Killian walked out of the club to see Emma leaning against his car. She was scrolling lazily through her phone and her easy posture suggested she had been there awhile. He frowned as he got closer; usually her dates ended only when he dragged her away from her new "beau".

"Hey," he called. "How long have you been out here?"

Emma smiled when she saw him and stood up straighter, stashing her phone away. "Hey, not that long. I would have come inside but I didn't want to pay the cover for a show that was almost over, so I just waited."

"You should have texted me you were done. I would have left."

"Killian, its fine. It's not a big deal, buttt it is getting colder out here and I didn't bring a jacket, so…could we get in the car, now? Please?" Emma started jumping up and down. Killian smiled at her dramatic antics as he unlocked the driver side door. He got in and reached across to unlock her door; his car had lost the magic of power locks long before his brother Liam had passed it down to Killian.

He grabbed the aux cord as Emma cranked up the heat and tried to get warmth back into her hands. He glanced over at her before he asked,"So how was Rob?" He pulled out of his parking space and headed toward the highway.

Emma's long, drawn out sigh was really answer enough but she still answered him, "Rob was fine. Nice enough I guess, but kind of…bland."

"Is that why you ended things early?"

"I didn't end our date."

Killian was confused and shot her a look. Emma went on, "After dinner was over, he made sure I had a ride home then told me goodnight. Apparently he was ready for the evening to be over, so he just got in his car and drove off." Killian turned left towards Storybrooke onto the highway.

Emma spoke a little louder now, her frustration with the evening becoming evident. "I mean I've ended bad dates early before, but this was the first time a guy bailed out on me. How am I supposed to take that? Am I boring person?"

Killian laughed. "No, of course you're not."

"Well, apparently Rob did not agree. Who doesn't plan something after dinner for a Friday night date? Obviously he was not interested."

"Are you actually upset? I thought you said Rob was bland?"

"He was bland and I didn't really like him either, but the lack of effort is a little bit insulting. I guess its probably just my pride that hurts."

"Well, sure, Rob is obviously an idiot for not realizing how lucky he was to secure an evening with The Emma Swan." Emma smiled a bit at that. Killian continued, "And he can sod off for his blundering idiocy. You deserve someone better, Emma." He glanced over at her to make sure she caught that he was being serious.

Emma laughed at his condemnation of her date. "I know I deserve better and I know that I'll eventually find a great guy. Its just…" she trailed off, uncertain how to explain what she was thinking.

"Everything has to start somewhere, you know? I haven't had the benefit for a long time of growing up with people who loved and supported me unconditionally. It took fifteen years until I found a home where I felt and believed that I was loved. I went through so many foster homes and parents for fifteen years before the Nolans took me in. They only adopted me nine months ago and I am so grateful to be in a better place now than I ever have been before.

But it took time and a lot of other really bad situations to find my place with the Nolans. And I've realized that to get what you want out of life you have to keep trying, and trying, until you get what you deserve and what you want."

Killian considered this for a moment. "So you keep trying with all these blind, and if I can say, terrible dates…so what do you want, Emma? What are you searching for?"

"I think I just want to be happy. I have a supportive and loving family now, and great friends." Killian grinned at her, obviously happy at the inclusion on her list.

Emma rolled her eyes, but smiled too. "Yes, that includes you, you idiot. You all make me really happy and I'd like to round out the package with a boyfriend who makes me happy too."

"That goal seems easy enough, at least to identify."

"Yeah, its just all the lame-o dates I have to go through like tonight before I can get there. How hard does it have to be to just find one guy who isn't a complete asshole?"

"Swan, I'm sitting right here, you don't have to try so hard to wound my ego."

Emma laughed, as he intended. "You know what I mean, and you don't count-" Killian shot her an offended glare. "-because you're not in my dating pool. Of course if you weren't a decent guy I wouldn't even have any hope of finding a decent boyfriend."

"Glad to know that my gentlemanly behavior is an encouragement for you to date the entire male population," he teased.

"I have not dated the entire male population!" Emma protested.

"I think you have to concede that you're getting closer."

"These pep talks of yours are always so encouraging! How do I survive without you Killian?" He laughed as her tone got dryer with each syllable.

They were pulling onto Emma's street and as they reached her house, he answered slyly, "You obviously would not. Your life would be an ocean of darkness without my wit and humor!"

She pushed his arm because she didn't have an easy answer to his dramatics. Her life would be worse off without Killian Jones in it, but it's not like he needed to know that. "Good night, Killian. Thank you for the ride, as ever." She opened the door and started to climb out.

"Always my pleasure, Swan. Good night." She smiled at him and closed the door. He waited until she got the door open and waved at him one last time before disappearing inside. His life would be worse off without Emma Swan too.