in Storybrooke, she had only given Killian the watered down version. Now, she couldn't leave out any details. The tiniest thing could lead to them to whoever wanted Liam dead.

She did her best, ignoring the tears that threatened to fall. Tara had really thought she was numb by now. Killian has already grabbed her hand and squeezed.

"You shot Peter? No one is charging you with murder? How is that possible?" Emma was shocked.

"He shot at me first, so it was self-defense. One down, two to go. That's what he said. He was going to kill me next."

"How is your relationship with the other board members?" She opened a file to read the names. "Cora Hart, Sidney Glass, Ursula Anderson, and Arthur Pyle?"

Killian chuckled. "The board is a necessary evil. We have never seen eye to eye on any subject."

"But no one would stoop to murder?"

"Injure maybe, but there's no coming back from pre-mediated murder. It would ruin their lives and careers."

"So you don't think Peter was acting alone? That there's someone else? Anyone in your past who might want you dead?"

"Emma, you might be under the impression that we are innocent angels. But we most likely made enemies during our younger days."

"Something like that coming back to haunt us is entirely possible." Killian added.

"That's personal, what about professional? You said that the Jewel used to be the second largest shipping company. What about the new number two?"

"That owner is honest, wouldn't hurt a fly. He was good friends with our father. We played with his kids." Marco and his family were close friends, despite being the competition. Business and personal lives were very different things and were kept far apart."

"Just to be safe, keep him on the list." Killian said. Tara sent him a shocked look. "I just want us to safe, cover all the bases."

"What happened when things calmed down at the office?" Emma asked.

"Ruby brought me a new sweater, mine was blood stained. Neal came, so did Roxanne. We are stayed here for a short time. Robin took Roxanne home. Neal and I went home. I hugged my daughter tight. Then I booked a flight to Storybrooke. I told my staff to keep it all quiet. I did not want Killian to find out that his brother via the media."

"Thoughtful." Killian whispered, squeezed her hand.

The small bar was half full when Emma entered it later that night. Well, it was a Wednesday night, that was to be expected. She had finally gotten out of the office and she need to unwind a little bit.

Blarney Stone was kitschy Irish but when you looked past the deco, the food and drinks were amazing. Or so said the review on Yelp.

One would think being in an Irish bar was the last place Emma wanted to be, she dealt first hand with Irish all day. But maybe this would let her gain some insight to how they thought.

Emma was just here for drinks; she hadn't planned on eating. She watched the bar over the rim of her glass. She had never been a Guinness fan, but when in Rome. Actually this had to be the best Guinness she ever had. Maybe it was the atmosphere. "Can I get another?" She asked the bartender.

"Put her drinks on my tab, Evan."

She recognized that voice, Emma inwardly growled. She thought she wouldn't have to deal with that voice until the morning. "Can you guys stop buying things for me? I still need to pay Tara back for the taxi and the hotel room."

"I'm off the clock, I have an idea of how you could make it up to me…" Killian began, eyes twinkling.

Well, that was bold. "I'm off the clock too, which means I could punch you." Emma shot back.

"I meant a game of darts." He held up six darts. "You play?"

"Don't think I don't know exactly where you were going with that comment, Killian." Emma said, he was not going to pull the wool over her eyes. She had seen enough of his personality back in Storybrooke. Ladies' man didn't begin to cover it. Yes, she did know how to play darts, she had pretty good aim. But let Killian find that out the hard way. "You want to take advantage of an inexperienced dart player?"

Killian led her to the dart board and handed her three green darts. Green like her eyes. "Playing darts is like anything else, you need to find a good teacher." And he dared to touch her hand and showed her how to throw the dart.

Emma already knew how to throw a dart but the closeness threw her off balance.

"Let go." He all but whispered in her ear. The dart went sailing across the room but sadly did not hit the board.

Killian took a step back and handed her another dart. With the distance between them, his spell over her was broken. She could think clearly now. Emma aimed and threw the second dart.

This time it hit the center of the board.

"Impressive. Like I said, good teacher." He paused. "You've done this before, haven't you?"

"Maybe." She tried not to smile, that would blow her cover.

"You would get along great with my sister. Years ago, she fooled me and Liam into thinking she didn't know how to play poker. Cleaned us out in the fifth hand."

"So Tara is human?"

"She remembers her humanity every so often."

Emma and Killian played round after round of darts. And the drinks kept coming.

"Wait, wait, we need to toast before we drink! Do you know any?" Emma said, or rather sang slightly.

"Do I know any toasts? You are looking at the king of toasts." Killian stood up. "Here's to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold beer and another one." He was even all dramatic about it. There was a cheer from the next table. Killian knocked his mug into Emma's and drank.

"You know, until tonight I was not a fan of Guinness." She set down her fourth or was it her fifth glass. She couldn't remember.

"Maybe there's a little Irish in you." Killian observed.

Emma could feel her armor cracking and she suddenly became bold. "You want to be the little Irish in me?"

Killian's eyes bugged. That was a first. No woman had played the game as well as he had before. "Wow, you are drunk. I am cutting you off." He signaled to Evan. Then Killian leaned close. "And there's nothing little about it, I assure you."

Emma giggled then something in her face changed. "I could be Irish for all I know. My parents left me on the side of the road when I was a few hours old. I know nothing of my roots. I envy you, Killian. Not only can you trace your family back, you have connections with them. Names, dates, details, relationships. I have none of that."

Killian led her to a booth, she should not be on her feet after baring her heart. "You'll find your parents and have everything you ever wanted." He had faith.

"I tried, it's a dead end. So I just to focus on the here and now. It hurts less." Emma said.

"What about the future?"

That made her pause. Her future? She had a decent job, a least now she did. What more did she want? Love, a family, happiness? Pipe dreams, all of them. She couldn't just wish on a star and everything would magically happen. No, Emma Swan had to work for what she wanted. "The future? I don't even know what I'm wearing tomorrow." She joked, her preferred method of protection.

Killian wanted to joke about what Emma should or rather should not wear the following day but decided against. He could relate, slightly. He had always felt like the black sheep in his family. Emma was the only sheep in her family.

They locked eyes for a moment and it looked like she was going to…

"Killian!" A young woman's voice broke their moment. She bounced over to the booth. "I'm going to do my first Irish car bomb! Do it with me."

Emma studied the girl, she looked too young to be drinking and there was something familiar about her.

"I'm getting too old for this." Killian said under his breath but he did pull himself to his feet. "Emma, this is Kathleen McCartney, my cousin. She just turned twenty-one. Kathleen, this is Detective Emma Swan. She is helping us at the office." That was the best way to word it.

Oh, cousin, no wonder they looked alike. At least it hadn't taken Emma as long to realize like with Tara and Killian.

Kathleen's eyes widened. "Helping at the office… wait, are you going to catch the bastard who killed Liam?"

"Kathleen, language!" Killian sounded horrified.

"What, my parents aren't around." She shrugged.

"Excuse me, I'll be right back." Killian led Kathleen to the bar." One car bomb then I need to leave. I'll have Evan keep an eye on your drinking tonight."

"He would do that without being asked."

"That's what cousins are for."

Killian was right, he was not as young as he used to be. He could still handle his liquor but no need to push the limits. He half swayed back to the booth. Shockingly, Emma was still there. There was an empty glass in front of her.

"It's just water." She saw the look on his face.

"Good, as much as I want to help the damsel in distress get back to her room…"

"I think you are the damsel here, Killian." She got to her feet and grabbed his arm.

"Whatever floats your boat, lass." He tended to revert to terms of endearment when he drank.

"Lass? Wow, now you are drunk. You need to go home."

"No, I am taking you to your hotel, then I will call a cab."

"Seriously?"

"It's good form."

Emma decided not to fight him. They walked onto the street and headed to her hotel.

The night air seemed to wake Killian up. He realized Emma's arm was linked through his. He wasn't sure who that was for more and he wasn't going to question it.

They finally got to the front of the Mark hotel. Killian and Emma stood there staring at each other, unsure what to say or do.

Emma got herself together first. "I had a good time tonight, Killian." She was being honest. At least she wasn't drunk, drunk Emma did stupid things. But tipsy Emma?

She meant to kiss his cheek, but she missed the target. It was an accident, on purpose maybe. And Killian didn't stop her.

They fit together.

One of his hands rested on her waist while the other one was tangled in her hair. Emma's hands were tight on his collar.

Kissing her made her drunk and she didn't want to be sober. Apparently Emma now thought in clichés.

But she had to end it, before someone got hurt. She was working for his family; he was part of the job.

Emma pulled back and had to catch her breath. Killian's own breath was ragged. "Good night, Mr. Jones." She suddenly became professional.

He took the hint, reluctantly. Killian took a step back. "Good night, Detective Swan."

Emma entered the building and forced herself not to turn around.

So she didn't see Killian touch his lips and blink a few times.

Last night was stupid. Emma was never going to drink again. If she was being honest, she wouldn't have been surprised to wake up next to him. But she had shown self-control and shockingly so had Killian.

Last night had been a one-time thing. Things were going to be professional between them going forward. She wasn't going to touch him or be around him outside of the office.

Last night had been a moment in Heaven.

Emma slapped herself. "Pull yourself together. He has women lining up for him. Don't be one of those." God, she was at the pep talk stage.

She had to get the Jewel before he did, lock herself in her office and pretend to be on the phone all day. Anything to avoid talking to Killian.

That was her plan and it worked perfectly until she saw Killian out of the corner of her eyes. Actually she saw the flowers first.

Emma panicked and ducked under the first desk she saw. Flowers! Flowers? Pink carnations to be exact. Seriously, how old school was that?

"What are you doing under my desk?"

Emma looked up and saw a frazzled Noelle staring down at her. "Killian and I might have had a moment last night and now he has flowers."

Noelle was stunned then looked at the calendar. "Those flowers aren't for you."

"What?" Who did Killian bring flowers for? Emma was curious and maybe a little jealous, dare she say it.

"You're an idiot. If you have a few free minutes, I'll show you."

Around twelve thirty, Noelle knocked on Emma's office door. "You got a free few minutes?"

"Yeah." Emma was curious. She hated to admit it, but Killian fascinated her. He put on a cocky face most of the time but occasionally there was a reliable and caring person.

Noelle led her down a hallway to where Tara and Killian had their offices. She opened one of the doors. Emma peered in, there was only a table in the middle of the room. On the table were seven vases and a few battery operated candles.

Emma quickly spotted the flowers in one of the vases. There was something taped to it.

Kathleen Jones.

"That's their mother." Noelle stated the obvious. "Today is her birthday."

Emma saw the year of death and quickly did the math. Killian was just two years old. Was he just a motherless child?

Then she read the other cards on the vases.

Donald Jones.

Sophia Jones.

Robert McCartney.

Claire McCartney.

Michael Jones.

Liam Jones.

"It's a tradition that Mr. Jones, their father, started. New flowers on birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and the day they passed."

"Kind of morbid?" Emma remarked, hoping Noelle wouldn't judge.

Noelle gave her a hard stare. "You haven't been here long enough but family means everything to Tara and Killian."

You liked the names of the board members?

The kiss! I really enjoyed writing that scene.

Reviews?